Preventive and Routine Care
Often, as part of your regular physical exams, your primary care provider may schedule screening tests for you. Screening tests may help find diseases or conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Which tests you need depends on your age, your sex, your family history and whether you have risk factors for certain diseases. Some conditions that doctors commonly screen for include:
- Breast cancer and cervical cancer in women
- Colorectal cancer
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Osteoporosis
- Prostate cancer in men
- Vision screening
At Harvard Vanguard, we take a very personalized approach in recommending which screening tests our patients should have, and how frequently, based on each patient’s unique medical history and needs. One of our general practice philosophies is to practice “evidence-based medicine,” which means that we stay up-to-date on the latest research findings and prescribe for each patient screenings and tests when the “evidence” shows they will be beneficial for the health of that individual.
We have screening guidelines for both men and women that are meant for the general adult population. You should always talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your personal risk factors for a specific condition. If you have a medical condition or have risk factors associated with a condition or disease, your personal provider may recommend an altered schedule of screenings. Click on the links below to view our recommended health screenings:
It’s up to your health insurance plan to determine which tests are covered and how frequently.