Health & Wellness

"I tell my patients all the time wellness visits are an invitation, not a summons. What frustrates me is when people skip them for the wrong reasons, like thinking Medicare will penalize them or that their doctor will be upset. The truth? These visits catch things. I've found early stage diabetes, dangerous blood pressure levels, and cognitive changes that families hadn't noticed yet. But I've also had patients who see multiple specialists regularly and honestly don't need another appointment on their calendar. It's about knowing what you're giving up versus what you're gaining. If you're going to skip it, at least understand what you're skipping and make sure you're monitoring your health some other way. The worst scenario is someone who avoids all medical care entirely because they're scared or overwhelmed—that's when small problems turn into emergencies."