by DR. JEFFREY EPSTEIN
You may be wondering what exactly an Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is, or why you need one. After all, this is not something you have had done at your yearly physical with your doctor. Yet, as you age, this becomes an important part of your healthcare routine.
Consider this. Think of your body as a house. It’s your home and you want it to be in good condition now as well as in the future. You may be 65 years old now, but you want to make it to 99+, right? Well, if you want your house to be in good condition for the coming decades, you need to get it checked out and make any necessary repairs. You check the foundation, the plumbing, the wiring, everything that keeps your home functional and comfortable. The same is true for your body.
Imagine that the AWV is like having the home inspector come out. He inspects the building and provides you with a report and educates you on what needs to be done. Then you take that report to a general contractor— your family doctor or primary care physician— and discuss the plan to take the appropriate steps to complete those goals. In fact, having the long-term, comprehensive plan that only an AWV can provide is the most important part of your medical care, because it can reduce hospitalizations by 40 percent.
Plus, the Annual Wellness Visit is completely free for Medicare patients. Call us today to schedule your Annual Wellness Visit. Your body is a temple— take care of it with a real plan for wellness.
This column is sponsored by Peak Annual Wellness Center.
BIO: Dr. Jeff Epstein is Board Certified in Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine. He is passionate about helping seniors stay healthy so they can maintain a high-quality lifestyle. Dr. Epstein has practiced General Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine for 20 years before transitioning to a role as Hospital Medical Director and Physician Advisor in 2011. Peak AWC was founded to provide Annual Wellness Visit to seniors and empower them to avoid vulnerabilities that could cause great harm. It is the goal of Dr. Epstein and Peak AWC to provide better care at a lower cost by focusing on keeping individuals healthy and out of the hospital. For questions or to schedule an appointment, call (855) 732-5292.
