Well-Child Care: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Abstract

<P>The new <cite>Bright Futures Guidelines for the Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents</cite>, third edition, provide an important pathway that will carry practitioners and families forward. Preventive care in pediatrics has a very proud history, but there is more to be learned and more to be done to translate best practices across diverse communities and practice environments.</P> <H4>ABOUT THE AUTHORS</H4> <P>Lynn M. Olson, PhD, is with Department of Research, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove VIllage, Illinois. J. Lane Tanner, MD, FAAP, is with Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital and Research Center at Oakland, Oakland, California. Martin T. Stein, MD, FAAP, is with Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California. Linda Radecki, MS, is with Department of Research, American Academy of Pediatrics.</P> <P>Address correspondence to: Lynn M. Olson, PhD, Department of Research, American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007, e-mail <a href="mailto:LOlson@aap.org">LOlson@aap.org</a>. </P> <P>Dr. Olson, Dr. Tanner, Dr. Stein, and Ms. Radecki have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. This work is supported in part by a grant from the Commonwealth Fund. The views expressed are those of the authors and not the organizations where they work.</P> <H4>EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES</H4> <OL> <LI>Describe the basic components of health supervision visits.</LI> <LI>Identify major challenges encountered providing preventive care for children.</LI> <LI>Discuss the changing demographics of children in the United States and the impact this has on the delivery of effective and culturally competent care.</LI> </OL>