“ Today , it is more important than ever to be proactive with your health , and there is so much information available at our fingertips to help people do that , more than ever before . But , again , in addition to learning about your health , it ’ s also important to partner with a primary care provider to help you navigate your health journey .”
- Julie Dunn , MercyOne Clinton Foundation executive director
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center in Clinton . Photo by Jenna Blount
Other services that Dunn says MercyOne will continue to offer include cardiac calcium scoring , by which an individual ’ s risk level for a heart attack is determined by measuring calcified plaque buildup in the heart . At the cost of $ 99 , a doctor ’ s order is not required to have this service performed .
Mammograms will continue to be offered for women ’ s breast health . Between the ages of 35 and 40 , the first screening should be done and , as recommended by the American Cancer Society , screenings should be completed on an annual basis .
Self-ordered laboratory testing aids an individual in learning about their body . The most expensive of these certain services is $ 65 , which is for the testing of vitamin D levels . For lesser costs , an individual can request testing for other vitamin levels , Covid testing , pregnancy testing . a complete blood count , and others . The results of any of these services are sent to the patient within a week after testing has been performed .
Community health screenings , bone density testing , low dose lung screening , and the tobacco cessation program are expected to continue as well .
Recalling those first steps in gaining and maintaining health and wellness , a couple additions have been made to MercyOne . org . There , the Patient Provider Match Tool asks an individual to take a health personality quiz consisting of 11 questions .
When completed , the only information kept is the individual ’ s name and email address , and a list is generated of local health experts who have also taken quizzes and whose answers are compared to the potential patient ’ s . Providers who could
possibly be the right fit for that individual based on what is most important to them when choosing a primary care provider are determined and the individual can then view profiles of each of the listed providers before making a decision .
Also on MercyOne . org is a well-being program called Circle +. In recent years , “ telehealth ” allows a patient to connect with a specialist via phone or computer instead of a physical meeting . Circle + offers support and resources to connect patient and provider for weight loss , physical fitness mindfulness , and building healthy habits for a monthly fee of $ 19.99 . It also offers a personalized health coach for guidance on anyone ’ s health journey .
Regular visits with a doctor and routine screenings , according to John Hopkins Medicine , result in the earlier diagnosis of medical conditions , because they allow physicians to see how health factors progress over time . This increases an individual ’ s chances for better outcomes and a longer lifespan by preventing issues from advancing with interventions like medication or lifestyle changes .
Regular preventative health care differs and changes with age , gender , individual goals , and family history , among other factors . An independent panel of experts through which recommendations for defined quality preventative measures is the United States Preventive Services Task Force . As always , however , before making any drastic changes , a primary care provider should be consulted .
“ Today , it is more important than ever to be proactive with your health , and there is so much information available at our fingertips to help people do that , more than ever before ," Dunn said . " But , again , in addition to learning about your health , it ’ s also important to partner with a primary care provider to help you navigate your health journey .”
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