"That Every Year Visit for Both Men and Women"
Find out about the Annual Visit.
What is an annual visit and what can you expect?
This is the important yearly visit for both men and women.
A patient should come to an annual appointment 15 minutes ahead of time so that they have time to fill out paperwork. Careful completion of the paperwork is necessary for us to care for you in the best way possible. You will be asked to read and sign a “consent for treatment” form. You will be provided with a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form so that you know your health care privacy rights. Learn more about HIPAA at this link:
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa.
If there have been any changes in your health, medications, or contact information please let us know. You should bring any insurance cards if you have insurance and come prepared to pay your co-pay.
Make sure you know a way for us to contact you. It can be a cell phone or someone else’s cell phone if that is more convenient for you. Mail is also acceptable.
Please bring a list of all medications including any herbal products you might use.
All of the procedures listed below, if appropriate to age and sexual history of the client, that are part of an initial visit will be performed again.
The complete physical examination for women includes but is not limited to inspection of the eyes, ears and mouth, palpation of the thyroid, visual inspection of the back, assessment of the heart and lungs, clinical breast examination and self breast examination teaching, examination and palpitation of abdomen, examination of extremities, pelvic examination and pap test if indicated by age and sexual history of patient, testing for sexually transmitted infections including HIV if indicated or requested by patient. For more information click on the following links:
For men the examination includes height and weight, examination of the thyroid, heart, lungs, breasts, abdomen, extremities, genitals and rectum.
Examination should also include palpation of the prostate, as appropriate, and instructions in self-examination of the testes. The importance of the following is stressed to male clients:
"Blood pressure evaluation, colo-rectal cancer screening in individuals over 40; and STD and HIV screening, as indicated.”
If the patient is interested in contraception (birth control) all methods will be reviewed with the patient and informed consent specific to the chosen method will be obtained. Instruction in correct use of the method will be given. If needed diagnostic tests may be performed for evaluation of clients for contraceptive use.
Simple but very important diagnostic tests will be performed including blood pressure, urine dip for protein and sugar, hemoglobin/hematocrit, pregnancy tests. Other lab tests, if needed, will be performed in this clinic or referred out. Tests that may be may referred out include mammogram, ultrasound, serum pregnancy test, CBC, etc.
Clients will be offered, if appropriate, information about Hepatitis A, B and C and the vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B as well as information about Gardisil (the vaccine that protects you from 4 high risk strains of HPV which are linked to cervical cancer and genital warts).
Clients will be provided information and counseled on issues of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use and offered information on local resources appropriate to issue.
Other counseling is offered including but not limited to domestic violence issues, child abuse, sexual assault, depression or suicidal feelings, the benefits of folic acid especially in the prevention of birth defects, obesity, nutrition and exercise.
Referrals to the appropriate physician of client’s choice will be made for abnormalities.
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