Jefferson County Health Center offers a new perspective on health care

Not too long ago, a visit to the doctor or hospital meant that a patient was sick. Whether it was a simple cold, or something more concerning like a heart issue, the time to see the doctor was when something went wrong.

That old notion of health care, however, is outdated. The modern goal of health care, in addition to treating those who are sick, is to keep people healthy. This approach, commonly referred to as preventive health care, embraces a holistic view of a patient’s health, encourages long-term relationships with health care providers, and motivates patients to take greater control and ownership of their health.

Dr. Michael Greiner, a primary care provider at Jefferson County Health Center Clinics, describes it like this, “The next time you have a sore throat or a cold, don’t be surprised when we talk about your overall health.”

Preventive health care is a wide-ranging topic and incorporates many facets such as periodic doctor visits, recommended testing and screenings, and positive lifestyle habits. Central to the concept is the primary care provider who manages a patient’s overall care. These doctors and nurse practitioners work to prevent and treat a wide variety of conditions.

How often should you get a checkup from a primary care provider? “A good minimum [for a healthy individual] is to see a doctor two times in your 20s, three times in your 30s, four times in your 40s, and yearly after that,” says Dr. Greiner.

These checkups are at the heart of preventive health care. It is an opportunity for patients to discuss their health needs with their provider, and allows the provider to perform a physical examination. Based on the results of the checkup, the provider may recommend an amended follow-up visit schedule, diagnostic or screening tests, medication, and/or lifestyle changes.

Diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, identify risk markers for many common illnesses. For example, high cholesterol, calculated as part of a blood lipids panel, increases the risk for heart attacks and strokes. A primary care provider reviews diagnostic test results and will reference them as they recommend a care plan for their patient.

Screenings are conducted to detect specific illnesses or diseases within the body. A preventive health care approach recommends certain screenings depending upon age, family history, lifestyle, and other factors. Mammograms, for example, are a recommended screening for all women. The American Cancer Society says that a healthy woman with no family history of breast cancer should start annual mammograms at age 45.

Screening for colorectal cancer, such as a colonoscopy or Cologuard test, are also very common and should start at age 45 for all adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These guidelines are general in nature, which is why establishing a relationship with a primary care provider is the most important part of preventive health care. Depending upon a patient’s medical history and risk factors, a provider may increase frequency of testing, or request different tests, to assist in the prevention and detection of disease.

Another component of preventive care, healthy lifestyle behaviors, may actually have the biggest influence on overall health. Recent studies estimate that healthy behaviors can affect up to 50 percent of a person’s overall healthiness. Managing weight and diet, choosing not to smoke, limiting alcohol intake, mitigating stress, and exercising regularly have huge impacts to a person’s overall health. A primary care provider can educate patients on healthy lifestyle choices they need to make to preserve and improve their health.

Patients can live longer, healthier lives by taking a preventive approach to their health while receiving guidance and support from a primary care provider. And should an illness occur, that same provider will be ready to treat and care for their patient, just as they have for many years.