When you were a kid, you might have visited your doctor for a “physical” before school, camp or a sports season. As a busy adult, the idea of getting a medical exam when you feel perfectly fine might not seem like a priority—but it should be.
“We don’t think about going to the doctor until we’re feeling sick, but one of the ways we can prevent getting sick is by having an annual wellness visit,” says UNC Health family medicine doctor Olivia Ritchie, MD. “At these visits, we can focus on the whole person and what will keep them well rather than what might be making them sick. We can spend more time on who you are and what you care about.”
If you’ve only been visiting the doctor during times of illness, Dr. Ritchie explains what you can expect from an annual physical when you’re well.
Preparing for Your Wellness Visit
If you’re seeing a new healthcare provider, ask if there are any forms to fill out about your medical and family health history; your provider will go over this information with you during the appointment to better understand any health conditions or risks for disease that you have.
If you’re seeing a provider you’ve seen before, think about whether there are changes to this information to share.
“When I enter the room, the first thing I ask is, ‘How you have been since the last time I saw you, and have there been any updates to your medical history?’” Dr. Ritchie says. “Maybe there’s a family member who has been diagnosed with cancer. Maybe you had a fall in your home that didn’t have injuries, so you didn’t go to the doctor, but it would be important for the provider to know so they can check on balance issues.”
Before your appointment, make a list of medications you take or bring them with you. Your provider will want to make sure your records are up-to-date and consider whether changes are needed.
It’s always helpful to wear a shirt that can be removed or rolled up in case you need a shot or a blood draw, but most people don’t have to remove other clothing for a physical. You typically won’t need to wear a gown, unless you’re having a Pap test as part of your appointment.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Your annual physical typically starts with a medical assistant or nurse, who will measure your blood pressure, heart rate and weight.
When you see your provider, expect to spend some time in conversation.
“Your provider wants to get to know you, and then we’ll go through what keeps you healthy,” Dr. Ritchie says. “We’ll talk about physical activity, nutrition, sleep and mood. I want to know if you’re having any challenges with those things or if you’re trying to reach a goal, so I know if there’s anything I can do to help troubleshoot or support.”
Dr. Ritchie says that patients are often surprised to be asked about mood symptoms.
“We tend to think about health as just the physical markers, but the mental piece is so important and plays a role in our physical health,” she says. “It’s the same with sleep. It can affect your mood, level of physical activity, nutrition—all the things that make a person well.”
Your provider will review what screenings or tests you may need; depending on your age and health history, you may need blood work or a diagnostic test, such as a colonoscopy or mammogram, that your doctor will order for you to complete at a time that works for your schedule.
During the exam, your provider will listen to your heart and lungs, check your neck for lumps, look at your eyes, ears and throat and feel your abdomen. Depending on your provider, you may also be able to receive some gynecologic care, such as a Pap test.
Many insurances allow for one wellness visit or physical per year with low or no out-of-pocket cost. If you and your provider discuss a specific complaint beyond the scope of preventive wellness, such as sinus issues, that may change how the appointment is billed depending on your insurance plan and the nature of the concern. Ask your provider if you have questions.
After Your Annual Physical
After your visit, your provider will be notified of any results from tests they ordered (though if you complete a test like a mammogram at a different location, you may have to request that those results are sent to them). If they ordered any blood work or lab tests, they may communicate with you about those results through an online patient portal or by phone or letter.
“You may get a message or call that everything looks normal, or maybe we’ll talk about whether we need additional testing or need to change a medication based on the results,” Dr. Ritchie says. “If something is outside the normal range, we might have you come back for a follow-up or make a plan for monitoring.”
Your provider will let you know when you should be seen again, which will depend on your specific health situation.
“Insurance usually allows for one comprehensive well exam in a year, but you might have more follow-ups if we’re trying to get blood sugar under control or addressing high blood pressure,” Dr. Ritchie says. “If you start a new medication, you might have a monitoring visit in three to six months.”
Dr. Ritchie says it may be possible for some of your visits to be done virtually, so ask your provider if that’s an option.
When it’s time for your next wellness visit, try to schedule with the same provider to continue building your relationship with them.
“Continuity of care is so important, because that’s really what allows a provider to see change in a person, and it makes you as the patient more comfortable as well,” Dr. Ritchie says. “Well visits are some of my favorite visits because they allow me as a physician to walk alongside a person in their health. We get to dive into what life looks like for the person and learn what’s most valuable to them. Those visits can also be a way to celebrate progress that’s been made over the past year, and that can be really rewarding.”
Ready to schedule a wellness visit? Call your doctor. If you need a doctor, find one near you.