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 test a minimum of every one to three years. Pap tests may be discontinued after age 65 if previous screenings are normal (minimum of three negative Pap tests 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 high-risk groups have an influenza (flu) vaccine annually.
- Recommend that all patients over age 65 or in high-risk 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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