Back to school is a busy time of year for Katie Summers & Sunflower Rural Health Clinic Pediatrics

A certified pediatric nurse practitioner at the Sunflower Rural Health Clinic Pediatrics, Ms. Summers had a lot of patients in the run-up to school starting last week. “Lots of kids were getting wellness checks before school starts,” she told us. “We had lots of 4-year-olds and seventh graders getting shots and vaccinations that are required here in Mississippi.” 
 
Back to school is a good time to have young patients come in for their annual wellness checks. “It’s important to schedule a wellness check once per year, either at back to school or around their birthday,” Ms. Summers said. “That makes it easy for busy parents to remember. At least once a year, we like to see that they are developing and growing bigger and stronger as they should.”

The steady rush of young patients has trailed off this week now that schools in the Delta are back in session after the summer break. But Ms. Summers expects those numbers to tick up again “once they get back spreading germs with all their friends.” She said the last couple of years taught us the importance of washing hands and using hand sanitizers, especially before eating. “Taking Germ-X to school and washing up before eating will decrease their risk of spreading germs and getting sick,” she pointed out.

And if our kids are feeling sick, they must stay home, especially if they have a fever of over 100.4 degrees. “A fever could be a sign of a number of things, from COVID to strep throat, but it is a clear indicator of general infection,” Ms. Summers said. “They need to stay home or come see us until they feel better.”

Ms. Summers is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to the Delta to be closer to her husband’s family. Dr. Lisa Huddleston, a Sunflower Rural Health Clinic pediatrician, told us, “Katie is the sweetest.  She is very knowledgeable about pediatrics and really cares about her patients and their families.  She has worked at other children’s hospitals and has a lot of experience caring for children in our area.”

Ms. Summers also told us about the importance of getting kids back in their routines as soon as school resumes. “We stress the need to get at least eight hours of sleep to allow their brain to fully function,” she said. “This whole past week, we have been encouraging parents to set a good bedtime and get their kids back on track with their routines. Bedtime and breakfast are important, even if it’s just a small thing to eat to get the day started.”

If a member of your family has been trading germs with friends or just needs their back-to-school wellness check, you can reach Sunflower Rural Health Clinic Pediatrics by calling the referral line at (662) 756-1788.