If you’ve put off seeing your doctor for fear of catching or spreading the COVID-19 virus, Dr. Brandon Mizell, family medicine physician, wants you to know it’s safe and important to come in. 

Precautions for your safety include eliminating the waiting room by waiting in the car, scheduling well-visits in the morning and ill visits for the afternoon, masking of all patients and providers, checking the temperature of all clinic visitors, screening clinic staff multiple times during the shift, asking that only the patient comes in, and enhanced cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.

“It’s important for people to put their health first and to feel comfortable and safe when they need to see a provider,” Dr. Mizell said. “We know it’s been a challenging year and want to help patients stay on track with their health. An ongoing relationship with a provider you know and trust can help you make a plan to reach your health goals for the long term.”

Here are five reasons to make an appointment for your next well-visit or check-up without delay.

1. Check on your general health. The clinic has a record of your health metrics over time, including cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and others. If any numbers are trending in the wrong direction, your doctor can help you make a plan to get back on track with lifestyle changes, diet or medical treatment.
2. Manage chronic conditions. Ongoing medical concerns, whether diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or others require regular monitoring by a provider to keep them from progressing to life-threatening levels. Regular checkups can help you avoid a medical crisis.
3. Identify issues early with routine screenings. The practice keeps records of your screening exams to help you remember when it’s time to get your colonoscopy, mammogram, bone density test, prostate exam and other screenings. Early identification of many illnesses can give you the most options for treatment and better outcomes.
4. Stay current on vaccinations for your protection. While you’re hearing plenty of news about the COVID-19 vaccine, there are a number of other vaccinations to prevent disease as your immune system weakens over time. Flu shots annually. Tetanus shots every ten years. Vaccines for shingles and pneumonia and more. The practice will remind you when it’s time to get your immunizations. 
5. Keep prescriptions updated. Bring a full list of your medications, including any over-the-counter, so your physician has a complete picture of what you’re taking. An annual review can identify possible side effects or medication conflicts.

Of course, the best reason of all is peace of mind about your health. 

If you need help finding a primary care provider, visit MyMeritDoctor.com or call 1-855-MSMERIT to find one and schedule an appointment.

Sources: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-annual-check-up-is-still-important-to-your-health

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html