Also called a Physical or a Complete Physical Exam, a Wellness Visit is not the time to discuss your chronic medical conditions with your doctor. It’s the time your physician utilizes to get a complete history, including your personal medical history, family history, work history and social history to customize your healthcare needs.

Remember to make a check list and bring it to your doctor.

You should expect the following-

Measurements of height, weight, Blood Pressure and Pulse. Be sure to ask about your BMI (Body Mass Index).
A comprehensive physical examination and blood tests screening for cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid etc.

Your doctor will then discuss all preventive screening tests recommended by the United States Preventive Task Force.
They should include-
For women
– breast exam
– mammogram
– pap smear
– Bone density screening
– Colonoscopy
For men
– prostate exam
– Colonoscopy

Your doctor should discuss the recommended vaccines, for example –

Tdap- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping cough
Td- Tetanus, Diphtheria
Pneumonia vaccine
Shingles vaccine
Flu shot
Catch up vaccinations-
Like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, MMRV- Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella

In some cases they might recommend certain heart tests-
like an EKG, Echocardiogram, Stress test, Screening for aneurysms

They might also refer you to other consultants like-

Ophthalmologist- eye doctor
Dentist
Dermatologist (studies have shown a yearly skin check decreases death from melanoma!)

If you are a diabetic you will need a yearly eye check and a foot exam. Make sure to put these on your to do list this year!