Dr. Tammy Lyles-Arnold Offers Some Tips
ROME, Ga., July 8, 2024 – With the start of school nearing, Dr. Tammy Lyles-Arnold wants parents to know some things they can do to help ensure their kids are healthy and ready to learn.
“One of the easiest things parents can do is make sure their children are up to date on their vaccinations and well-child visits," said Lyles-Arnold, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Floyd Family Medicine Primary Care in Polk County.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta always has an updated vaccination schedule on its site," Arnold said. “If you have any questions, you should contact your pediatrician."
Testing is extensive before a vaccine can be licensed in the U.S. and they are continually monitored for safety, ensuring a safe and effective vaccine supply.
Lyles-Arnold also encourages parents to make sure they also make well-child visits a regular occurrence.
During well-child visits, your pediatrician can monitor your child's growth and physical development as well as screen for other issues that can impact children.
“That can help catch some conditions earlier before they become serious problems," Lyles-Arnold said.
As school begins, it's important to get kids back into good sleeping habits. Often during the summer months, sleeping schedules can get abandoned. That is especially true of older children and teens.
“Younger children may need as much as 12 hours of sleep each night, and they definitely need at least 8 hours of good sleep each day," Lyles-Arnold said. “Parents might find it helpful to set firm bedtimes, if they aren't already doing that."
Parents might also want to assess how much their kids are watching television, playing video games and using their cell phones. Doing so could help them be more prepared to pay attention during class.
Here are some suggestions:
- Limit all types of screen time to no more than 2 hours a day.
- Involve your child in non-screen-related activities, such as sports or a hobby.
- Encourage play and exercise for your child. Plan other fun activities for your child, so he or she has choices instead of using technology.
- Do not allow TV watching or using tablets during mealtimes.
To make an appointment at Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care Family Medicine & Pediatrics Polk, 2370 Rockmart Highway, call 770-748-7818. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
About Atrium Health Floyd
The Atrium Health Floyd family of health care services is a leading medical provider and economic force in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Floyd employs more than 3,500 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at three hospitals: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center – a 304-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia; and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; as well as Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health – a freestanding 53-bed behavioral health facility in Rome – and also primary care and urgent care network locations throughout northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd also operates a stand-alone emergency department in Chattooga County, the first such facility to be built from the ground-up in Georgia.
About Atrium Health
Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created from the combination with Advocate Aurora Health. A recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine is its academic core. Atrium Health is renowned for its top-ranked pediatric, cancer and heart care, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Atrium Health is also a leading-edge innovator in virtual care and mobile medicine, providing care close to home and in the home. Ranked nationally among U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals in eight pediatric specialties and for rehabilitation, Atrium Health has also received the American Hospital Association's Quest for Quality Prize and its 2021 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award, as well as the 2020 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Equity Award for its efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care. With a commitment to every community it serves, Atrium Health seeks to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all, providing $2.8 billion last year in free and uncompensated care and other community benefits.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefits.