MyChart
MyChart es un portal para pacientes seguro y gratuito en línea que le permite acceder a su registro médico de Renown Health y administrar su información de atención médica.
¿Por qué son importantes los exámenes anuales y las pruebas de rutina?
22 de marzo de 2023
Marzo es el mes de la conciencia sobre el cáncer colorrectal y queremos que reciba la mejor atención preventiva posible. Early detection can help prevent serious illness, yet many people still choose to skip their annual exams and routine screenings.
Bonnie Ferrara, MD, MPH, Section Chief for Primary Care at Renown Medical Group, further explains the importance of this simple, easy way to stay healthy.
Why are annual exams so important?
The benefits of early detection and prevention to save lives and reduce the impacts of disease have been proven. These exams are the perfect opportunity to get your health questions answered.
“Esta es su oportunidad de sentarse con su proveedor y hablar sobre su salud general y los antecedentes de salud de su familia, así como de sus inquietudes para el futuro”, explica Bonnie Ferrara, MD, medicina familiar. “It’s the opportunity for your provider to talk with you about your lifestyle, tobacco use, exercise and alcohol use, all of which make a difference in your future longevity.”
The annual wellness exam is also an ideal time for most adult patients to discuss health screenings. In addition, these visits are the perfect time to address issues that may not directly relate to a particular medical problem or immediate illness. Una buena regla general es programar estas citas alrededor de su cumpleaños cada año para asegurarse de que usted y su proveedor estén actualizados sobre su atención.
Why would you need an annual exam if you aren’t feeling sick?
Según la Dra. Ferrara, consultar a su proveedor de atención cuando no está enfermo es una de las mejores ocasiones. “It is better if you try to arrange this visit when you are not feeling ill,” she says. “It is an opportunity to talk about wellness. Not only how to contribute to your wellness but also the changes that you can make that will make huge dividends in the future for your wellness. In addition, it allows us to do some education about what to expect in the coming years as far as your health and lifestyle changes.”
What can you expect at an annual exam?
Annual exams usually check your:
- Antecedentes: conductas relacionadas con el estilo de vida, inquietudes de salud, estado de vacunación, antecedentes médicos familiares
- Signos vitales: presión arterial, frecuencia cardíaca, frecuencia respiratoria y temperatura.
- Aspecto general: su proveedor de atención médica puede averiguar mucho sobre usted solo mirándolo y hablando con usted.
Dr. Ferrara adds, “If this is a Medicare annual wellness exam, it is an opportunity to talk to your provider about depression and dementia as well as be tested for those.”
You can also leverage your annual exam to speak to your provider about managing your chronic health problems. "As a provider, these visits give us the opportunity to hear how the medications and lifestyle changes we have recommended are working and if you are having problems with these, we have the opportunity to make suggestions of how to do things better for the future," Dr. Ferrara.
What can you do to prepare for your annual exam?
Dr. Ferrara recommends that you have a discussion with your extended family about their current health problems or health history. "This is especially important when it comes to things like cancer, diabetes, lung disease and heart disease," Dr. Ferrara.
You should also make a list of your medications and exactly how you are taking them. Dr. Ferrara reminds us to be certain to include any supplements and over-the-counter medications that you take, including multivitamins and pain relievers.
If you have records that may have to be requested from another provider such as your gastroenterologist, surgeon or OB/GYN, start the process of getting those records sent to your primary care provider.
What makes scheduling your annual exam even easier? MyChart!
MyChart is a free, secure online patient portal that allows you to schedule and view upcoming appointments anytime, day or night. In addition, you can receive an email or push notification notifying you of wait list appointment slots so you can see a care provider sooner.
Other benefits of MyChart:
- Get your test results sooner
- Send a message to your healthcare team privately and securely
- View your provider's notes after your appointment
- Use eCheck-in and save time by checking in up to seven days before your appointment
- Solicitar el resurtido de medicamentos con receta.
- View your health information from other organizations that also use MyChart all in one place