Well-child check-ups are a time when babies are weighed and measured and parents can voice their concerns. But at Parkland Health Center in Garland, these and other routine visits are now done as shared medical appointments.
"I think the SMA's are a great opportunity for the mother's, primarily, because they're surrounded by other mothers who may be at different stages in parenting," said Dr. Shalini Rajasekaran, M.D., pediatrician.
Every child is examined one at a time, then questions are asked and answered in a group setting.
"You get to learn what other people are going through, and if you have the same problem, then you kind of already know cause they talked about it here," said Zulu Soto, mother.
Some mothers sid it's far more convenient, because they don't spend hours in a waiting room with a newborn.
"We have to change diapers and give formula, so it's kind of hard for you to be waiting here for a couple of hours. So, I think this is a good thing," said Bertha Garcia, mother.
And doctors add because they're not rushing from room to room, they actually get to spend more time with patients.
The shared medical appointments are also used for chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes where education is key to treatment.
