Are You Getting All Needed Preventive Care?
Regular checkups are important at all ages. It’s the best way to get the health care advice and services you may need. If you’re only going to the doctor when you are sick, there isn’t time for your doctor to focus on other health care issues that may need to be addressed.
Not sure when to see the doctor for a checkup? Here are some guidelines for routine checkups:
Preventive Care Checklist
| Who |
What |
When |
| Children (birth to age 12) |
- Needed immunizations, including flu and vaccines to prevent mumps, measles and rubella
- Body mass index (BMI) with counseling for nutrition and physical activity
- Assistance managing chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes
- Assistance managing medications like those for ADHD
|
- Six preventive care visits between birth and 15 months
- One preventive care visit annually beginning at age 2
|
| Adolescents (age 12-21) |
- Needed immunizations, including flu and, by age 13, a meningococcal shot and Tdap booster shot to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis
- BMI
- Counseling for risky behaviors (such as sexual activity, drug and alcohol abuse and tobacco use) and screening for depression
- Assistance managing chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes
- Assistance managing medications like those for ADHD and depression
|
- One preventive care visit annually
|
| Adults (age 18 and up) |
- Needed immunizations, including flu and tetanus
- BMI
- Cancer screenings such as breast, cervical, colorectal and skin
- Blood pressure screening
- Assistance managing chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure
- Assistance managing medications like those for depression
- Monitoring the effects of certain medications such as digoxin, diuretics and ACE/ARBs
- Discussing aspirin use, smoking cessation
|
- One preventive care visit annually
|
