Article summary
- A team approach
- What happens at your checkup?
- Make the most of your time
- Tips for your checkup
- What to bring
A team approach
Checkups are a good way to make sure you are healthy. When you see your doctor for a checkup, they can find any health problems you have early. Finding problems early makes it easier to treat them before they get worse.
We want to work with you and your family so that you stay healthy all year. Depending on how old you are, we do different things at your well checkup:
- Give you shots
- Check your body
- Measure your height and weight
- Check your eyes and ears
- Check your teeth
- See how you are growing and acting
- Do women's health checks
- Teach you about staying healthy
- Look at your medicines
What happens at your checkup?
Along with a normal exam, your doctor may also do other checks and tests if you don't feel good. Your doctor wants to make sure you are healthy. You can talk to your doctor about:
- Your body health
- Staying safe at home
- What you eat
- Your feelings
- How much you move around
- How much you sleep
- If you use drugs, drink alcohol or smoke
Make the most of your time
It is a good idea to get ready before your appointment. A visit to the doctor is a good time to talk about any health questions or worries you have. Some things you can talk to your doctor about are:
- How you are feeling
- Your family's health history
- All the medicines you take now or have taken in the past
- Anything you are worried about with your health
Tips for your checkup
- Call six weeks before to make an appointment.
- Get the things you need to bring ready.
- Get to the office about fifteen minutes early. You may have to fill out paperwork.
- Ask your doctor to explain anything you don't understand.
- If your doctor sends you to another doctor, ask if you need to make the appointment or if the office will do it for you.
- Before you leave, ask for the phone number of the other doctor's office.
Important: If you cannot go to your appointment, call the office as soon as you can to change it to a different time.
What to bring
Bring these things with you to your checkup:
- Your health insurance card
- Any other health insurance papers
- A list of any health questions you have
- A list of all your medicines and how much you take
- A list of anything you are allergic to
- If you haven't been feeling well, a list of your symptoms
A big part of staying healthy is going to your checkups. When you see your doctor often, they have your health information and can help if anything changes with your health.