Trauma-Informed Health Care Practice in the Adolescent Well Visit

Abstract

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a patient-centered, strength-based approach to caring for and empowering patients. The adolescent well visit is an opportune moment to assess and address the impact of trauma. Given the well-documented impact of trauma exposure on adolescent health, and the relationship present between social determinants of health and trauma, physicians and advanced practice practitioners are well positioned to utilize TIC in the medical visit. This article will explore tools to incorporate trauma-informed practices in adolescent well visits in the context of medical care, mental health screening, and in promoting health equity.

Keywords: Behavioral medicine; Health equity; Trauma-informed care; Well visit.