FALL NEWSLETTER

Welcome Page | Services | Office Hours and Directions | Newsletter Index
Meet the Medical Team | Recommended Links

Fall 2004

Newsletter Contents:
A Message from the Administrator
Preventative Health Guidelines

A MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR

Would you like to receive Weaverville Family Medicine's quarterly newsletter directly to your email? If yes, then please click here and email your address to our website manager. If you have any questions for our office manager, you may reach Tom Crook at 645-3066.

PREVENTATIVE HEALTH GUIDELINES
These "Preventative Health Guidelines" are based on recommendations of the Preventative Services Task Force of the American Academy of Family Physicians, The American Cancer Society, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The Canadian Task Force on Periodic Health Examinations, and our clinical experience.

Preventative Health Guidelines
The goal of a Health Screening Program is to prevent illness and identify problems in their early stages. Weaverville Family Medicine Associates has endorsed the guidelines listed here for all of our patients and their family members. The program is designed to detect diseases before they are clinically apparent - that is, for individuals with "no problems" or in "good health."

Early detection can lead to an improved outcome. If you have a family history that makes one of these diseases more likely, screening on a more frequent basis is advisable. Any individual circumstances should be discussed with your provider to determine an interval appropriate for you.

Women

Age 20 to 40 years:

· History and physical exam every year;
· Urinalysis, cholesterol screening and other appropriate blood tests;
· Pap smear every year, unless status post hysterectomy;
· Skin cancer screening.

Age 40 to 50 years:

· Same as 20-40, and...
· Screening mammography every 1-2 years;
· Stools for occult bleeding, yearly.

Age 50 to 65 years:

· same as 40-50, and...
· Flexible examination of your colon, sigmoidoscopy every 4 years, or colonoscopy every 10 years;
· Bone Density x-ray, if appropriate;
· Skin cancer screening.

Over Age 65:

· History and physical exam once a year;
· Urinalysis, cholesterol screening and other appropriate blood tests;
· Pap smear in 2-3 year intervals, if appropriate;
· Screening mammography every year;
· Stools for occult bleeding yearly;
· Flexible examination of your colon, sigmoidoscopy every 3 years, or colonoscopy every 10 years;
· Bone Density x-ray, if appropriate;
· Influenza immunization once every year;
· Skin cancer screening.

Men

Age 20 to 40 years:

· History and physical exam every 5 years;
· Urinalysis, cholesterol screening and other appropriate blood tests;
· Skin cancer screening.

Age 40 to 50 years:

· Same as 20-40, and...
· History and physical exam every year;
· Digital rectal examination, yearly;
· Stools for occult bleeding, yearly.

Age 50 to 65 years:

· same as 40-50, and...
· Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, if appropriate;
· Flexible examination of your colon, sigmoidoscopy every 3 years, or colonoscopy every 10 years.

Over Age 65:

· History and physical exam every year;
· Urinalysis, cholesterol screening and other appropriate blood tests;
· Digital rectal exam, yearly;
· Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, if appropriate;
· Stools for occult bleeding, yearly;
· Flexible examination of your colon, sigmoidoscopy every 4 years, or colonoscopy every 10 years;
· Influenza immunization once every year;
· Baseline electrocardiogram if appropriate;
· Bone Density x-ray, if appropriate;
· Skin cancer Screening.

Children

Well baby and child visits:
2 weeks
2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
12 months
15 months
18 months
2 years of age

Age 3-5 years:
Yearly visits

After Age 5:
Visits every 2-3 years.

Immunizations will be given during well visits. These visits are designed to detect congenital and developmental abnormalities and are not "sick" child visits.

Please join us this winter, for the next edition of the Weaverville Family Medicine Newsletter.
Do you have questions about The Weaverville Family Medicine Newsletter? For medical questions, please contact us at 645-3066. If you have a website related question or comment, then please contact our website manager.

return to top of page
return to Newsletter Index
return to Welcome Page