Preventive health care is one of the most important aspects of healthcare. It is a proactive approach to healthcare that keeps people healthy by identifying and preventing health problems before they occur.
If you are receiving preventive care, do you know if the preventive care you are getting is right for you? Here are some tips that can help you determine the right preventive health care provided by your family doctor.
Tip #1 Understand Preventive Care
You can stay healthy and reduce your risk of catching several diseases by practicing healthy habits. However, preventive care goes beyond that. It includes routine checkups that are separate from any other visit to a doctor for injury or sickness. These checkups focused on providing patients with preventive health care services like:
- Screening tests. These medical tests are beneficial for detecting diseases early when they are easier to treat.
- Vaccination involves administering dead or live-attenuated microorganisms to patients to develop immunity against specific agents.
- Patient education. Patient education is crucial to help patients make informed decisions about their health.
Tip #2 Understand Your Needs
When it comes to preventive health care, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every individual has unique preventive healthcare needs for age, gender, risk factors, lifestyle, and overall health.
For instance, the vaccines needed for children differ from those for adults. Similarly, the health screening tests for men differ from those for women. It is, therefore, important to understand your unique preventive care needs.
Tip#3 Stay Up to Date on Preventive Care Guidelines
Preventive care guidelines and recommendations evolve as new evidence emerges. To stay healthy, you must receive the most current and effective care.
One best way to determine if you are receiving the right preventive care is to stay up to date on preventive care guidelines. For this, keep an eye on reputable sources of information such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). These sources regularly update their guidelines on preventive care.
It’s advisable to subscribe to their newsletter to stay up to date on current preventive care guidelines and recommendations.
Tip#4 Know If the Preventive Care You Are Getting Are Individualized
Take some time to ensure that your family medicine doctor takes an individualized approach to your preventive care. Note if your provider considers your medical history, age, underlying health problems, family medical history, risk factors, and personal preferences.
Remember that the right preventive health care plan for you is the one that is tailored to your unique needs and not the one that follows a one-size-fits-all approach.
Tip #5 Assess Whether Your Provider Is Diligently Scheduling Regular Checkups and Screenings
The right preventive care involves regular checkups and screenings. To determine if the preventive care you are receiving is right for you, assess if your provider schedules regular checkups and screening tests as recommended by medical organizations like CDC, USPSTF, and others.
Also, take note if your family physician is communicating the results timely and providing appropriate recommendations or treatments based on the finding of your checkups and screening tests.
Preventive Care in Orlando
Getting the right preventive care is your right, which you should never overlook. Finding the right family medicine doctor is critical to getting the best and most individualized preventive care.
At Premier Medical Group, we have a team of highly qualified and experienced family physicians who offer highly individualized and comprehensive preventive medicine services to all our patients regardless of their age. Our family physicians stay up to date on the guidelines and recommendations of official medical organizations like the CDC, WHO, and USPSTF to ensure that you get the most current care.
If you would like to set up a consultation with one of our providers, call us today at (305) 273-9100 or fill out our Request an Appointment Form.