Services

Wake Teen Medical Services was established in 1983 as the first clinic in NC of its type and the only one in Wake County to focus solely on the unique development needs of adolescents. Wake Teen’s preventive health care model includes pediatricians, counselors, nurses and a full time nutritionist who are highly skilled and experienced in dealing with youth-related issues; issues which can range from the onset of diabetes to questions about sexuality or concerns with self-esteem. By providing a comprehensive one stop shop for medical services, mental health services, nutrition services and community health education, youth have the best chance of developing the vital trust and rapport that is so necessary for effective communications with teens. Wake Teen has successfully reached teens that otherwise might have fallen through the cracks in a traditional system and has been able to provide needed health care services to a vulnerable population for over 25 years.

Wake Teen’s Primary Health Care Goals

Wake Teen’s goals in provision of primary health care to this special population include: 1) the provision of well-teen prevention screenings and immunizations, 2) the identification of risk behaviors and provision of education to reduce risk and 3) the facilitation of teen decision-making through education around health care choices as platform for future health and well-being.

Wake Teen’s Health Care Experts & Approach

Wake Teen has a team of health care experts who are able to develop trust and rapport with the teen to identify the root cause of his/her problem. We strive to empower the teen to participate in their health care decisions so they will make positive choices to improve their health and well being now - as well as for the rest of their lives. We encourage teens to discuss these health care options with their parents or guardians and the majority of our teens do so!

It is our goal to retain him/her as a patient until they age out at 24 years of age. A patient’s first encounter with Wake Teen usually involves a risk and needs assessment visits. These interviews are conducted by our family nurse practitioner or pediatrician for all first time patients based on an interviewing tool referred to by the acronym H.E.A.D.S.S. S. (Home, Education, Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking, Sex, Suicide). The tool is a comprehensive interviewing guide to gauge areas of potential risk, stress or conflict in adolescents. Issues such as cultural and family issues are reviewed but traits of resiliency are often identified as well. The H.E.A.D.S.S.S. interview, as well as a comprehensive physical examination, provides the Wake Teen Medical Director with the basis for the development of the individual treatment plan. Client follow-up is based on individual medical profiles and may be weekly, monthly or annually as clinically indicated.