The Ultimate Annual Wellness Visit Checklist

Have you had a wellness visit yet? If you’re new to wellness appointments, don’t worry — we’re here to help. Use this annual wellness visit checklist to make the most of your yearly primary care appointments and stop health problems before they begin.

What Is an Annual Wellness Visit Checklist?

Our annual wellness visit checklist maps out some questions that will likely be asked during your wellness appointment. It’s meant to help prepare you for this type of visit.

Annual wellness exam services are all meant to encourage self-awareness of your health status and to facilitate communication between you and your primary care provider. Your appointment will be a discussion between you and your health care team about your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

Annual wellness appointments are done by your primary care provider. This is usually a physician but can also be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

Wellness Visits vs. Physical Exams

Annual physicals (check-ups) are another important health benchmark, but they differ from wellness visits. Physical exams focus on examining and recording wellness-related data points like your blood pressure or heartbeat.

During a physical, your doctor takes your vital signs. They also palpate (feel) different body areas to check for lumps and abnormalities. And if you’re having any signs of acute (short-term) sickness at your yearly checkup, your doctor can prescribe the appropriate medications.

Your wellness appointment is more comprehensive than a physical. It’s centered around your health history, medication regimen and risk factors for future health problems. Think of these appointments as thorough conversations with your doctor about long-term health planning and comprehensive wellness.

Benefits of Wellness Visits

Your yearly wellness visit is meant to serve you by keeping a pulse on your health status. To make the most of your appointment, you’ll need to be ready to discuss your health concerns, any changes in your health and your family medical history. This will help your primary care provider order appropriate testing to identify issues before they arise.

Some benefits of yearly wellness visits include:

• Early illness detection
• Enhanced health awareness and education
• Expert medical advice
• Long-term health planning
• Medication overview
• More data for your doctor to work with
• Personal goal setting
• Preventive care
• Stronger doctor-patient relationship

5 Reasons to Schedule a Wellness Visit

The main goal of a wellness visit is preventive health care. By knowing what to expect and being prepared with the right questions and answers, you can best support your primary care provider and get the most out of your appointment. We’ve put together an annual wellness visit checklist so you can take full advantage of your time with the doctor.

When reviewing your annual wellness visit checklist, keep the main goals of the visit in mind. Yearly wellness appointments are meant to empower you to take control of all areas of your health and well-being, including your physical, mental, emotional and social health.

1. Take Control of Your Health

Feeling empowered to take your health into your own hands is essential for long-term well-being. Wellness visits educate you about your conditions and encourage you to address problems before they start.

2. Practice Preventive Health Care

The most effective health care is preventive health care. Health care isn’t just about treating your current problems. Many chronic diseases are preventable with lifestyle changes and early intervention. During this appointment, you’ll discuss health risks, medical history and underlying symptoms or concerns, which may result in additional testing or lifestyle adjustments.

3. Establish a Health Baseline

You’re the expert on you, so it’s up to you to inform your doctor of any mental, emotional or physical changes you’ve noticed since your last visit. This gives your doctor information that they use to order additional testing, establish a baseline evaluation of your health and develop a preventive treatment plan.

4. Develop a Personalized Wellness Plan

Setting wellness goals gives you motivation to improve your health. You can discuss your health goals with your doctor at your wellness appointment. They’ll give you recommendations and helpful feedback along the way.

5. Identify and Address Early Risk Factors

Some factors, like genetics and certain lifestyle habits, increase your risk of developing chronic health problems. Your yearly wellness visits assist your doctor in identifying future issues that can be addressed through early intervention. Many are more easily treated the earlier treatments begin.

What to Expect During a Yearly Wellness Visit

Arrive at least 15 minutes early to your appointment. Once you’re with your doctor in an exam room, they’ll ask you questions about your health. This is where an annual wellness visit checklist to reference will come in handy. Tell your primary care provider about any recent changes in your health.

They may perform a brief physical exam and additional health screenings based on your age and gender or your personal feedback.

Your doctor will also review your vaccination list and recommend vaccines for your age group or vaccination schedule. These often include flu shots, boosters for previous vaccines or an immunization renewal, like for a Tdap vaccine, which needs to be done every 10 years.

Your appointment will primarily involve health and lifestyle planning, along with ordering additional testing. If you have any concerns about your health, this is the time to bring them up.

How to Prepare for Your Wellness Visit

While you can just show up to your appointment and still gain valuable insights into your health, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. We’ve created a helpful annual wellness visit checklist that you can reference to get the most out of your appointment.

But before getting into the actual annual wellness visit checklist, remember to take these steps before your appointment:

• Check your insurance plan’s coverage for wellness visits
• Ensure that all your insurance information is up to date
• Gather important medical records
• Make a list of current symptoms and health concerns
• Make a medication and supplement list
• Obtain a copy of your medical insurance card
• Plan for the appointment cost
• Review our annual wellness visit checklist to raise self-awareness
• Write down any questions you have for your doctor

Your Annual Wellness Visit Checklist

Your doctor should know about all aspects of your health and well-being, but you’ll always be the expert on your current health status. You’ll need to talk to your doctor to let them know about any new health concerns or symptoms.

Reviewing this annual wellness visit checklist will prepare you for the types of information you’ll need to have at the ready during your appointment.

1. Personal and Family Medical History

Review any changes in your medical history since your last wellness visit. If you’re visiting a new primary care provider, inform them of any important family medical events and diagnoses, as certain diseases run in families.

• Update your personal medical history
• Disclose any updates in your immediate family’s medical history

• Be prepared to discuss any new symptoms or diagnoses from other doctors

2. Current Medications and Supplements

Write down every medication and supplement you take, even if you only take something on an “as-needed” basis. Include the dosage and frequency of each medication.

• Bring a list of your medications - this includes vitamins and supplements

3. Health Screenings and Vaccinations

Bring any health screenings or bloodwork results you have on hand. Your results should include information about your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. If you have a vaccination list, bring it to your appointment. Include records for vaccines that you’ve gotten since your last visit.

• Bring any recent lab results
• Request any labs or testing you feel might be relevant to your health status

• Prepare for follow-up appointments based on any additional testing that your doctor may request

4. Lifestyle and Habits

Your doctor will ask you about your current lifestyle habits, which can influence your health. Consider your current diet, physical activity levels and substance use. Be honest with yourself and your doctor about if and how often you smoke, drink alcohol or use illegal drugs. First and foremost, your primary care provider is there to protect your health, not to judge you.

• Disclose any illegal drug use - remember, this information is confidential and only meant to help you
• Discuss your drinking habits (frequency and amount)
• Let your doctor know how often you exercise
• Let them know of any smoking habits

• Talk to your doctor about your diet

5. Mental and Emotional Health

Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. Consider your sleeping habits and stress levels. Has anything changed? Are you concerned about anxiety or depression symptoms? Keep your doctor in the loop.

• Be aware of any new sleeping or eating patterns.
• Talk to your doctor if you’ve been feeling depressed, anxious or angry lately for no concrete reason - it may indicate a recent hormone imbalance.

Questions to Expect During a Yearly Wellness Visit

Your visit doesn’t have to be stressful or catch you off guard. We’ve included lists of questions your doctor might ask you during your yearly wellness appointment.

Overall Health and Wellness

Questions about your general health may include:

• Have you experienced any significant changes in your health since your last visit?
• Have you had any surgeries or procedures since we last met?
• How are you managing your chronic conditions (such as diabetes or hypertension)?

These questions will help your doctor address any chronic conditions and health events you’ve been facing.

Lifestyle Habits

Your doctor may ask questions like these to learn more about your lifestyle:

• Can you describe your typical daily diet?
• How much water do you drink each day?
• How often do you exercise and physical activities do you engage in?

Remember that your doctor isn’t judging you. They just want to establish a baseline for your health.

Mental and Emotional Health

Questions about your mental health may include:

• Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep?
• Have you experienced any changes in mood or behavior?
• How do you typically manage stress?

These questions screen for depression, anxiety and other emotional health problems.

Questions About New Symptoms

This is likely the most important part of your wellness visit. If you have any new health concerns or symptoms, now’s the time to tell your doctor. This information is crucial in diagnosing underlying issues.

Your primary care provider may ask about specific health concerns, including unusual changes in your appetite or energy levels. You should also mention any skin changes, like new or changed moles or lesions.

Questions about any new symptoms may include:

• Have you experienced any recent changes in your health?
• Have you been experiencing any new aches or pains?
• Are you experiencing constipation or diarrhea?

Come to AdventHealth Primary Care+ for Your Wellness Visit

Your primary care provider’s job is to protect your future health. This annual wellness visit checklist will help you better prepare for your appointment and have a more productive visit.

At AdventHealth Primary Care+, we’re here for your well-being. Schedule your yearly wellness appointment with one of our primary care providers today.