Preventive care · Internal Medicine
Prevention is better than cure
Many serious conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and several cancers, can be prevented or caught early with the right checkups and screenings. A yearly preventive visit is one of the best things you can do for your long-term health.
Your yearly visit
What your preventive visit includes
Dr. Manali Patel takes the time to review your health and build a personal prevention plan, with a focus on reaching and keeping a healthy weight to prevent disease.
- Health and family history reviewTo understand your personal risks.
- Blood pressure, weight and BMIKey numbers for heart and metabolic health.
- Recommended lab workDone in our in-house lab.
- Cancer screening planWe order or refer you for the screenings you are due for.
- Vaccine reviewTo keep your immunizations up to date.
- Lifestyle guidanceNutrition, activity and sleep advice you can actually use.
Screening recommendations
Which screenings do you need?
These general guidelines are based on current national recommendations. Your doctor will personalize them based on your age, health and family history.
| Screening | Who | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | All adults 18 and older | At every yearly visit, or more often if it is high |
| Diabetes and prediabetes | Adults 35 and older, and younger adults with risk factors such as excess weight, family history or South Asian ancestry | Every 3 years if normal, or yearly if you have prediabetes (A1c or fasting blood sugar) |
| Cholesterol (lipid panel) | All adults | Every 4 to 6 years if normal, or more often if you have risk factors or are on treatment |
| Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a) | All adults | Once in your lifetime. Lp(a) is largely inherited and a high level raises heart disease risk |
| Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) | Adults with diabetes, high triglycerides or who are on cholesterol treatment | As recommended by your doctor, to better understand remaining heart risk |
| Colorectal cancer | Adults 45 to 75 | Colonoscopy every 10 years, or a stool test such as FIT every year or stool DNA every 1 to 3 years |
| Breast cancer (mammogram) | Women 40 to 74 | Every 2 years. Your doctor may recommend yearly screening based on your risk |
| Cervical cancer | Women 21 to 65 | Ages 21 to 29: Pap test every 3 years. Ages 30 to 65: HPV test every 5 years, Pap test every 3 years, or both every 5 years |
| Prostate cancer (PSA) | Men 55 to 69 | A personal decision to make with your doctor. Men at higher risk, such as those with a family history, may start earlier |
| Lung cancer | Adults 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who smoke now or quit within 15 years | Low-dose CT scan every year |
| Bone density | Women 65 and older, and younger women at higher risk | As recommended by your doctor |
| Hepatitis C and HIV | Adults (hepatitis C ages 18 to 79; HIV ages 15 to 65) | At least once, and more often if you have risk factors |
| Eye exam | Everyone, and every year for people with diabetes | Ask our eye doctor about the right schedule for you |
Recommendations reflect guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and major medical societies, and can change over time. If you have symptoms or a strong family history, you may need screening earlier or more often.
Check with your insurance. Preventive coverage depends on your plan, your age and whether a test is done for screening or to look into a symptom. Follow-up tests after an abnormal result may have costs. Please confirm your benefits with your insurance plan and call our office at 630-242-2455 with any questions.
FAQ
Preventive care questions
Is my yearly preventive visit free?
Most insurance plans cover one preventive visit a year at no cost to you when you see an in-network provider. Coverage depends on your plan, so please check with your insurance and our office before your visit.
What if I bring up a new health problem during my preventive visit?
We are happy to help. If we evaluate or treat a new or ongoing problem, that part of the visit may be billed separately, and your usual copay, deductible or coinsurance may apply.
Are the lab tests covered?
Many screening tests are covered as preventive care. Some tests, such as Lp(a) or ApoB, may not be considered preventive by every plan. Please check with your insurance.
Do I need to fast for my blood work?
A cholesterol panel usually does not require fasting, but a fasting blood sugar test does. We offer fasting blood tests on select days. Please call for lab days.
What is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
Medicare covers a yearly wellness visit to review your health, update your prevention plan and schedule screenings. It is different from a full physical exam.
Schedule your yearly preventive visit
Book online or call 630-242-2455. Prevention is better than cure.