PETER JENSEN, MD: Well, the partnership is still very much needed, but it becomes critical during that time that the parent have very effective, good communications with the school. But the doctor also needs good communications with the school, and there's increasing responsibility to make sure that the doctor and the teachers in school are also communicating directly.
LISA CLARK: How can parents make sure there's effective communication between their doctor and their child's teacher?
PETER JENSEN, MD: Well, sometimes they can assist the doctor and the teacher to come together and share information. So, for example, the doctor might have a checklist or a set of information that he or she would like to get about the child. And the parent could deliver that to the teacher and fill out their part. Give it to the teacher, get it from the teacher and return it to the doctor. And so just solving those little problems by hand delivery and hand pick-up can sometimes be very useful.
Sometimes if the doctor and the teacher aren't able to communicate, the parent might talk directly for the - with the teacher before the doctor's visit and then share that information that they've learned directly on recent feedback from the teacher with the doctor. These are all strategies.
LISA CLARK: Doctor, what should you do if your child's teacher seems resistant to using this cooperative approach, or is reluctant to share information?
