THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — Innovative technology now allows pediatricians to flag mental health issues in children during annual exams.
Dr. Laura Rougiette is executive director and pediatrician at Every Child Pediatrics in Thornton, a primary care clinic serving all children, regardless of their ability to pay. Rougiette said screening for developmental delays and behavioral health issues at an early age allows for immediate care and intervention.
The clinic serves more than 24,000 children across Colorado, she said.
“Preventing mental health problems starts with supporting the parent-child relationship from birth,” says Rouziette. “Screening for developmental delays and screening for behavioral health disorders has allowed us to bring up conversations that families don't necessarily know that we're interested in or that we can help with. ”
Through a partnership with Yosi Health, a cloud-based mobile patient intake and registration system, clinic patients can complete registration prior to their appointment. This includes personal health and developmental screening.
Hari Prasad, co-founder and CEO of Yosi Health, said the software streamlines the check-in process and frees up more time between patients and healthcare providers.
“The idea behind this is to see how early we can learn about the needs of young people,” Prasad said. “This way, we can let the pediatrician know in advance so they can provide the best possible care for the child.”
For parents like Haley Kelly, the staff at Every Child Pediatrics has not only impacted her child, but helped her grow in ways beyond Kelly's imagination.
“My daughter loves going to the doctor's appointments,” Kelly said. “They listen, so when you bring up a concern, they don't just ignore it. They look into it with you, and that's all a parent can ever ask for. ”
