Rockwood Clinic is here to check off a resolution for you: Annual exam

It’s something many of us dread — yes, even those of us in health care: going to the doctor.

We put it off for any number of reasons or tell ourselves “I’ll just go next month.” Before we know it, the year has passed by and we haven’t had a single checkup.

As the New Year approaches, the team at MultiCare wants to remind you that annual checkups are just as important as a trip to urgent care when you’re sick — and they deserve a spot on your list of resolutions.

A few of the biggest benefits of regular exams include:

• Catching health concerns early. Many health conditions are easier to treat and manage when caught early. Oftentimes, if you’re already at the point of needing an urgent appointment, it’s going to be trickier to care for.
• Whether that’s getting your vaccinations, doing a standard blood panel screening, scheduling a mammogram or monitoring your blood pressure, there are a number of health factors that should be monitored on a yearly basis.
• Monitoring medications. Our bodies change over time, and so may our medications. There may be new side effects your provider can address, or they can determine whether your dosage is still appropriate for your age or weight.
• Mental health matters, too. Emotional well-being is just as important as our physical health, and in many cases can have a significant impact on our overall health. During a routine checkup, your primary care provider can address any behavioral health needs you may have and refer you to appropriate services.
• Reducing health care costs over time. By catching potentially costly health concerns early and being more proactive in caring for our whole-body well-being, we are more likely to save on expensive trips to urgent care or the emergency department.
• Building a trusting relationship with your doctor. Your body is the most personal thing about yourself, and it can be intimidating or uncomfortable to share what you’re experiencing with someone else. By visiting the doctor regularly, you can build trust and, in turn, feel more open to care and treatment.

The Health Maintenance Visit

To ensure regular exams aren’t getting missed, especially for our most at-risk patients, MultiCare Rockwood Clinic developed the Health Maintenance Visit (HMV) for those 65 or older.

“One of the concerns was patients were only coming in when they had a problem and other issues were being missed,” explains John Sestero, MD, internal medicine physician at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic – Moran Prairie.

The Rockwood Clinic team refocused their efforts on stressing the need for a comprehensive annual visit. Patients 65 and older are encouraged by their doctors to schedule an HMV and will also receive a call from Rockwood Clinic to assist in scheduling one each year.

The HMV appointment takes a more holistic approach, Dr. Sestero explains. It utilizes an in-depth questionnaire to help screen for mental health concerns, memory problems and other issues that can be missed at standard clinic visits, like risk of falling.

The visit includes a review of your chronic medical conditions, medications and the specialists involved in your care. Preventive care issues are addressed, such as cancer screenings and immunizations, and referrals are ordered as needed.

“The HMV appointment allows us to reduce care gaps in a much more organized manner,” says Dr. Sestero.

Now a few years into the program, Rockwood Clinic has seen great improvements in the number of patients scheduling an annual exam, as well as preventive care efforts, A1C monitoring for diabetes, cancer screening and vaccination rates.

In 2020, 50 percent of HMV-eligible patients completed their appointment after being notified by the Rockwood Clinic team to schedule. That number has continued to grow with almost 62 percent completion in 2021 and nearing the same for 2022, says Stefanie Cummings, director of clinical performance at Rockwood.

“This really is about improving the overall quality of care because those preventive services pack a punch,” Cummings says. “For example, a mammogram could be ordered at an HMV because the patient’s physician expressed the importance of doing so. They take that to heart more often than not and that helps us catch things earlier.”

What if I’m not 65?

For those under the age of 65, it’s just as important to get into the habit of regular doctor visits, Cummings says. A healthy 27-year-old may not need that deep of a dive into their health as someone over 65, but scheduling a regular physical is recommended for everyone.

To schedule your annual exam, visit MultiCare’s online scheduler.

For those without a primary care provider, MultiCare is here to help check the first box off your list of New Year’s resolutions. Start the New Year right and let us connect you with one of our physicians.