Nobody likes to go to the doctor, especially when they aren't sick. But preventative healthcare is a huge piece of the long, healthy, and happy life puzzle. Annual wellness exams often include a general screening, vitals check, labs, and maintenance for chronic health conditions. In fact, it isn't uncommon that these annual exams identify early-stage diseases like cancer, concerning blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thyroid dysfunction, and a host of other common deficiencies and abnormalities. And, since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated 100 percent coverage for preventative care, there's no excuse for missing your annual physical.
Plan to schedule your annual wellness exam at approximately the same time each year with your regular primary care doctor. While recommendations vary, it's generally advisable that healthy adults in their 20s and 30s plan a well visit every two years, and annually after age 40. If you don't have a primary care provider, research options based on your insurance coverage, determine whether the physician is accepting new patients, and find a provider that feels like a good fit for your needs and concerns. Building rapport with one provider is important. They will become increasingly familiar with your personal and family history as you age, creating a comprehensive picture of your baseline and noting significant changes as they develop.
Upon check-in, you can expect paperwork to include questions about your insurance coverage, current health concerns, medications, personal and family history, substance use, and past surgeries. For women, there will be additional questions about pregnancy, birth control, and current cycle status.
Next, your doctor or nurse will gather vitals such as blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate, as well as current weight and height. They will then document current medications and supplements, discuss mental health-related concerns, review the status of any chronic conditions, address any questions you may have, and ask about new symptoms or issues. However, wellness exams are meant to address baseline health and, as such, visits typically won't involve any in-depth evaluation of new concerns or health problems; those issues will require a separate office visit.
Following the verbal interview, the doctor will check breathing and heartbeat with a stethoscope; examine tonsils, lymph nodes, and the thyroid; check the abdomen and liver for tenderness and size; assess muscle strength and reflexes; order any necessary lab tests or panels (often a standard blood chemistry and metabolic panel at the very least); and complete or schedule recommended cancer screenings (mammogram, colonoscopy, dermatology, etc.) and immunizations. For women, the annual physical might also include a breast and pelvic exam. For men, the appointment might include a testicular and prostate check.
You may find it helpful to complete any screenings and lab work prior to the physical so that you can review the results with your doctor then. This also streamlines addressing any related medication changes or more sensitive findings and allows time for questions that may arise.
For questions, call or contact InSouth Insurance Services today.