After-Hours Care Appointments

Annual Physical Examinations

Why Choose Avance Care for Your Annual Physical?

At Avance Care, we believe that an annual physical is the most critical preventive care service you need to not only keep you healthy, but catch silent killers like heart disease and cancer, as well as chronic conditions like diabetes.

We offer more than a standard doctor’s office that often just skims the surface with a basic examination. Our physicals are comprehensive, personalized to your needs, and evidence-based. 

Get your annual physical at Avance Care and have peace of mind.

It only takes 30 minutes — no matter how busy your schedule is, you can fit it in!

Our physicals are more expansive than those offered at standard doctor’s offices. Our goals for your complete history and physical examination every year include:

  1. Perform a thorough physical examination
  2. Detect any underlying issues at their earliest possible stage — issues you may not have detected on your own
  3. Allow you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding your health, discuss issues that are worrying you, and arrange follow-up as needed
  4. Update and discuss your current medications and any over-the-counter (OTC) medications you may be taking. (Management of chronic medical conditions requires a separate visit)
  5. Discuss the many choices for contraception for men and women 
  6. Assess your risk for and discuss the prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes 
  7. Identify “pre-hypertension” and “hypertension” 
  8. Identify high-risk behaviors that may require further screening or treatment
  9. Identify recommended immunizations
  10. Provide the setting to build a relationship with your primary care physician/provider 
  11. Discuss healthy diet and exercise choices
  12. Follow US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) A and B recommendations/other professional organizations’ recommendations for preventive tests such as mammograms, PAP smears, STD screening, colonoscopy, and prostate cancer screening
  13. Document and update your family, social, surgical, and medical history. This may guide the need for further preventive tests.

Components of the Complete History and Physical Examination at

Avance Care 

History

Before your examination, you will be asked to answer questions about your personal and family medical history, your previous surgeries or procedures, and your lifestyle behaviors like smoking, alcohol use, sexual health, diet, and exercise. The survey will include questions about your mood and if you have concerns about safety in your home. This is your chance to mention any complaints or concerns about your health. These concerns may need to be addressed thoroughly at a follow-up visit.

Basics

Height, Weight, Body Mass Index: Are you normal weight? Overweight? Obese?

Vital Signs
Blood pressure, Heart rate, Respiration rate, Temperature. Is your BP in normal range?
General Appearance
A large amount of information is gathered about you and your health just by watching and talking to you. How is your memory and mental quickness? Does your skin appear healthy? Can you easily stand and walk?
Head and Neck Exam
Opening up and saying “ah” shows off your throat and tonsils. The quality of your teeth and gums also provides information about your overall health. Ears, nose, eyes, lymph nodes, thyroid, and carotid arteries may also be examined. Are you getting routine dental care with a dentist?
Heart Exam
Listening to your heart with a stethoscope may reveal an irregular heartbeat, a heart murmur, or other clues to heart disease.
Lung Exam

Crackles, wheezes, or decreased breath sounds may be heard using a stethoscope. These and other sounds are clues to the presence of heart or lung disease like asthma or COPD.

Abdominal Exam

“Percussion” or tapping your abdomen may detect liver size abnormality and the presence of abdominal fluid. Palpation may identify abnormal masses. Listening may identify abnormally-enlarged blood vessels.

Neurological Exam
Nerves, muscle strength, reflexes, balance, and mental state may be assessed.
Skin Exam

Skin and nail findings could indicate a problem or disease somewhere else in the body. Sun screen will be discussed and a follow-up visit for a skin biopsy may be offered for any suspicious skin lesions.

Extremities Exam
Sensation and pulses can be checked in your arms and legs. Examining joints can assess for abnormalities.
Laboratory Tests
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC) screens for anemia, iron deficiency, inflammation/infections, and blood cancers.
  • Lipid Panel (Cholesterol) is a component for assessment for your risk of heart attack, and stroke.
  • Complete Metabolic Panel screens for diabetes, nutritional status, liver, and kidney function.
*Male Physical Exam: Details of this exam are based on your age, risk factors, and discussion of current guidelines
  • Genital exam: The testicles are examined for lumps, tenderness, or changes in size. The penis is examined for discharge and unusual growths or skin changes.
  • Hernia exam: The instructions “turn your head and cough” checks for a weakness in the abdominal wall between the intestines and scrotum.
  • Prostate exam: Inserting a finger in the rectum examines the prostate for its size and any suspicious areas.
*Female Physical Exam: Details of this exams are based on your age, risk factors, and discussion of current guidelines
  • Breast exam: Breasts, nipples, and arm pits are examined for abnormal skin findings and masses.
  • Pelvic exam: The pelvic exam allows examination of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries. Screening for STD’s and Cervical Cancer with a PAP smear and HPV testing will be offered as indicated.

 *You will be asked your preference if you would like a chaperone for the male physical exam or female physical exam. 

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