Have questions about the benefits of a yearly wellness physical? We’ll cover what to expect at your exam.
What is a yearly wellness physical?
A physical is a routine visit to the doctor that usually takes place every year. A yearly wellness physical evaluates your overall health and gives your health care provider important information about the condition of your health each year.
What is assessed during a yearly wellness physical?
During an annual wellness physical, your health care provider will run a series of tests and checks to get a general sense of how your body is doing. Often, your provider will do this using a physical exam checklist that applies to your age, gender and any risk factors you may have. These checks include:
- Recording your weight, height and body mass index (BMI): Your weight, height and BMI are important measurements that give your doctor an idea of how healthy you are for your age.
- Measuring your heart rate and blood pressure: Many things can affect your blood pressure, including stress, sleep habits, smoking, diet and exercise habits. Having too high or too low levels of blood pressure are both risk factors for chronic (long-term) health problems.
- Listening to your lungs and heart: This is done to check for any breathing problems, including wheezing or coughing. Your health care provider may also listen for heart murmurs (unusual sounds between each heartbeat) or extra sounds that can indicate a possible problem with your heart.
- Performing a physical exam: Your provider will look at all the important areas of your body to make sure there are no signs of health problems. This includes checking the color and size of your eyes, looking for bumps or lumps on your skin, checking your stomach area and checking your reflexes.
- Gender-specific checks: This may include a breast exam for women or a physical exam of the testicles for men.
In addition to this, if you're getting a yearly wellness physical because of a specific complaint, your health care provider will take the time to check out any symptoms and address any health issues. If necessary, they'll refer you to a specialist or doctor who has more expertise in that area of medicine so you can get treated as soon as possible.
Getting help
During your annual appointment, your MinuteClinic® provider will conduct a full physical examination. They will also ask you about your family and overall health history, including any medications you may be taking and your vaccine history. If you are an older person, your provider will conduct a risk assessment appropriate for your age.
Your provider can order recommended health screenings based on regulatory annual physical exam guidelines and may also refer you to a specialist, depending on the results of your exam.
1.Prior to scheduling your appointment, you may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit.
2. Check-in procedures vary depending on how you scheduled yourappointment:
If you made your appointment online:
If you made your appointment in the clinic:
Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.
Sign in at the electronic kiosk.
3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.
Yearly wellness physical tests
One of the best things you can do is stay on top of your health. Whether you have a specific health concern or not, all adults should have a wellness exam once a year. If you need a yearly wellness physical, consider scheduling an in-person visit at your local MinuteClinic®.
While your health care provider may decide to do some or all these tests during a yearly wellness physical, most standard visits will include the following:
- Blood draw: This includes things like liver function tests, kidney function tests and an electrolyte panel, which checks the levels of certain chemicals in the blood.
- Urine sample: This includes urine tests for sugar, protein or blood. It also could include a urine culture to check for urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests: Your health care provider may recommend an STI screening depending on your sexual activity or if you are showing any symptoms of an STI.
A wellness physical usually takes around 30 minutes, depending on the tests and your health needs. Some tests are common for all patients, such as listening to the heart and lungs or taking blood pressure. Other checks vary depending on your age, gender or changes in your health since your last visit. Your medical provider may perform a more thorough exam if there are concerns.
Yearly wellness physical prevention
Assuming you're healthy and your test results come back normal, you'll only need to do a yearly wellness physical annually. Your provider will also likely provide recommendations to improve or stay at your current level of health.
If an issue shows up or you receive abnormal test results, you may need to go back for more tests or additional follow-up appointments. Your provider will likely want to discuss the results with you and come up with a personalized treatment plan that will suit your current health conditions.
