When Should You Switch from a Pediatrician to an Adult Doctor?
You’re no longer a child.
Perhaps you’re just starting your college career or you have officially moved out on your own.
You know that your health is important, and you want to stay in shape.
But you feel you’ve “outgrown” your pediatrician. When is it time to go to a doctor who treats adults?
You’re not alone. A lot of young adults wonder what the cut-off age is for pediatricians. We’ve got your answers, and some reasons why you shouldn’t wait to establish a partnership with a doctor who treats adults.
What Is the Cut-Off Age for Pediatricians?
Typically, many pediatricians will take care of young patients until they are 18. However, sometimes pediatricians will care for patients until they are 21.
We recommend establishing a relationship with a primary care physician such as with one of our internal medicine specialists at the age 18.
Internal medicine specialists in Raleigh are very experienced at treating a wide range of health problems. That’s why we’re a natural choice to be your primary care physician.
We’re even able to help you fine tune your exercise program and help you avoid injuries or improve athletic performance through our sports medicine services.
Getting started is easy. Just contact us for an appointment.
Why Should I Have a Primary Care Physician?
There are several reasons why you should have a primary care physician. We’ve outlined 6 of them below.
6 Reasons Why You Need a Primary Care Physician
1. You can stop health problems before they start.
Did you know that more and more young people are developing diabetes? According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 4 young adults has prediabetes.
The proper health care intervention can keep prediabetes from becoming diabetes. This keeps you from a multitude of health problems.
2. You have someone who is familiar with your health history when you get sick.
When you’re sick, the last thing you want is to walk into a doctor’s office where the physician does not know you and where you have to bring them up to speed on your health history.
Having someone familiar with your health history helps ensure a higher level of quality care.
3. Your doctor can help you with chronic health conditions.
Are seasonal allergies always getting you down? Perhaps you need help in the form of allergy shots. This is just one example of the many services we offer to treat ongoing health problems.
4. Your doctor can provide routine wellness exams—and alert you if there’s a problem.
Internal medicine specialists in Raleigh offer regular physicals for both men and women. We also offer Pap smears, birth control consultations, pelvic exams.
If we discover a problem, such as an abnormal Pap test, we can work with you for early intervention. Often, it’s important to pinpoint these issues early, when the condition is at its most treatable stage.
5. You can decrease ER and urgent care visits.
Did you know that those who have a primary care physician also have fewer ER visits? Why? Because far too many wait too long before seeing a doctor about health problems. This means these problems can escalate into an emergency.
By having a primary care physician such as an internal medicine specialist, you not only take better care of your health, but in the long run, you save time and money.
6. You can be easily referred to a specialist.
As internal medicine physicians, we specialize in treating all types of chronic diseases, including diabetes. But if there is an occasion where you need another specialist, such as a cardiologist, then we can easily make a referral to ensure a smooth transition. We’ll also work together with this specialist to ensure they have the information they need about your health history.
What Is the Cut-Off Age for Pediatricians? Let Us Take Care of Your Adult Medicine Needs
If you’re 18 and you’ve been seeing your pediatrician, it’s time to transfer your care to one of our doctors who are experts at all levels of care. Not only we will we work with you to manage any chronic conditions, but we also offer:
- Yearly wellness exams for men and women
- Allergy treatment
- Birth control
- STD testing
- Sports medicine
- Mental health services
See why Raleigh residents have entrusted their care to us for decades. Getting established as a new patient is easy. Just simply contact us for an appointment.
For more than 45 years, Raleigh Medical Group has served as the Triangle area’s premier internal medicine provider. Comprised of three distinct practices: Raleigh Medical Group, Cary Medical Group and Raleigh Adult Medicine, we tailor our treatments to provide the finest personalized health care available for each stage of your adult life. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
