Health Maintenance and Physical Examinations
A yearly physical examination when you
are otherwise healthy is unnecessary and expensive. Regular visits are necessary
to help you continue in good health since diseases can be discovered at early
stages and treated more effectively than when allowed to progress until symptoms
develop. Examination, laboratory tests and immunizations are recommended at the
intervals following. Certainly if you are sick, injured or have special problems
you should not hesitate to call and make an appointment. Rather, these
recommendations are only if you are completely well.
Infants: Seen at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5
months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, and 18 months.
Preschool Child (1-5 years): Two visits, one between 2 and 3
and the other at school entry with emphasis on nutrition, social development,
vision, hearing and speech.
School Child (6 -- 11 years): Two visits, one between 6 and 7
and between 9 and 10 with testing for vision and hearing defects, muscular
coordination, learning disabilities, immunizations and physical examination for
fitness, nutrition, sexual development, obesity, hypertension and drug abuse
prevention.
Adolescence (12-17 years): One visit between 13 and 15 with
attention to emotional status, vision and hearing, skin, blood pressure,
cholesterol and contraception.
Young Adulthood (18-24 years): One professional visit with
emphasis on tetanus immunizations, venereal disease screening, assessment of
cholesterol, hypertension and female disorders (Pap smear). This visit may be
provided upon entrance into college or armed forces or first full time job but
should be before marriage.
Young Middle Age (25-40 years): Two professional visits at ages
30 and 35 including complete physical examination as described below.
Middle Age (40-59 years): At approximately four-year intervals
a complete examination as noted with annual blood pressure checks, weight
evaluation, urinalysis, hemoglobin, and stools for occult blood and other tests
which will be individualized for certain cancers. At age 50 a colonoscopy should
be performed routinely. Dexascans
are performed on women who are at special risk for osteoporosis
Old Middle Age (60-70 years): Complete physical examination at
age 60 and every eighteen months to two years thereafter which annual
immunization against influenza and pneumococcal immunization.