Happy New Year!
It's time again to set New Year's resolutions - commitments to achieve a personal goal, improve a habit, or make a positive change in their life, starting from the beginning of the new year. The most common health-related resolutions include eating better, losing weight, getting more exercise, quitting or reducing smoking. These are undeniably great goals but according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, only about 8% of people successfully achieve their New Year's resolutions.
Have you ever considered leveraging the relationship with your primary care provider to achieve these goals? Here are some ways your primary care provider can help.
Assessment and Goal setting - your primary care provide can provide a comprehensive physical assessement helping to assess your current health status and identify health gaps or areas for improvement in your health. Together with your provider you can set realistic goals, personalized to your needs and the recommendations of trusted health organizations.
Personalized Health Guidance - primary care providers are experts in wellness including healthy eating, exercises recommendations and preventative medicine recommendations. Providers can tailor recommendations to any goals or health issues you might have creating a custom action plan just for you.
Preventative Care and Screenings - the most effective interventions for health maintanence/improvement are vaccination and screenings for common medical illnesses including cancers. Recommendation for these screenings are based on your gender, age, health history, family history and other risk factors. Primary care providers can review your health history and keep you up to date on these important screening guidelines.
Monitoring and Support - goals require long term commitment. Monitoring progress is critical to success. Primary care providers can conduct follow-up appointments to assess changes in health, provide feedback, and make any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. Your primary care provider can refer patients to specialists or other healthcare professionals as needed for specialized care.
As the calendar turns, let health be your steadfast companion on this journey of life. In the new year, may your choices be nourishing, your actions invigorating, and your well-being a testament to the extraordinary potential that resides within you Go forth and set your New Year's resolutions. And be sure to partner with your primary care provider to help achieve your health goals.
If you are an older adult in the Bangor, ME area looking for a primary care provider to help achieve your resolutions and interested in care direct to your home - consider a house call visit w/ Katie Mordino NP.
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