Have you made your wellness appointment? Now’s the time! National Call Your Doctor Day is a reminder of just how important regular healthcare visits are to your overall health.

Access to primary care is vital to good health. Primary care physicians and providers address most healthcare needs for their patients, including regular wellness and preventive care, acute care, chronic disease management and immunizations.

Protect Your Good Health

“On National Call Your Doctor Day – and every day – you should feel empowered to advocate for your own health,” said Julia M. Fiorentino, M.D., of Aultman Medical Group North Canton Medical Center Internal Medicine. “Regular appointments greatly increase the chance of identifying and treating diseases in the early stages.”

Because primary care physicians and providers order regular screening tests – and know their patients’ health history – they are usually the first to spot signs of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.

With early detection, primary care physicians and providers can educate their patients about medications, treatments and lifestyle changes that can improve symptoms and slow the disease’s progression. They can also make referrals to specialists.

As a result, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, patients who see their primary care physician on a regular basis have more positive health outcomes than those who do not.

Physicians and Providers Are Here for You

Primary care physicians and providers are key to your well-being.

“It is an immense privilege to care for my patients, to teach them and to play an integral role in their healthcare journey,” Fiorentino said. “I am humbled daily by the trust they place in me to practice both the art and science of medicine.”

When you establish a relationship with Aultman Medical Group primary care physicians and providers, they will:

• Serve as the gatekeeper of your health and wellness.

• Help you prevent illnesses and emergency room visits.

• Provide you with the comfort and familiarity you deserve.

• Manage your chronic diseases, medications and acute illnesses.

• Handle your wellness visits, regular screenings and immunizations.

• Offer education and support with all decisions regarding your health.

• Give appropriate referrals to specialists, when needed.

Wellness Visits

If you haven’t had a wellness visit in the past year, it’s a good idea to schedule one now. The health checks provided in a wellness visit cannot always be combined with a problem visit, so it’s important to develop a connection with a primary care physician before health problems become apparent.

Most insurance plans offer a wellness visit as a yearly benefit. Be sure to check your individual plan to confirm coverage and to check on restrictions regarding the timing of the appointment.

Your wellness visit may include:

• A personal health risk assessment.

• Target prevention of chronic diseases.

• A review of genetic predispositions and family history.

• A discussion of lifestyle choices.

• Immunization recommendations.

• Orders for age-appropriate screenings.

• An age-appropriate physical exam.

Build a Relationship With the Right Physician or Provider

Consistent primary care can help you stay healthy. Many people develop a trusting, ongoing relationship with their primary care physician or provider that lasts for decades, so it’s important to choose one you feel comfortable with.

“The primary care physicians at Aultman Medical Group are here for you, acting as your advocates in an increasingly complex healthcare system,” Fiorentino said. “Choose a physician team that embodies the wisdom of Sir William Oster, considered the father of modern medicine: ‘The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.’”

Aultman Medical Group Primary Care has more than 80 providers ready to take care of you and your family. Many of our offices are accepting new patients – and more than likely, we have a location in your community.

Visit aultman.org/NewDoc to find a provider in your area who is accepting new patients, or call the new patient hotline at 330-433-1264 for assistance with scheduling your appointment.