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Annual Physicals Specialist

Lower Merion Family Medicine

Family Medicine located in Narberth, PA

Annual physicals with your family medicine provider are one of the most proactive steps you can take to maintain great health. At Lower Merion Family Medicine in Narberth, Pennsylvania, your supportive primary care doctor offers not only annual physicals, but also driver’s license physicals, Medicare wellness visits, EKGs, and all other exams you need in a welcoming environment. Use online scheduling, or call the office to make your appointment now.

Annual Physicals Q & A

What happens during an annual physical?

An annual physical at Lower Merion Family Medicine is a general wellness check-up. The goal is to monitor your whole-body health, make note of changes, do necessary tests, and make any necessary treatment adjustments. Your doctor personalizes the exam for your needs, so it can be different for everyone. Your exam generally includes:

  • Health history: discussion of health history, including updates from the last year
  • Taking vital signs: blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate
  • Skin, hair, and nail check
  • Ears, nose, and throat check
  • Eye check
  • Abdomen check, which may include gentle palpation
  • Reflex check

Your doctor will also assess your risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other serious conditions. This may include blood tests to check cholesterol or blood sugar, an EKG to check for heart problems, or other specific tests. You can also get the necessary immunizations during your physical.

Some tests may be scheduled for another day, if necessary. For example, if you need to take a fasting blood test, but you’ve already eaten that day, you may need to come back in the next day or two for your blood test.

Often, an annual physical is the first time that patients learn they're at risk for diabetes or other diseases. Your annual physical allows you to act fast to prevent serious illness or start effective treatment to minimize its effects.

What is the Medicare wellness visit?

The Medicare wellness visit is a yearly preventive-focused physical that’s covered after completing your first year of Medicare part B coverage. In your first year of Medicare part B coverage, you get an initial preventive physical instead. Medicare covers 100% of these visits.

What is a driver’s license physical?

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation requires all new non-commercial drivers and new state residents with expired driver’s licenses from other states to have a physical exam as part of their licensing requirements.

This physical includes a basic vision exam as well as a series of questions about physical and mental impairments that could prevent you from driving safely. After your exam, your Lower Merion Family Medicine doctor completes form DL-180. Be sure to download and print the necessary form ahead of time and bring it to your appointment.

The Lower Merion Family Medicine team has all types of physicals covered, in one convenient location. Book your appointment through the online scheduler or by phone today.