Routine Health Maintenance & Screening
The most deadly diseases we face in America are diseases of lifestyle: Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Coronary Artery Disease, Lung Cancer, Emphysema, Obesity and Sexually-Transmitted Diseases.
Our most important job is keeping you up-to-date on the screenings and interventions that prevent problems down the road. We follow the recommendations of the American Academy of Family Practice and the US Preventative Services Taskforce, where better minds than ours determine what tests and interventions actually have value.
Here is a schedule of the Routine Health Care you need, as recommended by the US Preventative Services Taskforce. These are guidelines only, and your personal and family history needs to be taken into consideration in making a health care plan for you.
Ideal Screening Schedule
Meanwhile, here are some actions you can take- difficult to do, but life changing- which will add quality years to your life:
- Initiate a program of aerobic, cardio exercise 30 minutes a day, most days of the week: brisk walking, jogging, biking, swimming, anything that gets you heart rate up and keeps it there.
- Eat better: smaller portions, more fresh fruits & vegetables, less processed foods, eat better fats and limit carbohydrates. The South Beach Diet is a great manual for eating well.
- Wear sunscreen: SPF 15 or higher. Don't forget ears, noses bald heads and noses.
- Do ANYTHING it takes to Quit smoking!
- Always wear your safety belt.
- Use condoms.
- Drink alcohol in moderation: 1-2 drinks a day (1 drink = 12 oz beer = 5 oz wine = 1.5 oz liquor).
We are always available to meet with you and discuss healthy lifestyle options. Call for an appointment.
Individual sheets:
Ideal Pediatric Immunization Schedule
- HepB: Hepatitis B is a serious viral liver infection generally contracted through blood and body fluids
- Rota: Rota virus is a common viral disease causing diarrhea in infants, and is recommended only for 2-6 month olds
- DTP: immunizes for 3 bacterial infections: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough)
- Td: given to patients 11 and up to boost immunity to tetanus and diphtheria
- Hib: immunizes for H. influenza, a bacterial cause of brain, ear and lung infections
- PCV or Prevnar: immunizes for Strep pneumonia, a bacterial cause of brain, ear and lung infections
- IPV; immunizes against Polio virus
- MMR: immunizes against 3 serious viral infections: measles, mumps and rubella
- Varicella: immunizes against Varicella, commonly known as chicken pox
- HepA: Hepatitis A is a common viral liver infection from contaminated foods
- Flu: Immunizes against Influenza virus, and is recommended through 6 years of age
- HPV: Human Papilloma Virus is the major cause of cervical cancer
- Meningitis: immunizes against N. meningitidis, a bacterial cause of brain infections
Links above take you to the Center for Disease Control's vaccine information sheet for that immunization.
At this time, Highlands Family Medicine accepts new pediatric patients regardless of their parents intention to follow CDC guidelines for pediatric immunization. Nonetheless, Dr Roszell and Megan Ward, ARNP STRONGLY encourage ALL parents to commit to an immunization schedule which brings them up to date with CDC recommendations and Jefferson County Public Schools requirements by the start of first grade.
The Centers for Disease Control has much more information regarding vaccination at: