ETMC Carthage Well Child Clinic now

CARTHAGE, Texas - Children's preventive healthcare needs, including well child exams, immunizations, and physicals for sports, camp or daycare, are conveniently available at the new ETMC Carthage Well Child Clinic, which opened July 9.

The clinic is located in the medical office complex at 704 N. Davis in Carthage. No referrals are needed, although appointments are preferred and can be made by calling 903-694-4888 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Healthcare Provider
Physician Assistant Theresa Chadwick, PA-C, will be the healthcare provider at the clinic. She will work in conjunction with many of the area's primary care physicians in this effort. Previously, Mrs. Chadwick worked for nearly 10 years at the ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Carthage, in association with Dr. Keith Keeling.

The clinic will focus primarily on preventive care for children from newborns through 18-year-olds.

Insurances accepted
Commercial insurance and Medicaid will be accepted, as well as patients who are self-pay. "One big focus of our care will be providing well child exams, or Texas Health Step Exams," Mrs. Chadwick said. "These are head-to-toe exams that take about 30 minutes. I also use that time to talk to parents about health and preventive measures they can take to improve their child's overall health."

STD screenings
As needed, male and female adolescent STD screenings will be performed, as well as pap smears and other reproductive healthcare needs. Children can also receive their immunizations at the clinic, as well as sports, daycare or camp physicals. Mrs. Chadwick will work in conjunction with ETMC Carthage's new pediatrician, Dr. Prakash Malviya, as well as most other local physicians.

The records of each child's exam will be forwarded to their physician's office, so that the physician has a copy of the child's preventive healthcare record. Well-child exams should begin at approximately two weeks of age, she explained. That's when a newborn screening is given, a total physical exam including referrals to a laboratory for state-mandated bloodwork.

Well-child exams
After that, children should receive well-child exams at two months, four months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, two years, and yearly after that until the child is 18. ETMC Carthage is part of the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System's network of hospitals throughout East Texas. Other ETMC facilities include hospitals in Athens, Clarksville, Crockett, Fairfield, Gilmer, Jacksonville, Mt. Vernon, Pittsburg, Quitman, Trinity and Tyler. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

Posted 6/29/07