Physical exam checklist

At Aurora Health Care, you have easy access to primary care services throughout eastern Wisconsin. Even if you feel fine, completing an annual exam can help ensure you stay in your best health.

Have you scheduled this year’s annual exam yet? You don’t typically need to do much to prepare for your checkup. But keeping a few simple tips in mind can help you get the most out of your appointment. Follow our physical exam checklist to help your next annual exam go as smoothly as possible.

How do I prepare for my annual physical?

You might feel like your annual exam sneaks up on you and you don’t have time to prepare. But following even just one or two of these quick tips can make your visit more productive. To prepare, you may:

• Ask about your family history: Your primary care provider keeps a record of your family health history. This includes any diagnoses that affect your parents, grandparents, siblings or children. If you don’t know your family history, you may ask family members to gather any relevant details ahead of your appointment.
• Collect any applicable health data: Your provider may have advised you to collect health data such as your food intake, sleep patterns or blood pressure. Make sure you have this information organized before your visit. The data can be a useful starting point for a discussion with your provider.
• Consider bringing a support person or interpreter: You may want to bring a family member, spouse or friend to your appointment. They can remind you what questions to ask your provider and help you remember your provider’s recommendations. You may also consider whether to ask for an interpreter. We provide language assistance services at no cost to you.
• Complete preventive screenings: Are you due for a mammogram or colonoscopy? Is there a preventive screening your provider recommended last year that you haven’t scheduled yet? Aim to complete preventive screenings before your annual exam so your provider can discuss the results with you.
• Make a medication list: Take some time to write down what medications and supplements you take. Your provider will want to know details, including the dosages and how often you take these medicines. If you’re short on time, you may simply take a picture of the labels so you still have information to share with your provider.
• Note any changes to your health history: Did you receive any vaccines, such as your flu shot, in the last year? What about any accidents, surgeries or major illnesses? Make note of any health changes you haven’t already brought up to your provider.
• Write down your questions: You may think of several questions in the weeks leading up to your appointment. But in the moment, it can be easy to forget what you wanted to discuss. Create a list where you can record questions as they come up before your visit. During the appointment, reference your list to make sure you don’t forget anything important.

You may keep your medication list, questions or other notes in an app on your smartphone. If it’s easier, you can also write your notes on paper.

What to bring to your physical

On the morning of your appointment, dress in comfortable clothing that’s easy to change out of if you need to put on a medical gown. Make sure to give your provider’s office your:

• Completed medical forms, if your provider sent you any beforehand
• Health insurance card
• List of your medications and supplements
• Photo identification to verify your insurance, such as your passport, government ID or driver’s license
• Records of your family health history

Your provider may request that you bring these documents to your appointment. Or you may complete forms and upload documents to LiveWell before your appointment.

What to ask your doctor during your annual physical

Asking your doctor questions is an important part of taking charge of your health. If you’re not sure what your doctor’s explanation means, you should always ask for clarification. Additionally, you may think of some questions you want to ask your provider in advance, such as:

• Am I following the best lifestyle for my health and risk factors?
• Can I do anything to lower my health risks?
• Do I need to follow specific instructions when taking my medications?
• How does my family history affect my health risks?
• Should I be concerned about the symptoms I’m experiencing?
• What health screenings do I need to schedule?

What tests to ask for at a physical

Your provider typically orders blood tests to check certain aspects of your health. You can ask your provider what tests they’ve ordered and why. Your provider may instruct you to complete bloodwork ahead of your annual exam so they can discuss the results with you.

You may want to talk with your provider about tests to check your:

• Complete blood count (CBC): A CBC test can look for multiple health conditions, such as anemia, infections or blood clotting disorders. They also tell your provider about your liver and kidney function, electrolyte levels and hydration.
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): A CMP tests for multiple substances in your blood, such as protein, calcium, sodium, potassium and more. The results give insight into your fluid balance, blood sugar, protein, metabolism and more.
• Inflammation: Checking your body’s inflammatory markers can be useful for evaluating your risk of heart problems. If you have elevated inflammation, your provider may do more tests to find out about food sensitivities or other issues.
• Metabolic markers: A lipid panel checks your cholesterol and triglyceride levels to assess your heart disease risk. A hemoglobin A1c test and fasting glucose tests can help evaluate your diabetes risk. You may need one or all of these tests, depending on your risk factors.
• Nutrients: Nutrients such as vitamin D, iron and magnesium help keep your body functioning well. Your provider may order blood tests that check for nutrient deficiencies to find out if you need to adjust your diet or start a supplement.
• Thyroid: Doctors routinely check total T4 and TSH levels, which provide insight into your thyroid function. If you have symptoms of an overactive or underactive thyroid, you may ask your provider about more extensive thyroid testing.

What not to do before a physical exam

You can usually maintain your typical routine before a physical exam. But some factors could skew your test results or give your provider an inaccurate picture of your health. For the most accurate test results, it’s best to avoid:

• Consuming alcohol
• Drinking caffeine within an hour of your visit
• Eating a high-fat meal before bloodwork
• Eating or drinking anything for eight to 12 hours, or as directed by your provider, before bloodwork that requires a fast
• Taking cold medicine if you’re feeling under the weather