Five Reasons to Make that Well Visit Appointment
VICTORIA, Texas – If you’ve put off seeing your doctor for fear of catching or spreading the COVID-19 virus, DeTar Medical Group family medicine physician Dr. Javier Vazquez-Ortiz wants you to know it’s safe and important to come in.
Precautions for your safety include masking of all patients and providers, checking temperature of all clinic visitors, screening clinic staff multiple at each shift, pre-visit calling to ask screening questions, asking that only the patient comes in, and enhanced cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.
“I cannot stress how important it is for everyone in our community to understand that being our healthiest is the best defense against any disease,” said Dr. Vazquez-Ortiz. “While the past 12 months have been one of uncertainty, one thing I know without doubt is that staying on track with your personal health can help your body fight illness. Establishing an ongoing relationship with your physician and keeping regular wellness exams enables you to reach your long-term health goals.”
Here are five reasons to make an appointment for your next well-visit or check-up without delay.
Check on your general health. The clinic has a record of your health metrics over time, including cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and others. If any numbers are trending in the wrong direction, your doctor can help you make a plan to get back on track with lifestyle changes, diet or medical treatment.
Manage chronic conditions. Ongoing medical concerns, whether diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or others require regular monitoring by a provider to keep them from progressing to life-threatening levels. Regular checkups can help you avoid a medical crisis.
Identify issues early with routine screenings. The practice keeps records of your screening exams to help you remember when it’s time to get your colonoscopy, mammogram, bone density test, prostate exam and other screenings. Early identification of many illnesses can give you the most options for treatment and better outcomes.
Stay current on vaccinations for your protection. While you’re hearing plenty of news about the COVID-19 vaccine, there are a number of other vaccinations to prevent disease as your immune system weakens over time. Flu shots annually. Tetanus shots every ten years. Vaccines for shingles and pneumonia and more. The practice will remind you when it’s time to get your immunizations.
Keep prescriptions updated. Bring a full list of your medications, including any over-the-counter, so your physician has a complete picture of what you’re taking. An annual review can identify possible side effects or medication conflicts.
Of course, the best reason of all is peace of mind about your health. DeTar Medical Group has more than 40 providers in 13 convenient locations in Victoria to make it easy for you to access care.
If you need help finding a primary care physician, visit mydetardoctor.com to be connected with one of DeTar Medical Group’s qualified family or internal medicine physicians.
Sources: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-annual-check-up-is-still-important-to-your-health
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html
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