Who Should be on the Care Team? What Appointments Should I be Making for My Loved Ones?
Some people will tell you that one of the hardest parts of aging or being sick is the mountain of appointments that you will have to face. That being said, it is important to organize yourself and try to assemble the best possible team in order to cut down on the frustrations while getting your Patient the best possible care available.
Think of your family doctor or primary care provider (PCP) as the quarterback. A good PCP will always keep their eye on the ball, while knowing when and who to pass the ball to when the situation calls for it. They will do this by referring your Patient to the proper specialist according to the Patient’s symptoms. Or the referral will be made based on screenings that merit it. If you find that your Patient’s PCP is consistently not on the same page with you, hard to contact, or doesn’t communicate well, don’t continue to try to make it work. MOVE ON! If you don’t like them while all is relatively healthy/calm, it will not get better when sick/emergent.
Baseline Team Members for Patients ages 18-39:
Primary Care Provider (PCP) or Family doctor: New patient exam, and then annually as recommended by PCP.
Dentist: New patient exam and a full mouth series of x-rays. Yearly exams and treatment as recommended.
Dental Hygienist: Teeth cleaning every 6 months, or as recommended by Hygienist. -
Gynecologist: For female patient, annual appointments that includes Pap smear, pelvic exam, clinical breast exam, and if you have a new sex partner, screenings for sexually transmitted diseases.
Additional Team Members that Should be Added After Age 40 along with Screening Exams:
Dermatologist: If you're fair-skinned or have a family history of skin cancer, you'll need an annual appointment. Otherwise, have a baseline appointment and then go again if you have any suspicious moles or skin issues.
Cholesterol screening: You need one every five years if your last test was normal.
Mammogram: Annual screenings starting at age 40.
Stress echocardiogram: Get a baseline analysis of how your heart is holding up.
Ophthalmologist: Many doctors advise going annually, although others recommend every two to four years until age 65, then annually. The visit should include an intraocular pressure measurement for glaucoma.
Additional Screenings That Should be Added After Age 50:
Colonoscopy: Every five years.
Bone density scan: Start routine testing at menopause—earlier if you're small-framed, your weight is very low, you have a mother with osteoporosis, or you've had fractures (other than in a freak accident) after age 45.
PSA Screening: For male patients 40 and older, annual rectal exam and PSA blood test to screen for prostate cancer.
Screening Audiogram: Starting at age 50 a screening audiogram should be done, and then as prescribed.
Additional Screenings That Should be Added After Age 65:
Podiatrist: Patient should be seen for a baseline check and then as prescribed.
DISCLAIMER: THIS BLOG IS GIVING MEDICAL SUGGESTIONS, WHICH CANNOT REPLACE MEDICAL TREATMENT. IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF URGENT MEDICAL CARE DO NOT DELAY TREATMENT. SEEK TREATMENT NOW.
