Medical care for young people ages 12 to 17

Parents and guardians play a big role in helping kids grow up healthy. We encourage our teen patients to talk with their parents or guardians about their health. 

Our doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants also help teens learn how to make their own choices about their health. We follow advice from health experts and give our teen patients time to meet alone with their doctor. 

Teen Healthcare at Jefferson Healthcare  

At Jefferson Healthcare, our primary care teams know how to care for the physical and emotional needs of teens. We help with common health issues during this time of life, including: 

    • Sports physicals and yearly check-ups 
    • Immunizations (like flu shots) 
    • Injuries 
    • Infections 
    • Skin problems 
    • Eating problems 
    • Stress and mood issues 
    • Drug and alcohol use 
    • Birth control and sexual health 
    • LGBTQIA+ care 
    • Chronic issues like asthma and diabetes 

Specialty Care 

We provide referrals to pediatric specialists whenever needed, like dermatology or cardiology.  

Washington State Health Rights for Teens 

Washington State law gives teens the right to get medical care for some health issues without adult permission. These include:  

Service  Age of privacy and consent 
Birth control, pregnancy care, abortion  Any Age  
Sexually transmitted infection (STI)  14+ 
Behavioral healthcare like counseling  13+ 
Drug and alcohol treatment in clinics  13+ 
Gender affirming care  It depends. Please talk to us. 

Health information related to these topics is private and confidential. Teens must give written permission before medical information for these topics can be shared, even with parents or caregivers.  

If a minor’s health or safety is in immediate danger, we will try to contact parents or caregivers immediately to include them in the plan to keep everyone safe.

Washington State Health Rights for Parents and Guardians of Teens 

Parents or guardians must give permission and may request information about most issues related to their teen’s care.  

If the parent or guardian is not able to be with their teen at a visit, they may give permission to another adult to make decisions temporarily by phone or by sending a completed Advance Consent for Treatment of a Minor with the teen to the visit. If a relative is bringing the teen or child to a visit, they can complete the Kinship Declaration.

Minor Privacy  

  • A minor has the right to keep bills and insurance information (related to pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, behavioral health, and drug and alcohol treatment programs) private from their parents or guardians. The clinic and financial teams can help a teen patient navigate this process . The teen may also complete the Insurance Confidentiality Request Form and send it to their insurance company to alert them to private care. 
  • If a minor wants to give permission for the healthcare team to discuss private information with a parent or guardian, they can complete one of these two forms: 
      • Exchange of Information for the healthcare team to talk to caregivers or others about the teen’s health  
      • Release of Information for the caregiver or others to obtain written medical records from our medical offices 

How to see or request records for a minor 

Request records through the Health Information Management (HIM) department. They can provide records as allowed by Washington state law and permissions. Call or visit Medical Records | Jefferson Healthcare for more information. 360.385.2200 ext. 2400  

MyChart access varies based on the age of the child or teen.  

  • MyChart provides legal guardians access to all records for children birth through 11. To sign up, ask your primary care provider’s team to help. 
  • MyChart provides limited access to teens ages 12-17. Teens can sign up with their own e-mail when they are at their provider’s office. 
  • Parents or guardians may sign up for proxy access to their teen’s account to send messages to the team or pay a bill.  

To see more information on MyChart Access, view this handout: Providence MyChart Access for Teens and Parents

FAQs for Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians

My child turned 12 and now I can’t see their health information in MyChart. What do I do?

Once your child turns 12, they may sign up for their own MyChart account with their own email. You may sign up as a proxy to this account. Both have limited access to information. See Providence’s MyChart Access for Teens and Parents handout.  

I want to request records for my teen who is 12-17 years old. How do I do it?

You may obtain records through the HIM (Health Information Management) office here: 360.385.2200 ext. 2400 or visit Medical Records | Jefferson Healthcare. You will have access to most medical records. However, some issues require consent from the teen. The HIM staff can discuss this with you. 

My child has an intellectual disability or medical condition that requires me to have regular access to the medical records. What do I do?

Talk to the HIM office [360.385.2200 ext. 2400 or visit  Medical Records | Jefferson Healthcare to learn about options. Your child’s doctor may also be able to help.  

FAQs for Teens

I am under 18. Are there times when I can get all healthcare without an adult’s consent?

If you are under age 18, you can get healthcare without an authorized adult’s consent if you are married to an adult (RCW 26.28.020), have legally emancipated from your parents (RCW 13.64), or have been determined by a healthcare provider to be a mature minor, or in some situations if you are homeless. This website has more information: Emancipation of Minors: Washington State | WashingtonLawHelp.org | Helpful information about the law in Washington. 

What if I am under 18 and don’t want my parent or guardian to see medical bills for health issues that I have the right to privacy for?

Talk to our financial counselors by calling: 360.385.2271 or 855.581.LINK (5465) or visit Billing & Insurance | Jefferson Healthcare Financial Services. They will be able to discuss your options based on the care you are seeking and your insurance type.   

What is a “Mature Minor?”

A medical provider can make a determination that a teen is a “mature minor” and provide care in some cases. The teen needs to meet at least one of these criteria. 

  • Teen lives living apart from the parent(s) or guardian(s) and is taking care of their own responsibilities. 
  • The teen can provide reliable information and make important decisions with good insight and judgement.  
  • The teen is financially independent from parent(s) or guardian(s) or is involved in a work training program.  
  •  The teen has sufficient training and experience to make smart and informed decisions about their healthcare.  
  • The teen generally behaves like an adult.  
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Contact Us  

To ask questions about care for teens, please contact your primary care or OB/GYN provider’s office by phone or text.   

OB/GYN Clinic 360.344.0403 

Port Ludlow Clinic 360.437.5067 

Sheridan Clinic 360.379.8031 

South County Clinic 360.385.3991 

Townsend Clinic 360.385.5388 

Watership Clinic 360.385.3500 

Paying for Care 

Learn more about paying for care, insurance, and financial help by contacting our financial counselors at 360.385.2271 or 855.581.LINK (5465).