preventive care

During a wellness visit, you and your doctor or health care provider will create a prevention plan based on your needs. As part of the visit, your provider will:

• Give you a health-risk assessment
  • This may include a questionnaire that you complete (with or without the help of your doctor) before or during the visit that looks at your health status, injury risks, risky behaviors and urgent health needs.
• Take your medical and family history.
• Make a list of your current providers, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers and medications
  • Medications include prescription medications, as well as vitamins and supplements that you may take.
• Create a written 5-10 year screening schedule or check-list
  • This checklist depends on your individual health status, screening history, age, Medicare coverage, and the preventive services you are eligible for.
• Identify risk factors and current medical and mental health conditions along with related current or recommended treatments.
• Check your height, weight, blood pressure, and body mass index.
• Screen for cognitive impairment
  • Cognitive impairment includes diseases such as Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Medicare does not require that physicians use a test to screen patients. Doctors are asked to rely on their observation of the patient or on reports by the patient and others.
• Review risk factors for depression.
• Review your functional ability and level of safety
  • This includes screening for hearing impairments and your risk of falling
  • Your doctor must also assess your ability to perform activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing and also your level of safety in your home.
• Give health advice and referrals to health education or preventive counseling services or programs aimed at reducing identified risk factors and promoting wellness
  • These include weight loss, physical activity, smoking cessation, fall prevention, and nutrition.