There is good evidence that doctor intervention during
routine office visits can help keep you healthy. This is
a summary of the minimum preventive screening guidelines
that Dean Health Plan recommends for healthy
adults who have no symptoms or are at low risk for
disease:
Counseling
- Recommend that all patients who smoke or use
tobacco quit.
- Encourage seat belt and bicycle helmet use for
all patients.
Physical Exams
- Recommend that all patients have their blood pressure
checked every one to two years.
- Recommend that all women ages 40 and older have
a yearly breast exam by a physician.
- Recommend that all women ages 18 to 65 have
a Pap smear a minimum of every one to three
years. Pap smears may be discontinued after age
65 if previous screenings are normal (minimum
of three negative Pap smears in the last
10 years).
Lab/Radiology Tests
- Recommend that all women ages 50 to 75 have a
mammogram every one to two years.
- Recommend that all members ages 35 to 65 have
their cholesterol checked at least once, then periodically
as appropriate.
Immunizations
- Recommend that all patients have a tetanus-diphtheria
booster every 10 years.
- Recommend that all patients over age 65 or in highrisk
groups have an influenza (flu) vaccine annually.
- Recommend that all patients over age 65 or in highrisk
groups have a pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine
every five years.
Other preventive care may be appropriate as well. Talk with your doctor about the preventive care that’s right for you.
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