Child and Adolescent Well-Care Visits (WCV)

The percentage of persons 3–21 years of age who had at least one comprehensive well-care visit with a PCP or an OB/GYN practitioner during the measurement period. 

Why It Matters?

The American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children and Adolescents (AAP/Bright Futures) recommend annual well-child visits for children 3–11 years old. Well-child visits during the preschool and early school years are particularly important. A child can be helped through early detection of vision, speech and language problems. Intervention can improve communication skills and avoid or reduce language and learning problems.  

The AAP/Bright Futures guidelines recommend annual visits for adolescents 12–21 years old. Given that the period of adolescence is marked by puberty and changes in physical appearance and psychological maturity, it is recommended that clinicians focus on concerns of the adolescent and the parent(s), and address social determinants of health, physical growth and development, emotional well-being, risk reduction (pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol) and safety (seat belt and helmet use, sun protection, substance use, firearm safety) over the course of multiple visits. 

The AAP publishes a recommended schedule of screenings and assessments, known as the periodicity schedule, that outlines what to do at every visit, from infancy to adolescence ⁽²⁾.  

Historical Results – National Averages