This section is provided by one of our medical consults:
Dr. Teresa Dean, M.D.
On-Site Physician at Dunwoody Pines
Path to Victory Against Infectious Diseases
New Year’s resolutions generally include an assortment of diets and exercises; the predominant theme is frequently chasing the objective of a healthier year. Unfortunately, what is often overlooked is making time for a few of the vital health care screenings that may make the most significant impact on your new year.
Upon enrolling in Medicare, a “Welcome to Medicare Visit” is recommended outlining your health care goals, needs and recommended screening timeline considering your specific medical and family history. This should also be updated and ammended each year in your Annual Well Visit, now covered by Medicare.
Be sure to speak with your physician to confirm that you are up-to-date on the following:
All Adults:
1. Colonscopy – Every 10yrs from age 50 to at least age 75, but the frequency may increase if any suspicious lesions are found or if you have a significant family history of colon cancer.
2. Bone Density – Every 2 yrs after age 65 or earlier after risk established including hyperparathyroidism, estrogen deficiency, steroid treatment, frequent fractures and lack of weight-bearing activity.
3. Lab Screening – Diabetes and Cholesterol screening is recommended and generally covered by Medicare and many private insurance companies every 6mo to 5yrs depending on your results. Cholesterol screening should begin at age 35 in men and age 45 in women, or earlier with significant cardiac risk factors.
4. Glaucoma – Covered annually for those at high risk, including individuals with diabetes or family history of glaucoma.
Men:
5. PSA – Annually after age 50 or earlier with family history is covered by Medicare, but is no longer formally recommended by the US Preventative Task Force due to the high number of false positives and therefore potentially unneccesary and harmful interventional diagnostics that follow. These are important considerations to discuss with your physician before pursuing this screening.
6. AAA Ultrasound – Covered once to rule out abdominal aortic aneurysm for men aged 65-75 with a smoking hx of over 100 cigarettes in a lifetime.
Women:
7. Mammogram- Annually beginning at age 40 or earlier with family hsitory, after age 74 this is no longer specifically recommended but is still current covered by medicare if the individual elects to continue with the appropriate order from a physician.
8. Pap Smear – Every 1-5yrs depending on results through age 65, after which frequency should be determined by past pap smear results and current partner status.
These recommendations are directly from the CDC along with the US Preventative Tast Force and should be financially covered by Medicare at appropriate intervals.
One of the most frequent inquiries following the question of ‘what screening should be initiated’ is often
‘when is it no longer appropriate to continue screening?’ The bottom-line in answering this question comes from examining the purpose of screening. Screening is an attempt to catch diseases at earlier stages to initiate treatment when most effective. The time to stop screening is when you, as the individual, would no longer wish to pursue treatment if a diagnosis was made. This decision should be based on the timeline of disease progression, risks of treatment, risks of screening and your personal goals for your quality and quantity of life. Be sure to spend time with your physician understanding all these factors for any condition for which you are being screened to determine the appropriate health care screening plan specifically for you.
Dunwoody Pines offers the availability of an on-site physician service through Dr. Dean with Assisted Health Partners. Look for more on your medical topics of interest in live seminars here at Dunwoody Pines. For more information, feel free to contact 404-633-4838. We look forward to helping you maximize your health.
Dunwoody Pines offers the availability of an on-site physician service through Dr. Dean with Assisted Health Partners. Look for more on your medical topics of interest in live seminars here at Dunwoody Pines. For more information, feel free to contact 404-633-4838. We look forward to helping you maximize your health.
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