Annual Wellness Visit

Annual wellness visits are important aspects of maintaining optimal health as you age. At First Health of Monroe in Monroe Township, New Jersey, internal medicine specialist Aruna Chakrala, MD, performs comprehensive wellness visits. Dr. Chakrala tailors your preventive care plan to address your specific needs and works with you to make adjustments each year. Call the office or request an appointment online today.

What is an annual wellness visit?

An annual wellness visit is a preventive exam that assesses your overall health. Your initial screening allows Dr. Chakrala to create a health care plan tailored to your unique needs, risk factors, and goals. These visits aim to identify early signs of disease and promote optimal health and wellness. 

As you age and your needs evolve, Dr. Chakrala can adjust your plan to account for changes to your physical, mental, and cognitive health.

How is an annual wellness visit different from a physical exam?

While wellness visits and physical exams share many similarities, the former is not a head-to-toe exam. Instead, an annual wellness visit focuses on preventive care and risk assessments. A physical exam aims to identify health concerns in their early stages before you show symptoms. 

Wellness visits also prioritize healthy diet and lifestyle changes, preventive health screenings, and cognitive evaluations over the diagnostic testing that physical exams often include. Medicare typically provides full coverage for annual wellness visits, but it doesn’t reimburse for physical exams.

What does an annual wellness visit involve?

Dr. Chakrala may include an array of tests and screenings in your personalized prevention plan to meet your needs and goals. Your plan may include the following (depending on your age and health history):

Health risk assessment

During a health risk assessment, Dr. Chakrala asks detailed questions about your family history, past injuries, behavioral health, and any symptoms you’re currently experiencing.

Safety and function screening

Safety and function screenings are increasingly important with age. Dr. Chakrala assesses your fall risk, safety at home, and your ability to enjoy life independently during these screenings.

Medical history review

A medical history review involves updating your health records to include medications you take, specialists you visit, and durable medical equipment (DME) and assistive devices you use.

Cognitive screening

Screening for cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, is critical for your health and safety.

Referrals

If Dr. Chakrala identifies any causes for concern, such as poor coordination, worsening disease symptoms, or cognitive impairments, she may issue a specialist referral. 

Why should I schedule wellness visits annually?

Dr. Chakrala recommends scheduling a wellness visit once a year to stay abreast of changes to your health. The sooner you receive care, the more likely you are to detect health problems when they’re still treatable.

Annual wellness visits help ensure you stay healthy and happy for as long as possible. Call First Health of Monroe or request your appointment online today.