Back-to-School Interview with Dr. Munish Kumar

The back-to-school season can be hectic for both parents and children. We spoke with Munish Kumar, DO a board-certified pediatrician at Crystal Run Healthcare, about what back-to-school means for pediatricians and how they can help make sure their patients have a healthy start to their school year.

Crystal Run Healthcare (CRHC): First question - what are some healthcare forms that parents should be thinking about when heading into the back-to-school season for their children?

Dr. Kumar: During the summer and into the school season, I see a lot of patients for back to school and annual visits. We go over a lot of the paperwork they need for the school year. That can be annual physical forms required by New York state, and medication administration forms. It can also be a good time to review IEPs and 504s. IEPs are an Individual Education Program subsidized by the federal government for students who require special education services or an adjustment to the curriculum based on their disability, like an adjusted lesson plan or time in the day for a speech-language service. 504s are an accommodation plan that outlines what a student needs to accommodate their disability in a general education environment, like seating placement or testing accommodations. We also go over their vaccination schedule and medication dosage if they have any chronic conditions, like asthma or diabetes. 

CRHC: It sounds like for some children, these visits aren't just simple back-to-school trips to the doctor. How do parents know to reach out to you about those types of things like forms and concerns that they have for their kids going into the year?

Dr. Kumar: When we see a child for their annual visit, we do more than just check off boxes on a form. We take a look at how they are developing and any changes in their health from previous years, or see if there is anything we need to adjust for the current year. If we see escalating health concerns, like increasing asthma symptoms, we can talk to them and their parents about what we are seeing to make sure they are addressing them throughout the year. At a follow-up we can see if the initial intervention is working or if we need to adjust their care plan.  

 

CRHC: It seems like there might be some benefits for parents to take their children to the same pediatrician or the same pediatric group. 

Dr. Kumar: I really recommend patients see the same pediatrician or pediatric group, or a family medicine specialist. Pediatricians have specific training to be able to understand a child’s growth and development, track their health and make changes to their care plan for each child they treat. Kids change rapidly each year – what a toddler needs and what an adolescent needs from their doctors are very different. So, it is important to have a doctor that is experienced with knowing what is normal and what could be an escalating health issue. For kids with chronic issues, some symptoms may feel normal, so they will not always know to talk about them. It is up to us to ask questions to help identify those to treat them. Pediatricians can do that in a way that makes sense and is clear for both kids and parents.

 

CRHC: How do you encourage your patients to build that relationship with you? 

Dr. Kumar: Building that relationship, seeing them when they’re not just sick, is important to build that trust. We analyze growth charts to track their growth. It can help us analyze health points and track potential health issues before the first symptom. This is also a good way to start fostering a discussion about their overall health, and build a relationship with ongoing communication. For example, if a child has asthma, it is important to ask if they are wheezing more often in sports. They may need an adjustment for their inhaler. But we won’t know that if we don’t see them every year. Through Epic, our electronic medical record (EMR) system, patients can actually see that growth chart and continue the discussion even after their visit in the office. 

CRHC: Since kids grow so rapidly, it makes sense that every annual visit looks a little different. What should kids and parents expect to change as they go to their annual visits?

Dr. Kumar: As I said before, what a toddler needs and what an adolescent needs is different. Pediatricians can guide the annual visit based on what is developmentally appropriate for the age of the child. For a preschooler it may be about how they’re communicating and expressing their feelings to adults. For school-age kids we include anxiety and depression screening as this is more common in their age group. And remember, for kids their chronic issues can be their normal, so it is up to the adults in their lives to notice changes - their parents, teacher, school nurse or even lunch lady. We rely on these people to raise their concerns since they see the child every day or almost every day.

CRHC: We’ve talked about how important it is for the adults in a child’s life to talk to the pediatrician. Are kids normally nervous talking to you about their health?
Dr. Kumar: As with adults all children are different in their comfort level talking to a new provider. Some young kids are actually very vocal about themselves! Sometimes young adults may be or unsure of how to talk to me. But I always want to talk to my patients about their concerns. They may ask and be nervous about something and I will always be honest with them. Everything I do during an exam, whether that is talking to kids about getting their shots, educating parents about prescription changes or asking a parent to leave for a moment so their teenager is more comfortable asking questions, is for the health of my patients.

CRHC: What do you love when you see your patients? What do you look forward to?

Dr. Kumar: I love seeing how my patients change each year. It may not be fun to find a chronic condition or to get vaccinations at the appointment, but it is exciting to hear about what has changed for them in the last year. Learning what they are doing physically to stay active, what activities they enjoy doing, seeing if their health is preventing them from doing it and how I can help. When I see my patients, that is my opportunity to help and feel like I contributed to their successes for the year. Knowing what they accomplished because they are healthy is the most satisfying part of being a pediatrician.

At Crystal Run, we believe healthy children make healthy communities. Our pediatricians partner with parents to offer education on prevention and wellness strategies to keep kids healthy, active and safe. Our expert pediatric team is committed to ensuring every child receives the best care. With extended hours and weekend availability, our pediatricians are available to see children for sick and well visits and provide treatment for common conditions at several pediatric locations throughout the Hudson Valley.

 

Munish Kumar, DO is a board-certified pediatrician at Crystal Run Healthcare. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, NY. He completed his Residency in Pediatrics at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Hawthorne, NY. His clinical interests include preventative medicine, asthma and sports medicine. Dr. Kumar is seeing patients in Monroe, NY.