Confidentiality Statement

Allentown Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine provides routine health care for teens and young adults.  We want to work with you and your family to meet all of your health care needs: physical, mental and emotional.
                                   
Young adults need specialized medical care and a doctor with whom they can discuss anything, from acute and chronic illness, health maintenance and preventive care, sexual concerns and emotional problems. Their parents also need special guidance and support through these years. Our practice goal is to provide comprehensive health care to teens and their families. 
 
As teens begin to develop into adults and take more responsibility for their lives, we ask for more input from them about their health. As part of comprehensive health care, it is our practice to ask parents to wait outside for part of the interview and encourage the adolescent to discuss his or her own view of their problem.  Talking to teens without the parent also gives teens a chance to ask questions or give information they may feel self-conscious about.  Teens often have questions or concerns that they may feel embarrassed to talk about in front of their parents.  It is important to give them enough freedom to grow but not so much that they get involved in the wrong activities.
 
Many teenagers and young adults experiment with high-risk behaviors that can lead to serious problems. 2015 data from CDC survey of High School Students show the following:                        

• 28% NYS students have tried cigarettes; 16% of NYS high school students tried cigarettes before age 13        
• 33% US students drank alcohol with 30 days of survey; 16% NYS students drank alcohol before 13 years of age
• 19% NYS students currently use marijuana; 7% NYS students tried marijuana before age 13
• 30% NYS students have had sex; 4% NYS students had sex before age 13
• 16% NYS students have been electronically bullied
• 29% NYS students have felt sad or hopeless
• 16% NYS students have seriously considered suicide

 
Most teenagers will hide their behavior so parents are not the first to find out.  Our goal is to help identify these problems before they become too big and to help prevent them.  To do this we must give them a reason to trust us. 
 
New York State law requires that some services be offered to teens privately.  We ask parents to leave for part of the interview for confidentiality and to build trust. We also encourage the teen to discuss important issues with parents. 
 
It is important to know that if your child is doing anything to hurt him/herself or others, or if someone is hurting them, we will be forced to break confidentiality.
We are always available to discuss health problems, answer questions and to work with you to help your teen or young adult child make the best choices for a healthy future.
 
Dr. Ehlenfield       Dr. Raiken       Dr. Conley       Mary Sheppard, PNP        Anna Couell, FNP

More Information

• Confidentiality Statement
• Parent Letter
• HIV Testing Form
• Links for Adolescent Patients and their Parents/Guardians