An annual health assessment involves a thorough review of your medical history, a discussion of any symptoms, a physical examination, and preventive screenings appropriate for your age. The goal is to make sure your body is working properly and to catch any health problems early before they become serious. Furthermore, monitoring of chronic conditions is also done.

Many aspects of a routine physician exam, including assessment of skin, eyes, throat, muscles, and joints, can be conducted virtually. Online doctors can guide you through self-exams to observe your breathing or gait on camera. However, some examinations cannot be carried out remotely. For instance, 

• Listening to your heartbeat
• Checking your breath sounds with a stethoscope
• Feeling your abdomen for a mass

In this instance, you may be referred to an in-person evaluation.

Yes, you can absolutely do an annual wellness visit through a telehealth clinic in most cases. A virtual annual visit will include the same review of your health history, medications, and preventive needs as an in-person visit. Your online provider will ensure you get all the required screenings and will only recommend an in-person exam if there’s something that truly requires hands-on examination and testing.

 A virtual primary care visit can generate the same lab orders for preventive screenings as an in-person visit. If you are due for a Pap smear or cervical cancer screening, a mammogram for breast cancer, a colonoscopy for colon cancer, or any other age-appropriate screening, our telehealth doctor will arrange that.

Seeing your doctor once a year can help prevent diseases before they develop. Here are a few reasons virtual annual physician exams are necessary to live a healthier life:

• They detect issues that aren’t showing symptoms yet, such as high blood pressure or early signs of diabetes 
• These checkups help you to stay up to date on important vaccinations and age-appropriate cancer screenings
• They are an opportunity to review your lifestyle habits
• Help you receive personalized guidance

Yes, if your doctor finds that you need preventive medication, they can prescribe it just as an in-person doctor would. Some of the common ones prescribed online include:

• Lisinopril refill for blood pressure
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs
• Armour thyroid prescription refill for thyroid issues
• Mounjaro prescription for diabetes
• Amoxicillin for infections
• Birth control pills for menstrual disorders or contraception

Our doctors follow the telehealth guidelines for prescribing and will only issue a medication if it’s safe in the absence of an in-person exam.

It depends on which blood tests your doctor has ordered. For example, if your annual checkup labs include a cholesterol panel or fasting blood glucose levels, you’ll likely be asked not to eat or drink anything except water for about 8 to 12 hours beforehand.  On the other hand, a complete blood count or thyroid test does not require fasting.

Virtual annual checkups are generally quite efficient. The video visit itself typically lasts 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the complexity of your medical history and questions. 

The exact list of screenings can vary by age and individual risk, but there are a few core things that everyone should have checked regularly each year. Some of these include:

• Blood pressure for all adults starting at age 18 
• Cholesterol & blood sugar for adults over 40
• Breast cancer screening for women in their 30s
• Cervical cancer screening for women from the age of 21
• Prostate health checks for men aged 40 and
• Sexual health issues for teens and adults

There isn’t an absolute one-size-fits-all set of blood tests every single person needs yearly. It’s customized to your health and risks. However, some of the common ones include:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC) 
• Metabolic test panel 
• HBA1c testing
• Blood work to assess cardiovascular risk
• Screening for Vitamin D
• Lipid profile
• Liver and kidney profile tests