CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Prevention means to stop something from arising. In health care, there are three levels of prevention.
Primary prevention is intervening before health effects occur. Secondary prevention is screening to identify and treat early-stage disease before it progresses. Tertiary prevention is managing a disease after diagnosis.
Preventative care lowers the risks of diseases, disabilities and death. So why do Utahns deny themselves the health and cost-saving benefits of preventative care?
Whether they hear it from a doctor, see it advertised or learn about a friend who waited too long to seek care, there are a variety of reasons that many people delay or don’t get the preventive care they need. Barriers include cost, not having a primary care provider, living too far from providers, being fearful or lacking awareness. The bottom line is that preventative care helps patients stay healthy and lowers their long-term health care costs.
Preventive disease screening helps identify issues – like high blood pressure, diabetes or certain cancers – early, when most treatable. Tackling health issues early helps you get or stay on a healthy track and reduces the risk of developing other health conditions.
Here are some examples of preventative care.
Annual checkups should include general health screenings for high blood pressure, cholesterol and other health conditions.
Cancer screening is recommended at certain times and intervals throughout your life. The earlier cancer is identified, the greater a patient’s chance for a full recovery.
Immunizations prevent potentially life-threatening diseases from occurring. For children, these include hepatitis A and B, chickenpox, and measles, mumps and rubella. For adults, these include Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) boosters and immunizations against pneumococcal conjugate and shingles.
Flu shots target prevalent flu viruses each year. Having a flu shot reduces your risk of getting the flu by up to 60% and can significantly reduce the chances of serious flu symptoms that could lead to hospitalization.
For those with insurance, there are no out-of-pocket costs or copays if you visit an in-network provider for preventative care. At community health centers like Family Healthcare, the sliding scale fee structure ensures that everyone, including insured, low-income and uninsured patients, pay only what they can afford. If you live in Southern Utah, whether you have insurance or not, there is an affordable way for you to access preventative care.
Are you due for your annual preventive care checkup? Do you have a question about whether the appointment you want to make is preventive or not? Contact your insurance company or your provider, and ask for help.
Written by LORI WRIGHT, CEO of Family Healthcare.
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Resources
- Family Healthcare | Address: 25 N. 100 East #102, St. George | Telephone: 435-986-2565 | Website.
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