Back to school. Three words that bring diverse emotions in parents. On one hand, it brings the stress of having everything ready; on the other hand, it gives the kids something to do. After the books are labeled, the laptops are up to date, and all the materials are ready to go, there’s something else parents must keep in mind: backpack weight. An aspect that is often overlooked, but that can affect children in different ways. 

Carrying an improperly loaded or heavy backpack can lead to various health issues that could have long-term effects on our children's well-being. In this blog, we will explore the importance of choosing the right weight for kids' backpacks and how to make sure they are using them correctly.

The well-child visit is a must on your to-do list

As a parent, you probably have checklists of things that need to be handled in your household. These might include changing the car oil, shopping for groceries, and scheduling playdates. One important item that can be overlooked when you have a hectic schedule but needs to be included in your to-do list is well-child visits. 

Parenting is a huge responsibility, and you should have a medical professional as your partner in the journey to ensure your kids hit their milestones, are protected from certain illnesses, and more. With this in mind, your Pravan Kids membership was designed to provide this support by tracking your child’s developmental milestones by providing and helping you schedule well-child visits.

In 2011 the Perfil del Pediatra study revealed that the median age of pediatricians in Puerto Rico was 54 years old (compared with 42 and 43 years old in the mainland US). Ten years later, the Puerto Rico Pediatrics Society (SPP by its acronym in Spanish) showed that 49% of pediatricians on the island are over 60 years old, that the median age for retirement is 67, and that 28% of the 331 pediatricians who completed the survey have a general pediatric practice in two municipalities or more. 

In a previous blog, we discussed the importance of choosing the right pediatrician. However, making that choice is more complicated than it seems, and even after you make it, you might still feel that there are things that can improve in your children’s care when it comes to your pediatrician.

At Pravan Clinic, we understand the importance of providing comprehensive and quality healthcare for children. That's why we're proud to announce our newest membership, Pravan Kids. This pediatric membership offers a unique approach to pediatric care by providing concierge services to children from newborns to 18 years old. So if you have kids, nieces or nephews, keep on reading to learn how it works.

When it comes to kids, things can happen in a blink of an eye. They might be peacefully playing at one moment, and in the next, you’re running to the emergency room after a fall or because there’s a sudden fever. All parents want to avoid the emergency room, especially in Puerto Rico. Asides from the risk of catching a bug in the hospital, the long waits can be a challenge, especially with small children.

Any parent knows that the pediatrician is one of the most important doctors in their lives. Is a doctor-patient relationship that goes beyond knowledge; it needs trust to flourish since it will last until the child is 21 years old. Before settling for a pediatrician, one would suggest research, making a list, visiting their offices, and learning about their approaches. 

However, doing that research has become extremely difficult in Puerto Rico. In part due to the brain/doctor drain of the past two decades and the retirement of prominent doctors. The limited availability of these specialists has resulted in longer waiting lists, overcrowded pediatric offices, and decreased doctor-patient time per visit.