Five Reasons to Make that Well Visit Appointment
MOBERLY, Mo., February 25, 2021 – If you’ve put off seeing your doctor for fear of catching or spreading the COVID-19 virus, Dr. Heather Gessling, chief of the Moberly Regional Medical Center Medical staff, wants you to know it’s safe and important to come in.
Precautions for your safety include offering telehealth appointments, limited entry points, pre-appointment screenings, social distanced waiting rooms, limited visitors, enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols, and more.
“We want our patient and the members of the surrounding communities to make their health a priority and to feel comfortable getting the care they need,” Gessling said. “It’s important to stay on track with your health, and our providers can help you reach your health goals.”
Here are five reasons to make an appointment for your next well-visit or check-up without delay.
- Check on your general health. The clinic has a record of your health metrics over time, including cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and others. If any numbers are trending in the wrong direction, your doctor can help you make a plan to get back on track with lifestyle changes, diet or medical treatment.
- Manage chronic conditions. Ongoing medical concerns, whether diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or others require regular monitoring by a provider to keep them from progressing to life-threatening levels. Regular checkups can help you avoid a medical crisis.
- Identify issues early with routine screenings. The practice keeps records of your screening exams to help you remember when it’s time to get your colonoscopy, mammogram, bone density test, prostate exam and other screenings. Early identification of many illnesses can give you the most options for treatment and better outcomes.
- Stay current on vaccinations for your protection. While you’re hearing plenty of news about the COVID-19 vaccine, there are a number of other vaccinations to prevent disease as your immune system weakens over time. Flu shots annually. Tetanus shots every ten years. Vaccines for shingles and pneumonia and more. The practice will remind you when it’s time to get your immunizations.
- Keep prescriptions updated. Bring a full list of your medications, including any over-the-counter, so your physician has a complete picture of what you’re taking. An annual review can identify possible side effects or medication conflicts.
Of course, the best reason of all is peace of mind about your health. Moberly Rural Health Clinic and Moberly Family Medicine have seven providers in Moberly: Phillip Stitzer, D.O.; Heather Gessling, M.D.; Jon Rampton, D.O.; Susan Rasmussen, FNP; Diana Wemhoff, FNP; Courtney Ramsey, FNP, and Dana Johnson, FNP. Chariton Valley Family Medicine has two providers in Salisbury: Phillip Stitzer, D.O. and Kerri Woodson, FNP.
If you need help finding a primary care physician, call (660) 263-9095 or (660) 263-4770.
Sources: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-your-annual-check-up-is-still-important-to-your-health
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html
Back