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.

Why
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.

What
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.

When
20-39

• No need for screening, unless risk factors for heart disease are present

45+

• Every 5 years – may need to be more often based on risk

How
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.

Why
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.

What
The test performed is 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.

When
40-49

• Talk to your doctor.

50-73

• Every 1-2 years.

74+

• Talk to your doctor.

How
At most UCHealth outpatient breast imaging locations, you do not need a referral for a screening mammogram.

Schedule an appointment by calling 844-RAD-APPT (844-723-2778), through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection.

Why
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.

What
Your provider will talk with you about the different types of colorectal screenings to help you choose which one is right for you. The options include:

• Colonoscopy: performed by a doctor called a gastroenterologist and looks at your whole colon.
• 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: 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.

When
Starting at 45, choose one of the options below:

• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• Stool DNA test every 3 years
• Stool blood test (FIT) every year

How
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.

Why
About 50% of adults in America have diabetes or prediabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can cause kidney failure, blindness, cardiovascular disease and blood-clotting disorders.

What
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.

When
30-44

• If risk factors present, every 3 years – otherwise:

45-50

• Every 3 years

51+

• Every 3 years

How
Your primary care provider will talk to you about your medical history and will order the tests that are used to diagnose diabetes.

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

Why
Hearing loss is not just an issue for older people. Hearing is an important part of your quality of life and important for your overall wellness. Ear exams can help diagnose problems that cause ear pain or balance issues, and hearing tests can help identify the need for hearing assistance.

What
Ear exams are different than hearing tests:

• Ear exam
  Ear exams are different from hearing tests. They identify any damage to your ear canal, which might cause you pain, affect your hearing or cause balance issues. Your primary care provider can do a brief examination of your ears and let you know if you need further testing.
• Hearing test
  Hearing tests help identify hearing loss. Your primary care provider will refer you to an audiologist, who will work to identify any problems and work with you to create a treatment plan.

When
If you have normal hearing & don’t have balance issues, usually these tests are not necessary on a regular basis.

How
If you need to see an ENT doctor or audiologist, you will need to see your primary care provider, and they will give you a referral if needed.

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

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

What
Eye exams and vision tests and are 2 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.

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

How
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.

Why
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.

What
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.

When
50-77

• If you currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years and smoked at least 1 pack/day for 20 years, you should talk to your doctor. — referral required

How
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.

Why
Mammograms can help detect breast changes to catch early breast cancer.

What
A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray that looks at your breast tissue for any abnormalities and can detect most kinds of breast cancer. A technologist will compress your breast using a machine and take images from different angles.

When
40-50

• Talk to your doctor.

50-73

• Every 1-2 years

74+

• Talk to your doctor.

How
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.

Why
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.

What
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.

When
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.

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

Why
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is important to long-term dental health, like preventing tooth loss or gum disease. You can also talk to your dentist about solutions for sleep apnea or oral cancer.

What
A dental and oral exam is usually done by a dentist, who will evaluate the health of your teeth and gums, both manually and with X-rays. They usually clean your teeth to see how healthy they are.

When
All adults should have a dental and oral exam 1-2 times/year.

• Your dentist will look at the health of your teeth and gums both manually and with X-rays.

How
Schedule your appointment by going to your dental insurance provider’s website to see a list of dentists who accept your insurance.

Why
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.

What
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test looks for prostate cancer in your blood. Doctors might do a rectal exam as well.

When
55-69

• Talk to your doctor.

How
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 prostate exam.

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

Why
Skin cancer screenings are important in finding skin cancer as early as possible.

What
A skin cancer screening, or skin check, is a visual exam where a doctor looks at your skin, specifically moles, birthmarks and other pigmented areas that are abnormally colored, sized, shaped or textured. A dermatologist might use a special device called a dermatoscope, a handheld camera and microscope, to look more closely at your skin.

When
Because of sun exposure at high altitudes, Colorado has the nation’s highest per-capita rate of skin cancer.

• The best way to detect skin cancer early is when you see new or changing skin growths, particularly those that look different from other moles.
• Anyone with a family history of skin cancer, a large number of dark moles (more than 50) or a history of having unique moles, should get checked every year by a health care provider.

How
A skin check can be done during a routine wellness visit with your primary care provider. In some cases, your primary care provider might determine a need for you to make an appointment with a dermatologist.

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

Why
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.

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

When
20+

• Every year, especially before having sex with a new partner if you are sexually active.

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

Why
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.

What
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.

When
Vaccines are a very effective way to prevent disease by immunizing people of every age against infectious diseases like mumps, rubella and whooping cough.

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