Annual Visits Key to Lifelong Health and Wellness
Barbara was in nursing school when she first learned the value of routine medical screenings and the importance of seeing your doctor once a year, even if you feel perfectly healthy.
During a practice exam in class, Barbara’s instructor and classmates discovered nodules on her thyroid — early signs of a genetic disease that runs in her family. Thanks to this early detection, she was able to receive a diagnosis and treatment before the condition progressed.
Today, as Gritman Medical Center’s dedicated Medicare Annual Wellness Nurse, Barbara shares the power of preventive care with patients every day at Gritman’s Downtown Clinic. She provides Medicare Annual Wellness Exams that often reveal undiagnosed conditions and help patients take proactive steps toward better health.
This often-overlooked visit may be one of the most important a patient can schedule. It’s easy to skip an Annual Wellness Visit—especially for those not managing a chronic condition or experiencing symptoms. However, these yearly check-ins are instrumental in detecting potential problems before they become serious. Gritman makes it easy to get this exam – you can schedule with your Primary Care Provider at our clinics in Kendrick, Potlatch, Troy or Internal Medicine, or schedule with Barbara at the Downtown Clinic in Moscow.
– Barbara Wilder, Medicare Annual Wellness Nurse at Gritman Medical Center.
“Annual wellness screenings give your provider the whole picture of your health so they can give you complete care,” she said. “If your provider sees you every year, they build a relationship with you, learn your family medical history, and can offer the continuity of care you need. If you skip these visits, that can’t happen.”
The impact of these visits is clear. Patients who engage in annual wellness visits have significantly lower hospitalization rates and reduced Emergency Department use. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in 2022 only 60% of Medicare beneficiaries received an Annual Wellness Visit. That leaves millions at risk of undetected and preventable health issues.
Each Medicare Annual Wellness Visit at Gritman typically lasts about 45 minutes. During that time, Barbara reviews a patient’s screening schedule, updates vaccines, checks vital signs, and interviews the patient about medical history, medications and lifestyle. This process builds a personalized health profile and helps providers identify early warning signs. If something appears out of the ordinary, Barbara will help coordinate referrals or urgent follow-ups with a provider, so nothing slips through the cracks.
Annual Wellness Visits aren’t just for those already managing illness, they’re a powerful tool for staying ahead of it. And with preventive care now linked to better outcomes, earlier detection, and lower costs, there’s never been a better time to schedule a visit.
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Pictured at top: A patient meets with clinical staff for an appointment at Gritman’s Downtown Clinic.
