What is an Annual Physical Exam?

The annual Physical exam is more extensive than the wellness exam. The annual wellness exam includes only the health assessment. It does not involve routine measurements where the doctor physically examines you.

In addition to the services that are included in the wellness exam, the physical exam also includes services such as a check of you BMI, body fat, muscle mass, visceral fat, bone mass, a head & neck exam, neurological exam, abdominal exam, and vital signs check.

What is a Wellness Exam?

A wellness exam is to keep you in good health and reduce your overall medical costs through assessment of risk factors and early detection of diseases.

The difference between a general wellness exam and a problem-oriented visit is the latter visits are used to diagnose a current health problem. A wellness exam used to diagnose a problem in its early stage.

After you complete a health risk assessment, your doctor will create your personalized prevention plan. Based on your current health, this plan will improve your engagement, help you prevent illness, and promote preventative healthcare.

The annual wellness exam helps in drawing a picture of how healthy you are and creating directions for future care.

What is Done at a Wellness Exam?

Before your appointment, you will be asked to answer a questionnaire about your health, called a Health Risk Assessment. The answers will provide your doctor with important information that will be discussed during your annual wellness exam. At this time, the doctor will also collect information about psychosocial risks, behavioral risks, self-assessment of health, demographics and activities of daily living.

During your exam, the doctor will review your medical and family history through:

• Medical events of your family, including diseases that place you at increased risk or diseases that are hereditary.

• Past medical history including allergies, injuries, traumas, treatments, operations, hospitalizations, and illnesses.

• Current medications and supplements you are taking

Your doctor will ask questions about your weight, height, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and discuss your health choices and current lifestyle. The visit may also include different types of screening depending on your list of medications and providers, and create a list of risk factors and treatment options and offer you personalized health advice.

What Should I Bring to My Wellness Exam?

• Your medical records

• A list of your health care providers

• A list of medications and supplements you take