4 Things to Do If You Haven’t Been to the Doctor in Years

So, you haven’t been to the doctor in years. No worries, you aren’t alone. It’s estimated that 25% of people in the United States don’t have a primary care physician and about 20% of people haven’t been to a doctor in more than five years.

But now you’ve decided it’s time to fix that. Why?

There could be many reasons. Perhaps it’s just recognizing you’re getting older. Or perhaps it’s because of a recent health scare to you or a family member. There are many reasons people decide it’s time to find a new PCP.

But with so much time between receiving regular medical care, you’re probably wondering – what should you do? How should you get started? What should you focus on?

The important thing to know is that it’s never too late to find a new primary care doctor and it’s never too late to make your health a priority. Even if you’ve been delaying care for years, you can still make progress toward a healthier future.

1. Find the right primary care model for you.

If you haven’t been to a doctor in years, you should know that things in the primary care world have evolved. The traditional model of one physician taking care of thousands of patients isn’t the only option anymore.

From concierge medicine to direct pay primary care to online-only platforms, there are several alternative primary care models you can choose from.

As you start making your health a priority, think about what you need to be successful.

• Are you looking for an annual checkup? Or do you want a more involved partner guiding your progress?

• What is your schedule like? Will it require the convenience of same-day or next-day appointments or telehealth capabilities?

Figure out what services you need to build a successful relationship with your new physician, and that will guide you to the right model for you.

2. Find a primary care physician you trust.

Whether you’re looking for an internal medicine physician or a family physician, a Medical Doctor or a Doctor of Osteopathy, or even a particular gender, the most important thing is to find a primary care physician you trust.

To get the most out of your primary care experience and your relationship with your doctor, you need to feel comfortable telling them everything – the good, the bad, and whatever is in-between.

Because you haven’t been to the doctor in years, you may have a lot to catch up on early on.

And by finding someone you can trust, you can begin to make progress toward your goals quickly.

3. Get caught up on clinical care.

If you haven’t been to a doctor in years, there’s a good chance you’ve missed some routine preventive care and you may not have an accurate picture of some of the key lab results that can form a clear picture of your health, such as your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, heart function, and more.

"Routine screenings are life savers," PartnerMD physician Dr. Anthony Fierro says. "If I’m seeing someone for the first time, and they haven’t been to the doctor in years, that’s what I’m focusing on. We’ll work to establish some context to whatever test results we get, and the sooner we can do that, the better."

Whatever the case, finding the right doctor for you is the first step, and then allowing them to get all the information they need, as quickly as possible, so they can provide the best care possible should be next on your list.

"One important thing for folks who haven’t been to the doctors is to provide a complete medical history," Dr. Fierro says. "Many health issues are genetically linked, and if you have a family history of certain cancers or heart disease, for example, you really need to get to the doctor as soon as possible."

4. Then, take action outside the office.

Finding the right physician is great. So is going to see them and formulating a plan to achieve your goals.

However, the progress you make toward your goals depends on you committing to lifestyle changes outside the doctor’s office. That’s one reason we offer health coaching at PartnerMD, so you have an accountability partner to help you work on your goals in between visits with your doctors.

• If you need to start exercising regularly, start small and take it from there. Doing something you enjoy, whether that’s a daily walk or playing Pickleball, will help you stick with it longer.

• If you need to start eating healthier, head to the grocery store with a specific shopping list and stick to it.

• If you need better sleep or to reduce your stress, set aside time each day to focus specifically on that.

As we said earlier, it’s never too late to get started, and you can begin to see results quickly, no matter how many years it was in between visits to the doctor.

 Image by Darko Stojanovic from Pixabay

Source:  PartnerMD Blog:  https://www.partnermd.com/blog/things-to-do-havent-been-to-doctor-in-years?_hsmi=223409559&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_mZimqm9IL_zihug5tzC7TMKEsmscAqWRAo3wxQTRRVA3LPe9dljIjGr31Kg9aeAEgIJkeJU9ax4F4uPleB8Spud5QcA