Why do I need an annual visit?
An annual visit helps your physician check up on your body overall. This sometimes helps find areas of your body that need help that you weren’t previously aware of. It’s just smart to have a medical professional check up on you at least once a year. It’s more of a conversation about your general health than an actual body examination. This is sometimes called a wellness visit (under Medicare)
What happens at an annual visit?
First, your doctor or nurse will usually take your vitals. These are common measurements like blood pressure and weight/height. These are important to have and will quickly notify your physician of any irregularities. Next, you’ll be asked questions about your medical history, medication history, examination history, and other general details. This is when you’ll tell your doctor about any changes in medication, or if you’ve had any surgeries. If you have any general medical questions, this is a good place to ask them. Even if you’ve had no issues and nothing’s changed, you should still go for your annual visit.
Do I have to bring anything to an annual visit?
It’s a good idea to bring a list of your medications, including ones that you were taking during your last annual visit. If you’ve seen any other medical professionals at all, you should bring their names and contact information. Your immunization records are also good to bring but your doctor most likely already has this information.
You should have your annual visit with your primary care physician. If you’re looking for a primary care physician in Plano, Irving, or Frisco, call us at 214-666-6259 or schedule an appointment in the contact tab above the post.
Author Jai Sammpath