Newborns
Should be seen in the office on day 4 or 5 of life, with a follow-up at 2 weeks of age, to ensure that the newborn has regained birth weight. The provider will give guidance on welcoming a new baby to the home, how and how much to feed, and including suggestions for bathing, expectations about the sleep-wake cycle in the newborn, as well as avoiding exhaustion in the parents.
Well Baby
Visits often are based around the routine immunization schedule: at 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months for the first, then 15, 18 and 24 months for the second year. Evaluation of normal growth and development, evaluations of feeding and weight gain, are all issues to be addressed.
Well Child
Annual visits are advised to assess growth, weight gain, and developmental issues. Providers can advise on developing healthy habits and school readiness. And yes: Family Medicine includes caring for young and maturing children. All our providers are trained in and are comfortable treating pediatric patients.
Well Teen Visits
Are advised to discuss issues related to maturity towards young adulthood. The passage into puberty, discussions surrounding birth control and menstrual and sexual health are all fair game during a well visit.
Well Adult Visits
For men and women include an annual skin exam, blood pressure, heart and lung screenings, as well as STD checks and sometimes review of lab work drawn here or outside the office. Just having labs drawn does not complete a “well visit” and not every well visit means “routine labs.”
Well Woman Visit
Skin and breast exams, with or without a cervical pap smear (not always needed). Discussion of birth control issues, healthy menstruation, peri-menopausal symptoms, and healthy aging are all routine issues to be addressed during well woman exam.
Medicare Wellness Visit
Includes the First Year “Welcome to Medicare” examination, as well as annual visits thereafter. Assessments of fall risk, memory, depression, household safety, and discussion of advance directives and a Living Will are all elements of this structured visit.