Finish 2023 Strong (and Healthy)

When it comes to staying healthy, the end of every year challenges many of us. Between the stress of holiday planning, travel that takes us out of our normal routines and the increasing threat of flu, COVID-19, RSV and other illnesses on the rise during this time of year, our health can suffer.

But, it’s also a time to prioritize your health and use your health resources, remembering that health plan deductibles may reset at the beginning of the year and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) expire at the end of every year.

One of the soundest pieces of health advice to follow is to find a primary care physician. If you get to the end of the year and you don’t have one, you’re setting the stage for even more stress.

“We realize that people who feel well don’t think they need a doctor or need to see one when they’re not sick,” said Ana Phan, DO, a boardcertified family medicine specialist with Memorial Hermann Medical Group (MHMG) Cypress. “But when illness or injury strike without a primary care doctor, you’re relying on someone to care for you who doesn’t know you or your health history.”

If you do not have a primary care physician, Memorial Hermann offers a “Find a Doctor” tool. Here, you can filter through physicians based on their office locations, insurances accepted, languages spoken and their gender.

Usually, people without primary care physicians must seek care in an urgent care center or emergency room, where costs are higher. Doctors in these settings must piece together patients’ health history, while trying to diagnose and treat acute symptoms quickly to help offer relief.

Dr. Phan says finding a doctor you feel comfortable with and whom you can trust helps your health in the long run.

“I build trust with my patients,” she said. “I want them to feel they have a partner for their health. Patients are not my clients, and I am not here to dictate what they should do. We build a partnership, so it’s key that they feel comfortable with me and trust me.”

Have an Annual Checkup

Dr. Phan encourages her patients to schedule and keep a yearly checkup. “This is one way we can track any changes in health over time,” she said. “If a patient’s blood pressure changes from one appointment to another, for example, that’s something we need to investigate further to see what may be causing that fluctuation.” Changing lab values, too, might be indicative of certain conditions or emerging health issues.

Additionally, during an annual visit, Dr. Phan reviews family health history and changes in patients’ personal health or habits over the past year that might prompt additional testing or lab work.

She also asks patients about potential stressors that may have surfaced. A change in occupation or financial health, or a lifestyle change, such as smoking, using drugs or consuming alcohol, can contribute to health problems. Furthermore, she asks about new prescriptions or over-the-counter medications or supplements that patients may have started taking to be sure they’re not duplicative or will interact with each other.

“This medication review sometimes reveals that patients are taking similar medications, prescribed by different providers, that may be too much,” Dr. Phan said. “And we can avoid prescribing something that might interact with another medication. Similarly, we discover that medications aren’t achieving the treatment goals, so we change them.”

In her office, patients leave with their next yearly appointment already set up, so they don’t have to remember to make an appointment in another year. Over time, that regular cadence of yearly appointments helps patients get into the habit of having an annual checkup. Plus, as a family practice physician, she recommends scheduling the whole family for their annual checkups on the same day. For others, she recommends setting a reminder on their phone to call to schedule the appointment each year.

Immunizations and Screenings

Also important to discuss during annual visits are immunizations to prevent certain illnesses and conditions and screenings to detect potential diseases, such as cancer.

Dr. Phan speaks with her patients about the importance of immunizations, especially following recommendations for age and frequency. Yearly flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for people 6 months old and older. Other vaccines, given according to age, healthy history and prior vaccinations include tetanus, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and shingles.

Most recommendations for health screenings are also guided by a person’s gender, age and health history, including their family history.

Memorial Hermann’s guide to immunizations and screenings is updated according to the latest recommendations and guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and health care advisory boards.

“People say they don’t want to get screened because they don’t want to find out they have cancer,” she said. “I argue that’s why these screenings are vital to good health. If cancer is detected at its earliest stage, it’s likely treatable.” Some cancers, like skin and colon cancer, can even be prevented with screenings, as the precursors to cancer can be removed before they have time to develop into cancer.

Dr. Phan reiterates, too, that screenings for diabetes, high cholesterol, sexually transmitted diseases and mental illnesses, such as depression, are also important to prevent future health problems. These screenings are often part of the annual checkup.

Finding a doctor you feel comfortable with and whom you can trust helps your health in the long run.

Review Your FSA or HSA Funds

Dr. Phan notes that under many medical plans, annual primary care visits cost patients nothing. But, other medical costs, including co-pays for screenings and visits to specialists, often can be covered by pre-tax flexible spending accounts (FSAs), provided as part of employee benefits packages, or health savings accounts (HSAs) set up by individuals.

FSA accounts expire each year, and the money in them does not roll over into the next calendar year, so it makes sense to use these funds.

Depending on the terms of your FSA or HSA, “qualified medical expenses” also often include over-the-counter medicines and healthcare-related items found in pharmacies and retail stores. The IRS lists these items on its website.

Be sure to review the terms of your FSA or HSA and how to submit receipts to get reimbursed for these items and any applicable deadlines.

“The end of every year is the time to be sure you enter the new year with the best health possible,”

Dr. Phan said. “Take these smaller steps now to set yourself up for a healthier start to the new year.”

Learn more about how a primary care physician can help you sustain your overall health by visiting memorialhermann.org/primary-care