Family Medicine & Pediatrics - Dignity Health Medical Group - Scotts Valley, CA

A primary care provider is a doctor you see for any health concerns. Primary care doctors include family medicine doctors and advanced practice providers (APPs).

Learn more about primary care

Pediatricians specialize in the care of babies, children and adolescents. They offer a deeper understanding of development milestones and childhood illnesses. Our pediatricians take a holistic approach to children’s health, offering comprehensive care for your child’s physical, emotional and social health at every stage.

Learn more about pediatric care

Our primary care team includes family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). They’re focused on building long-term relationships with you and your family. We treat acute illnesses, help manage chronic conditions and focus on prevention and education to support your overall health.

An advanced practice provider (APP) is a health care professional who has advanced education and clinical training, allowing them to take on a broader scope of practice and perform tasks traditionally carried out by physicians. This category includes nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs).

These professionals play a crucial role in providing health care services, including diagnosing and treating medical conditions, prescribing medications and offering preventive care. APPs are essential members of health care teams, contributing to the delivery of comprehensive and accessible patient care.

We diagnose and treat a range of acute and chronic conditions, including:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Back pain
• Diabetes
• Ear infections
• Eczema
• Flu (influenza)
• Heart disease
• Joint pain
• Mental health problems
• Osteoarthritis
• Sprains and strains
• Strep throat
• Urinary tract infections

Our family medicine specialists at Dignity Health Medical Group in Scotts Valley provide comprehensive services, including:

• Annual wellness checkups
• Flu shots and immunizations
• Follow-ups after an inpatient hospital visit or outpatient surgery
• Physical exams
• Preoperative evaluations
• Mental health counseling
• Nutritional counseling
• Preventive care
• Sick visits
• Weight management
• Well-child care, including regular checkups, physical exams and immunizations
• Well-woman care, including gynecological exams and pregnancy tests

We recommend that you take your child for a visit to the pediatrician three to five days after birth, but this may differ based on your child’s needs. Your baby’s first pediatric appointment focuses on their weight, feeding, sleep and overall health. Your pediatrician will examine your baby, review the birth history, answer questions and offer support for your early days at home. This visit should be a comforting space to learn what your baby needs and how to care for them.

The pediatrician checks your child’s growth, reviews their development and listens to any concerns you may have. They may check your child’s vital signs, perform a gentle physical exam, answer questions and offer guidance on sleep, nutrition, behavior or emotional health. Vaccines or screenings may also be part of the visit, based on your child’s age.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends children have seven regular checkups between ages 1 and 4. The first visit occurs a few days after birth, followed by visits at 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and so on. This schedule supports growth, feeding, sleep and development.

We keep your baby safe through checkups, immunizations and specialized care when needed. We follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ well-child visit schedule. We will guide you through each step and milestone. Speak with your pediatrician to understand the optimal schedule of visits.

Yes, a pediatrician can refer you to a specialist if your child needs more complex care for their health condition. For example, major anomalies present at birth and chronic illnesses in infants and children should be managed by pediatric subspecialists with the assistance of your child’s pediatrician. You can always schedule an appointment with your pediatrician first to understand whether your child may need to see a specialist.

At Dignity Health Medical Group in Scotts Valley, our family medicine providers offer compassionate and expert care to help keep your whole family healthy as you grow and change. We support patients of every age in navigating their health care journey, helping to make transitions between care stages simple and seamless. We are committed to promoting your family’s lifelong health and well-being, delivering trusted care in your community.