Pediatric Care & Treatment

What We Treat

Clancy Medical Group provides pediatric care for children aged 6 and older. Our preventive services include annual wellness exams, immunizations, and physicals for school and sports. We also provide acute care and diagnostics for a variety of common illnesses, including ear infections, strep throat, and conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Why Should I Choose Clancy Medical Group for Pediatric Care?

Dr. Tara Clancy completed her Pediatric Residency in 1998. She believes in a holistic approach to wellness that includes not only the whole person but their family as well. Dr. Clancy believes that healthy lifestyle choices that begin in childhood stay with us into adulthood, leading to longer, healthier lives. She encourages all of her patients to be physically and mentally active, exercise regularly, and follow a balanced, healthy diet.

Pediatrics Frequently Asked Questions

How often does my child need to see the pediatrician?

In addition to seeing their pediatrician for acute care due to illness or injury, your child should have an annual well-child appointment. This is a preventive care visit during which the doctor performs a routine examination and observes your child’s development. During the appointment, you can ask questions and discuss concerns about development, behavior, and general health.

Does my child really need vaccinations?

Yes. Vaccinations are necessary to protect your child against a variety of deadly diseases. Immunizations are why polio, measles, mumps, and more were virtually eradicated in America. Unfortunately, certain areas of the country have seen a rise in parents not vaccinating their children. It is not a coincidence that those same areas have seen a sudden resurgence in diseases that vaccines prevent. If you have any concerns about vaccinating your child, please call our office.

What is the HPV vaccine?

HPV, short for human papillomavirus, is extremely common. Around 79 million Americans have the virus but most don’t know it because it rarely presents symptoms. HPV is easily spread through sexual activity but, unfortunately, condoms do not always protect against infection.

The virus is known to cause a variety of cancers, including cancer of the cervix, penis, anus, vulva, and throat. You can protect your child against these cancers with the HPV vaccine. The ideal schedule begins when the child is 11 or 12 and includes two rounds of immunizations. However, if your child missed that immunization window, he or she can still get the HPV vaccine until the age of 21 for males and 26 for females.

How early can my child begin exercising?

Exercising is a healthy activity at any age. In childhood, this usually takes the form of team sports and similar activities. This is a great way to instill the active lifestyle habits that will help your child enjoy good health as an adult.

If your child wants to start weight training, much depends on their age. Performing light weight repetitions, i.e. strength training, is great for building bone density and improving balance. It can start as young as 10, assuming there is proper supervision and instruction to ensure the child works within his or her ability.

Weight lifting to build muscle is different. Children should not do this type of exercise until they have completed their adolescent growth spurt (AGS). Not only is it impossible to enlarge muscles before their AGS, there is also greater risk of injury. After AGS, make sure there is a qualified person supervising their weight lifting activities.

What is a healthy diet for my child?

Our nutritional needs change throughout our lives. However, the basics remain the same. We all need vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The differences come in the amounts of each we need at different stages of our lives.

It’s best to get your nutrients from foods rather than supplements and that’s definitely true for your child. Lean proteins, five to seven servings each day of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy give your child everything he or she needs. Avoid processed foods as much as possible. Limit saturated and trans fats, which come from animal proteins and partially hydrogenated oils. Also limit added sugars, which includes corn syrup and fructose.

Use the following table as a guideline to how many calories your child needs each day. Children who are not particularly active or are smaller for their age need fewer calories than more active children and those who are taller.