Val Verde RMC | Keeping Well | Spring/Primavera 2018

Roy Guerrero, MD VVRMC welcomes Dr. Guerrero to the Pediatric Care Team. To make an appointment, call 830-282-6020 . T EENAGERS may grow up too quickly, but they’re not grown- ups yet. They still need to see a doctor on a regular basis, just like when they were tots. And seeing a pediatrician is a good idea. “Adolescents are still children— they’re not adults. And you can’t treat an adolescent like an adult,” says Jorge Olaya, MD, a pediatrician at Val Verde Regional Medical Center (VVRMC). “You have to cater to their special needs as they go through distinct developmental stages.” EXPERTS IN TEENS Dr. Olaya is one of two pediatricians who recently joined VVRMC. (Actually, he rejoined , having worked here previously.) The other new arrival is Roy Guerrero, MD . Pediatricians, like Drs. Olaya and Guerrero, are experts in children of all ages. They help kids stay healthy and treat them if they get ill. During routine wellness visits (often recommended yearly), pediatricians can identify conditions, like obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, that need to be managed. “We really want to catch those things when they’re younger, not after they’re already in their adult years,” Dr. Guerrero says. Pediatricians can teach lifestyle changes like healthy eating, exercising and portion control. They can also look for any problems in a child’s growth and development, like learning disorders. Don’t forget that kids need shots as they get older too—not just as babies. And teens may need to catch up on vaccines they might have missed. From birth to graduation IN TUNE WITH TEENS The teen years are a time of change. And pediatricians are particularly good at addressing those unique needs. For example, pediatricians can talk confidentially to teens about sensitive subjects, such as drug, alcohol and tobacco use; reproductive health; and the risks of sexually transmitted infections. They can help address just about every aspect of adolescent life—from acne to academics. “We can screen for a lot of serious illnesses that a child may not want to disclose to their parents,” Dr. Olaya says. And they help parents know what they can do to keep their children healthy. Pediatricians also provide: ■ Sick care visits. ■ Sports physicals. ■ Sports injury care. ■ Depression and mental health screenings. ■ Referrals to other specialists, if needed. DEVOTED TO KIDS OF ALL AGES Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Olaya wanted to be a doctor from an early age, just like several of his relatives. For Dr. Olaya, helping children be healthy is simply the greatest job. “There’s nothing more rewarding,” he says. Dr. Olaya recently returned to Del Rio after practicing in Pennsylvania. Dr. Guerrero is from Uvalde, where he was in private practice. He was briefly a middle-school science teacher but “always had a burning desire” to be a doctor. So he followed that dream and graduated from medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico. In addition to seeing kids on an outpatient basis, Drs. Olaya and Guerrero help provide care in the hospital for premature and ill babies. And they’d be happy to take care of your kids—from infancy to adolescence. VVRMC le da la bienvenida al Dr. Guerrero al Equipo de Atención Pediátrica. Para pedir una cita, llame al 830-282-6020 . Pediatrics/Pediatría 4 Keeping Well/Mantenerse Sano