Skip to main content.
General Inquiries
330.375.3000
Appointments
234.867.7965
Request an
Appointment
Start a
Virtual Visit
Menu Close
 

Your Health

Take control of your health and wellness with recipes, exercises and stress management tips focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Your Health

Importance of having a primary care physician:

A primary care physician (PCP) is more than just the person you call when you feel sick or suffer an injury. He or she follows the latest research on disease risk factors and can tell you how to lower your individual risk. Like a good coach or teacher, a primary care doctor will encourage you to make healthy lifestyle changes, keep track of your preventive tests and treatments, and help you through illnesses. This person may also become the custodian of your health history and the doctor other doctors will call for information if you’re ever hospitalized for a serious medical condition.

A PCP is your main healthcare provider in non-emergency situations. Your PCP's role is to:

  • Provide preventive care and teach healthy lifestyle choices
  • Identify and treat common medical conditions
  • Assess the urgency of your medical problems and direct you to the best place for that care
  • Make referrals to medical specialists when necessary

Primary care doctors include family medicine physicians for patients of all ages, internal medicine physicians for adult patients, and pediatricians for children. So, you have many choices when it comes to picking a doctor. Developing a relationship with your PCP helps them know what is and isn’t normal for you. They are able to track and note the changes they observe.

Why you should have regular visits (wellness exams, etc.):

Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment are better. By getting the right health services, screenings and treatments, you are taking steps that help your chances for living a longer, healthier life.

In addition to diagnosing and treating acute medical conditions, your doctor recommends a schedule for preventive screenings and provides education about health and wellness. That’s why it’s important to see a primary care doctor regularly, even if you don’t have any current health issues.

Cancer Screening and Prevention Guidelines

Breast Health

Age 21-39

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Clinical Breast Exam
Every 3 years performed by a primary care provider or gynecologist. At physician's discretion. Individuals should report any changes in their breasts to their healthcare provider.
3 yrs
Screening Mammogram
At physician's discretion for females with higher than average risk and age less than 40.
Discuss
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
Black females and females of Ashkenazi Jewish descent should complete a breast cancer risk assessment at age 25.
Discuss

Age 40-74

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Clinical Breast Exam
Annually performed by a primary care provider or gynecologist.
Annually
Screening Mammogram
At age 40, discuss with your healthcare provider the timing of having a baseline screening mammogram. Starting at age 45, screening should be annually for females at average risk. Screening should continue as long as you are in good health and expected to live 10 years or longer.
Annually
Screening Breast MRI
Females with lifetime risk greater than or equal 20%, category C/D breast density, family history of breast cancer, prior mantle radiation, or prior breast biopsy with atypia should consider a screening breast MRI.
Annually
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment
Complete a breast cancer risk assessment. This may be done at your annual breast screening.
Discuss

Age 75 and older

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Clinical Breast Exam
Annually performed by a primary care provider or gynecologist.
Annually
Screening Mammogram or Screening Breast MRI
Discuss with your healthcare provider.
Annually

Cervical Health

Note: Females who have had their uterus removed (and also the cervix) for reasons not related to cervical cancer and who have no history of cervical cancer or serious pre-cancer should not be tested.

Age 21-29

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Pap Smear
Every 3 years, screening with cytology (Papanicolaou smear - Pap smear).
3 years

Age 30-65

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Pap Smear OR Pap Smear with HPV Testing
Every 3 years, screening with cytology (Papanicolaou smear, Pap smear) alone. OR Screening with cytology (Pap smear) and HPV testing every 5 years.
3 OR 5 yrs

Age 65 and older

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Pap Smear OR Pap Smear with HPV Testing
Females over 65 who have had adequate negative testing within the past 10 years AND no history of high-grade dysplasia within the past 20 years can stop cervical screening. Please discuss with your healthcare provider.
Discuss

Prostate Health

Age 40-54

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Screening
AUA and AAFP recommend PSA screening should be considered for those at high risk. High risk includes males with first degree family history (father, son, brother) of prostate cancer, of African-American heritage or experiencing symptoms.
Discuss

Age 55-69

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Discuss Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Screening
Recommends shared decision making visit, especially those at high risk. High risk includes males with first degree family history (father, son, brother) of prostate cancer, of African-American heritage or experiencing symptoms. PSA Screening every year or every two years.
Discuss

Age 70 and older

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
PSA Screening
Not recommended screening for those with life expectancy less than 10-15 years.
Not recommended

Lung Health

Age 50-80 Current and Prior Smokers

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
CT Lung Screen (Low Dose)
The USPSTF guidelines, which recommends screening for individuals who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years and have the equivalent of at least 20 pack years smoking history. Asymptomatic individuals. Review importance of smoking cessation and the benefits and risks of LDCT, during a visit for counseling and shared decision making.
Annually

Colorectal Health

Beginning at Age 40 or Earlier

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Colonoscopy
Every 5 years, if colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps in any first-degree relative before age 60.

If you have colorectal cancer history in your family, talk to your physician about additional preventative screenings.
5 yrs

Age 45

Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Colonoscopy
Every 10 years, asymptomatic individuals.
10 yrs
OR

Alternative Screening Options

Colonoscopies are considered the gold standard, but the following also are acceptable screening tests.
Screening Recommendations
Guidelines
Frequency
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)*
Annually. FIT is not recommended for 5 years after a high-quality colonoscopy.
Annually
Stool DNA / FIT (e.g. Cologuard®)*
Every 3 years
3 years
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy*
Every 5 years
5 yrs
* Requires follow-up colonoscopy if the selected study is abnormal.
[{"RootId":"ba198066-3078-4dcd-8e69-28251bebb940","RootUrl":"/glossary/"}]

Options to Request an Appointment

If your situation is an emergency, call 911.

Close