Preventive care

Why
Routine wellness visits are an important part of your preventive care plan. They help keep you healthy now & in the future, finding any health concerns as soon as possible.

What
A routine wellness visit is when a doctor or nurse evaluates your current health and any health risks you might have, including your age, health factors, habits and family history.

When
Men

20-29

• Every 1-3 years

30-39

• Every 1-3 years

40-63

• Every 1-3 years

64+

• Every year (Medicare coverage requires AWV)

Women

20-29

• Every 1-3 years

30-39

• Every 1-3 years

40-59

• Every 1-3 years

60+

• Every year (Medicare coverage requires AWV)

How
Schedule your next routine wellness visit through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

What is this? Screening for breast cancer involves a mammogram, which is a low-dose X-ray that looks at your breast tissue for any abnormalities and can detect most kinds of breast cancer.

Why do I need it? Mammograms can help detect breast changes to catch early breast cancer. 1 in 8 will develop invasive breast cancer. 85% of breast cancers occur with no family history. Screening finds breast cancer earlier and localized breast cancer has a 99% 5-year survival.

When do I need it? Breast cancer screening (or mammograms) are recommended for women aged 40-54 years old, every year. Women age 55-75, mammograms every 1-2 years recommended with individualized conversations with your provider.

How can I schedule an appointment? At most UCHealth outpatient breast-imaging locations, you do not need a referral for a screening mammogram.

Schedule your appointment by calling 844-RAD-APPT (844-723-2778) or log in to My Health Connection to schedule online.

What is this? Screening for cervical cancer involves a test performed called a Pap smear, during which a provider will take a swab sample of cells from the cervix. The sample is sent to the lab to look for abnormal cells.

Why do I need it? Cervical cancer usually does not show symptoms until the cancer becomes invasive and grows into nearby tissue. Pap smears and HPV tests help your provider keep track of any abnormalities and detect cancer as early as possible. 14,000 new cases of cervical cancer are found annually and 8 million women a year skip this screening. The average age at diagnosis is 50; routine screening should continue until age 65.

When do I need it? Women aged 21 to 29 should have a cervical cancer screening every 3 years to test for signs of cervical cancer and HPV. If your last screening was abnormal or you have more risk factors, your provider might recommend screening more often. 

Women aged 30 to 64 should have a cervical cancer screening every 3-5 years depending on the testing options; discuss these options with your medical provider.

How can I schedule an appointment? Schedule your appointment by calling 844-RAD-APPT (844-723-2778) or log in to My Health Connection to schedule online.

What is this? There are multiple screening options for colorectal cancer. Your provider will talk with you about the different types of colorectal screenings to help you choose which one is right for you.

Colonoscopy is the best screening option. Performed by a doctor called a gastroenterologist and looks at your whole colon. This is recommended every 10 years if results are normal.

Other alternatives include:

• Stool DNA test: A test you can do at home and send back to your doctor. It checks for DNA changes in your stool, and is usually performed once every 3 years.
• Stool blood test (FIT): A test you can do at home and send back to your doctor. It checks for blood in our stool that isn’t visible to the naked eye. This test can be done annually.

Why do I need it? Colorectal cancer typically grows slowly, so symptoms might not show up for years. Colorectal cancer screening helps indicate early signs by finding abnormalities such as colon polyps or blood in the stool (poop) or abnormal fecal DNA test.

Colon Cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. and 70% of all cases have no family history. Colonoscopy reduces cancer cases 30% by removing polyps. With early detection the 5-year survival rate is 90%, compared to 15% if found late.

When do I need it? Colorectal cancer screenings are recommended for all adults aged 45 to 75 years old. If you have a history of colorectal cancer in your family, your provider might recommend starting screenings earlier than age 45.

How can I schedule an appointment? Your primary care provider will talk with you about your specific needs for testing, and will give you a referral for testing if needed. Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

What is this? Diabetes screening is a blood test that looks for diabetes or evaluates the risk of getting diabetes. Your blood sample gives your primary care provider information about important markers.

Why do I need it? About 50% of adults in America have diabetes or prediabetes. Risk factors include being overweight or obese, physical inactivity and a family history of diabetes.

If left untreated, diabetes can cause kidney failure, blindness, cardiovascular disease and blood-clotting disorders.

When should I get it? Men and women can discuss diabetic screening with their medical provider based on risk factors. Individuals 35-70 who are overweight or obese should be screened routinely for diabetes.

How do I schedule an appointment? Your primary care provider will talk to you about your medical history at your routine wellness visit and will order the tests that are used to diagnose diabetes.

Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

What is this? A cholesterol test looks at the different blood fats, called cholesterol, in your blood. This test is completed by taking a sample of your blood. These tests can help figure out your risk for coronary artery disease, stroke and other heart diseases.

Why do I need it? Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and high cholesterol can indicate heart and stroke risks. CVD includes heart disease, stroke and other vascular problems.

When do I need it? A cholesterol test is important for everyone. Your primary care provider will talk to you about your health history and if you have any risk factors, such as being at high risk for heart disease, which might mean you need testing earlier or more often.

Young adults should have a discussion with their medical provider about screening for cholesterol if risk factors for heart disease are present.

Women age 45+ and men age 40+ should have routine screening of cholesterol for cardiovascular risk evaluation.

How can I schedule an appointment? Your primary care provider will talk with you about your specific needs for testing, and they will give you a referral for testing if needed.

Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

What is this? Eye exams and vision tests are two different parts of routine eye care:

• Eye exam: A comprehensive check for vision quality and overall eye health. The examination of your overall eye health is important to detect conditions such as cataracts, diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and cancers.
• Vision test: This test lets you know if there is a need for vision-correction, like glasses or contacts.

Why do I need it? Regular eye exams and vision tests help keep your eyes healthy and address eye-health concerns before they affect your vision.

When should I get it? Depending on your need for glasses or contacts, you may need to get an eye exam every 1-3 years.

How do I schedule an appointment? Schedule a vision test or comprehensive eye exam by going to your vision insurance provider’s website to find the eye care providers they cover.

What is this? High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition where the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high, which can cause other health problems like cardiovascular disease.

Why do I need it? Uncontrolled hypertension doubles the risk of death from stroke and heart disease and is linked to a half million deaths per year. Treating hypertension also reduces risk of dementia, chronic kidney disease, vision loss and erectile dysfunction.

When do I need it? Adults 18 years or older without known hypertension should be screened on an annual basis.

How do I schedule an appointment? Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

What is this? Lung cancer screening is a low-dose CT scan that involves lying on an exam table and being moved through the CT scanner, fully clothed, and can be done at many different medical locations. The scan takes about 10 minutes and is easy, quick and painless.

Why do I need it? Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Annual screenings can detect lung cancer earlier, when it is more treatable and recover outcomes are better.

When do I need it? Adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

Screening should be discontinued once a person has not smoked for 15 years or develops a health problem that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or willingness to have curative lung surgery.

How do I schedule an appointment? You will need a referral from your primary care provider to schedule a lung cancer screening.

Schedule your appointment through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

What is this? In addition to speaking with a provider directly, the most common screening tool in the U.S. is a questionnaire that you fill out. Mental and behavioral health struggles can be addressed through therapy and clinical support.

Why do I need it? A mental and behavioral health screening is a way to determine if you need or could benefit from any support services that can help make your life better.

When do I need it? Mental and behavioral health concerns can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race or financial status.

• Mental health concerns: anxiety, depression, trauma and other persistent or acute mental illnesses.
• Behavioral health concerns: smoking, disordered eating and drug and alcohol abuse.

How do I schedule an appointment? Schedule your appointment through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

What is this? A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test looks for prostate cancer in your blood. If your PSA level is high, you might need further tests to look for prostate cancer. Doctors might do a rectal exam as well.

Why do I need it? Prostate cancer will impact 1 in 6 American men. Current diagnosis and treatments are very effective, and the survival rate is very high. People who have prostate cancer might not have any symptoms, so this screening can help catch the cancer earlier.

Before deciding whether to be screened, men should have an opportunity to discuss the potential benefits and harms of screening with their clinician and to incorporate their values and preferences in the decision. Deciding if screening is right for you can be a shared decision between you and your doctor.

When do I need it? For men aged 50 to 70 years, the decision to undergo periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer should be an individual one.

How do I schedule an appointment? To figure out when to start prostate cancer screening, it’s best to talk with your primary care provider. They can help you make a plan, and, in most cases, perform the first prostate exam.

What is this? Screening for STIs will determine if you are infected and can be performed by a swab, blood or urine test.

Why do I need it? STIs might be asymptomatic, meaning you don’t notice anything abnormal, but if left untreated, might have long-term effects. Most STIs can be treated and cured, and all STIs can be managed with the help of a provider when they are caught early.

When do I need it? All sexually active adolescents and adults at increased risk for STIs should test regularly, especially before having sex with a new partner.

How do I schedule an appointment? Schedule an appointment with a provider through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

What is this? Vaccines are medicines, injected or taken by mouth, that deliberately stimulate your immune system to protect you from specific diseases like the flu, meningitis, pneumonia and polio. Vaccines are most often given by injection.

Why do I need it? Vaccines are a very effective way to prevent disease by immunizing people of every age against infectious diseases such as mumps, rubella and whooping cough.

When do I need it? Everyone needs to be vaccinated and to stay up-to-date on vaccines, because immunity can wear off as you age. You are also at risk for different diseases as you age.

How do I schedule an appointment? At your routine wellness visit, your primary care provider will talk to you about the vaccines you need based on your age and condition. Schedule your next routine wellness visit through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.