Preventive Healthcare Guidelines
How often should you go to the doctor? What procedures should you be sure to have? Read the following guidelines to find out:
Note: It is ultimately up to the individual physician to decide what test or procedure is needed for each age group.
Children
|
Infancy- Age 1 |
Ages 1-10 |
Ages 11-20 |
|
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Tot-to-Teen Health Check
(complete examination that includes vision, hearing, development, and behavioral health screening) |
Visit your PCP for this complete exam when your child is 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. | Visit your PCP for this complete exam when your child is 15, 18, and 24 months, and 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 years of age. | Visit your PCP for this complete exam when your child is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 years of age. |
| Blood lead testing |
At 12 months |
At 24 months |
|
| Laboratory tests |
Ask your PCP if your child needs any laboratory tests |
||
| Immunizations |
Ask your PCP or nurse at EVERY OFFICE VISIT if your child needs immunizations. (See immunization schedule (.pdf) or Programa de Vacunas para los Niños y los Adolescentes que "Hecho al Año" (.pdf) |
||
| Cervical Cancer testing | Pap smear testing with onset of sexual activity, but at least by age 21. Then every 1-3 years as recommended by your PCP. | ||
| Testing for Chlamydia (a curable sexually transmitted disease that can lead to infertility) | All sexually active females 25 and younger and for others at increased risk. Discuss with your PCP. | ||
| Testing for rubella | Once for all females of childbearing age by history of vaccination or blood test. | ||
| Health Education and Counseling |
Members from infancy to age 20 should get age-appropriate health education and counseling at every visit on topics such as:
Prevention of injuries (motor vehicle, household and recreational)
|
||
Adults
|
Ages 21-64 |
Ages 65 and older |
||
| Breast cancer testing | Mammogram (special x-ray of breast) every 1-2 years for women 40 and older. | ||
| Cervical cancer testing | Pap smear testing with onset of sexual activity, but at least by age 21. Then every 1-3 years as recommended by your PCP. | ||
|
Testing for Chlamydia
(a curable sexually transmitted disease that can lead to infertility) |
All sexually active women 25 and younger and for others at increased risk. Discuss with your PCP. |
||
| Testing for colorectal (intestine/gut) cancer | By testing for blood in stool every year for everyone 50 and older. Discuss sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy with your PCP. | ||
| Testing for Type 2 Diabetes |
Discuss with your PCP. |
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| Blood pressure check |
At least every 2 years |
||
| Lipid/ cholesterol testing | At least every 5 years for men ages 35 and older. At least every 5 years for women 45 and older. |
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| Testing for osteoporosis (bone thinning) | For women ages 65 and older. Discuss with your PCP. | ||
| Testing for abdominal aortic aneurysm (a heart problem) | Men ages 65-75 who have ever smoked (one-time test). | ||
| Height, weight, and obesity |
By measuring height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) at every office visit. |
||
| Testing for rubella | Once for all women of childbearing age by history of vaccination or blood test. | ||
| Testing for tuberculosis |
Discuss with your PCP. |
||
| Testing for depression |
Discuss with your PCP. |
||
| Testing for behavioral health problems (mental health and drug abuse) |
First PCP visit |
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| Testing for hearing and vision problems | Discuss with your PCP. | ||
| Immunizations |
Tetanus boosters |
||
| Flu shot every year for everyone age 50 and older. | |||
| Pneumococcal vaccine | |||
| Health Education and counseling |
You should get age-appropriate health education and counseling at every visit on topics such as:
Prevention of injuries (motor vehicle, household, and recreational)
Prevention of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases Birth control Discussion of prevention of chronic diseases for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women Discussion of aspirin for members at risk for heart disease |
||
- Visit a practitioner as soon as you think you might be pregnant.
- Your practitioner will tell you how often you need to visit after your first visit, usually every four weeks until your last trimester, then every two weeks, and then every week during the last month.
- You will need to visit your practitioner again 4-6 weeks after you deliver your baby.
- Follow these guidelines in addition to those listed for your age.
|
Screenings |
Blood, urine, and other tests that will check the health of you and your baby |
|
Education and Counseling |
|
| Immunizations | Flu shot (ask Primary Care Practitioner) Rubella after delivery, if needed |
Revised: 07/26/2006
Sources:
1. State of New Mexico Medical Assistance Division, New Mexico Administrative Code 8.305.8.16 “Standards for Preventive Health Services”
2. Tot-to-Teen Health Checks are federally mandated for Medicaid as part of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program Services
3. Report of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd Edition, 1996, and pertinent updates
4. Guidelines for Prenatal Care, 4th Edition, 1997, AAP/ACOG
5. “Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule – United States, 2005;” Approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians;
* Subject to Medicare coverage guidelines
Related link: Recommended Childhood Immunizations
Contact Us
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Main switchboard:
505-841-1234
Presbyterian Health Plan:
1-866-388-PRES (7737)
E-mail: info@phs.org
