The Doc Is In: Back-to-School Checklist

Not sure what to prioritize before school starts? Ryan Plamann, MD, pediatrician at Mile Bluff Medical Center, provides a practical back-to-school checklist. He explains when to schedule annual or sports physicals (many families use summer or a child's birthday), checks for vaccine gaps including MMR amid Wisconsin's recent 36 confirmed cases, and why basic hygiene and staying home for fever, vomiting, or bad coughs matter. Dr. Plamann also covers sleep and nutrition habits (aiming for sufficient sleep—roughly nine hours for teens—and protein at breakfast), helmet and e-bike safety, school medication authorization forms for inhalers and EpiPens, checking expirations and refills, and watching for stress or behavior changes. Use these steps to reduce illness, ensure medicines are ready, and help your child transition back to school.

Learn more about Ryan Plamann, MD