When Doctors and Providers “Visit the Doctor”
Dig into your memory archive and try to recall your first day at a new job – whether the one you have now or had in the past. Employers want to make sure employees are in good health for a variety of reasons and physicals have become somewhat standard. The interesting thing is that concern for health often ends at the physical and doesn’t carry over to everyday life.
Preventative care is the practice of seeking to root out potential illness and disease before it becomes an issue using testing and family history to prescribe treatment.
Our practice is committed to preventative care – we want to keep you healthy. Our primary weapon against disease and illness is the comprehensive physical. This physical goes beyond any physical you may have received in the past providing data that allows you and your provider to see a complete picture of your current health and discover if there is anything to be aware of. It’s a great way to practice healthy living.
When Doctors and Providers “Visit the Doctor”
All of our patients are encouraged to get a physical. In February, we recommended to our entire staff that they get same comprehensive physical that we encourage patients to participate in.
As test results came in, we were excited about two things.
- Our staff became aware of the current state of their health.
Some staff members identified health concerns they were unaware of that needed to be addressed immediately. - Here’s an email we got from one of our past providers, Gayle Milek, FNP-C.
“My annual physical was well overdue. I found it very reassuring that I have no plaque in the carotid arteries which is a good sign that the arteries around my heart are free of plaque (build up of cholesterol). I learned from my blood work that I need to make some necessary changes in my diet and start exercising to prevent health problems from my blood sugars being above normal. If I make those changes, I can prevent problems such as loss of eyesight, weak bones and fractures, kidney problems, heart attack, and stroke. If I do not start taking care of myself, I will not be around to take care of patients or my family!” – Gayle Milek, Former Provider at Warner Family Practice
Everybody, even health professionals, need to be aware of the state of their health. In Gayle’s case, one physical revealed a lot about what is good, what is bad and what needs to change. It’s easy to say, “I feel fine,” and put off being seen. We’re not necessarily looking for what is wrong now, but what could be an issue 12, 24, even 36 months from now.
The old saying “you don’t know what you don’t know” could not be any more true.
You Forget About Yourself but You Shouldn’t
Our staff’s number one concern is you, the patient. Like you, they are so focused on doing their job and taking care of their family and loved ones that their personal health often takes a back seat. Providing physicals for our staff has compelled many to take a look at their own health for once.
“All I would say is as a mom we always make sure that everyone whom we love is taken care of physically, emotionally and spiritually. But, when it comes to ourselves we seem to put that all on the back burner and ignore certain signs. This experience brought out that I now have elevated blood pressure and Diabetes. The staff was gracious, caring and so kind during the physical exam process. I guess this momma has to start taking care of herself.” – Enza Knapp
We want to get you scheduled for a physical. There is nothing we do at our office that prevents disease and illness more than having patients go through a comprehensive physical. Call to schedule your appointment. If you have concerns over cost, you will need to consult with your insurance carrier. Every test performed in the comprehensive physical is covered under insurance, and to avoid unexpected costs, you may want to ask your carrier what will be applied towards your deductible.
You can call our office at 480.831.8457 or schedule your appointment through our online portal by clicking here.
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