What is an adolescent medicine specialist?
Kaiser Permanente's adolescent medicine specialists are physicians and nurse practitioners with a passion for teen health care. Most are board certified in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, or Family Medicine and have a certificate of Adolescent Medicine (education and training in adolescent health and development). Our adolescent medicine specialists are leaders in teen health care. What do adolescent medicine specialists do? Adolescent medicine specialists are part of the primary care team. They support the primary care provider in teen health care and focus on evaluating and treating many of the common medical and behavioral problems that can show up during puberty. Some of these problems include: - Growth and development disorders
- Muscle and bone problems (usually sports-related)
- Acne
- Eating disorders
- Drug and alcohol use
- Mental and social challenges
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Birth control and pregnancy prevention
- Sexual identity concerns
How does an adolescent medicine specialist work with other doctors? If your teen has an issue that needs special attention, the pediatrician or primary care doctor may work with an adolescent medicine specialist to develop a treatment plan based on your teen's needs. The adolescent medicine specialist may also work closely with nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, pharmacists, and social workers. Our adolescent medicine services have changed over time. Kaiser Permanente has come a long way since 1986. Back then, there was only one teen clinic in the Northern California region. Today, we have more than 12 teen clinics. Many of these clinics offer a separate waiting area to ensure privacy for your teen. Please contact your medical center for more information about teen clinics in your area. Even if your local medical center does not have a separate teen clinic, all of our facilities have doctors and practitioners who specialize in teen patients and issues.
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