There are many types of physicals that the Family Health Clinic provides, and each are important in the lives of our patients. If you are curious about the types of physicals we provide or you are looking into getting a physical for yourself or your children, this article is for you!

We’ve listed out a few of the main types of physicals we perform and in general, what you can expect from each.

Routine Physical Exam

A routine, annual physical exam is a key way to manage your health, keep your health provider up-to-date on any issues that you may be having, and discover ways to improve your health. Routine examinations can help in detecting and preventing diseases and cancers, keep you current on your vaccinations, and assist you in setting health goals for your year.

Generally, a physical exam includes:

• A review of your medical history and other quick measurements, like your height and weight and vital signs
• A screening that’s tailored to you, depending on your gender, age, past issues, and more. This could include but not be limited to listening to your heart and lungs, examining your head and neck, tapping your abdomen, and performing a neurological exam.

Sometimes as part of an exam, a provider will order certain blood tests, like a cholesterol test or checking your blood sugar.

This type of exam is extremely important as it allows for you to be treated for health complications you may not know are occurring and also focusing on preventing health issues. If you need to schedule a physical exam with us, please call (800) 321-5043.

Sports Physical

In the medical field, sports physicals are also known as Preparticipation Physical Examinations. These exams determine whether it’s safe for kids and teens to participate in certain sports. It is usually a state requirement that kids have a sports physical before they can start a new sport., and even if it isn’t required, most medical providers still recommend getting one.  

There are usually two main parts of the sports physical. First, there’s a medical history portion. This is generally a form that parents help children in answering. The second part of the physical is the physical examination, where your medical provider looks at your height, weight, blood pressure and pulse, tests your vision, checks your heart, lungs, and more, and evaluates your posture, joints, strength, and flexibility (KidsHealth.Org).

At the end of the exam, a medical provider will either fill a form that signifies everything was okay or suggest additional testing, a follow-up, or a recommended treatment.

You can schedule a sport physical with the Family Health Clinic by calling 800 321 5043.

DOT Medical Exam and Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), “All commercial drivers of vehicles in interstate commerce with a maximum gross vehicle weight rating of over 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) are required to obtain and maintain a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (ME Certificate) Commercial drivers who drive vehicles requiring a CDL have two additional requirements”.

This Department of Transportation Medical Exam, “ensures that you are healthy enough to drive, which protects your health and the safety of others on the road” (AllTrucking.com).

The FMCSA requires a very specific protocol for filling out a federal form for trucking physicals. First, you’ll fill out your health history, and then your medical examiner will test various parts of your health, such as your blood pressure, vision, hearing, a urinalysis test, and more.

If you have questions about DOT/CDL physicals or need to schedule yours, please contact us at (800) 321-5043.

Medicare Yearly Wellness Visit

When you have Medicare Part B for over 12 months, you can get a Medicare Yearly Wellness Visit to “develop or update a personalized prevention help plan” that is designed to aid in preventing diseases and disability (Medicare.com). During your visit, you’ll fill out a questionnaire that’s called a “Health Risk Assessment”. As you discuss your Health Risk Assessment, you and your provider work to develop a personalized health plan.

Your health plan can also include:

• A screening schedule
• A list of risk factors and treatment options
• An updated list of your current providers and medications
• Personalized health advice
• Your current vitals and more

At the Family Health Clinic, we provide Medicare Yearly Wellness Visits and look forward to working with you to develop a health plan that works for you. If you’d like to schedule your Medicare Yearly Wellness visit with us, call (800) 321-5043.

We’re here to help you achieve your health goals.

As a health center, we work to help you create and reach your health goals, as well as address health issues that might occur along the way. We recently received a Health Center Quality Leader award as part of Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Quality Improvement Awards! As a Health Center Quality Leader, we achieved the best overall clinical performance among all health centers, placing in the top 30% of the adjusted quartile rankings for clinical quality measures.

As we’ve mentioned, if you’d like to schedule an appointment at one of our high-quality and convenient locations, call (800) 321-5043.

Resources:

• CLD/DOT: http://www.alltrucking.com/faq/how-pass-dot-physical-truck-drivers/
• Medicare Yearly Wellness Visits: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-visit-and-yearly-wellness-exams.html
• Sports Physicals: https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/sports-physicals.html