Well Exams
Going to the doctor for an exam when you are feeling well may seem strange. But it's not. It is proper use of medical care. Well exams focus on your overall health and health risks without the stress of illness.
During these check-ups your doctor gets to know you, your family history, and other vital facts about you that are important to your health. Your doctor may order screening tests to check for specific diseases. People of all ages need regular well exams: babies, children, teens, and adults.
Why Go to the Doctor When You’re Not Sick?
Regular check-ups (also called well exams) are a part of good health care. The Alliance urges members to see their doctor within 120 days of joining the plan, and on a regular basis afterwards. The schedule should be worked out between you and your doctor.
Babies
Babies see doctors often. There are many regular checks-ups during the first year of life and vaccine/shots at most of those check-ups. Babies get ear and other infections quite easily too. This happens at all times of the day and night.
If you have a question about your baby that you feel cannot wait until the office is open, call your doctor. Every doctor needs to provide coverage for emergency calls at night or on the weekend. If you feel you have a dire problem or emergency, go to the emergency room.
When You Can’t Go to Your Scheduled Exam
There may be times when you have an exam scheduled with your doctor, but at the last minute you can’t go. This can happen to anyone. If you find that you can’t go to the exam, call the doctor’s office right away and let them know that you can’t make it. If you don’t call to cancel, the office can’t use that time for others who might need to see the doctor for an urgent problem.
Also, if you scheduled an interpreter, you must tell the Alliance that you have cancelled. If we send an interpreter and you don’t show up, we still have to pay for the cost of that service.
Back to School Exams
Healthy children do better in school. They are able to focus and learn, and they have fewer sick days.
Usually children need updates on their vaccines:
- Before starting kindergarten or first grade
- Before 7th grade
Your child will need an exam in order to play a sport.
Additional reasons why you should go when you're not sick
Your doctor will check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, and may order other tests and screenings. These tests and screenings give an inside view of what is happening in your body and can guide the doctor in assessing if everything is ok.
This is the time to discuss what self care you can do for your health. Do you have unexplained pain? Are you sad a lot of the time? Anything about your health that worries you should be shared with your doctor.
Because health and illness have strong genetic links, getting a complete history of your family’s illnesses makes up a big part of the well exam. Your own personal history is also part of the story that your doctor needs to know. This history helps your doctor interpret results from tests and screenings, and guides decisions about what should be done or watched for in the future.
Well exams give you an opportunity to assess your doctor. Do you like the way you are treated? This is an important relationship so you need to feel comfortable.