Preventive Care
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Do I Need a Physical?
It is important to have a regular family health care provider who helps make sure you receive the medical care that is best for your individual needs. But healthy people often don’t necessarily need "annual physicals", and those check-ups can do more harm than good. Here’s why: https://choosingwiselycanada.org/health-check-ups/
Family medicine guidelines now suggest a “periodic health review” instead of an annual physical. The purpose of this appointment (which could be by phone or in-person) is to:
- Review and update your medical record
- Identify and/or improve any risk factors for disease
- Make sure your vaccinations are up to date
- Perform or arrange for important screening tests
Depending on your age and health, your doctor may recommend these periodic reviews annually, or just every few years - ask your doctor what is best for you!
Does My Child Need a Check-Up?
There are certain ages that children need to come to our office for a visit. Babies need to be monitored closely for growth and development, and require frequent vaccinations. Older children should be evaluated every 1 - 2 years and may require an in-office exam. The chart below shows the recommended schedule of visits for children.
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Age |
Visit details |
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1 week |
Babies are usually checked by a health care provider within the first week of going home from the hospital. At this first visit your child's health care provider will:
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2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months, and 2-5 years* |
When you take your child to a well-child visit, your child's health care provider will:
They will also answer any questions you may have. |
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*Once your child is 5 years old, they will see their health care provider every 1 to 2 years until they are 18 years old. |
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Source: https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/schedule_of_well_child_visits
For Dr. Karen Chu’s Patients with Children 2 Years or Younger:
We are piloting online booking for well-baby visits with Dr. Chu!
If you child is a patient of Dr. Chu, and they are due for their 1, 2, 4, 12 or 18 month visit, please click here to book an in-person appointment with Dr. Chu for your child. If there are no online spots available, then please call to book by phone, or check back later (the system will not allow you to book more than 30 days in advance). When you are booking an appointment, you will be asked some questions about what your child is able to do (for example are able to smile or roll? ) at the time of booking.
You may have noticed that months 6, 9 and 15 are not available for online booking. We do still want to see your child at these ages! However, at these ages, your well-baby visit can generally be booked with our Registered Nurse instead of Dr. Chu. If your child is due for one of these age visits, please call us to book an appointment. For now, we are starting with online booking just with the physician.
We encourage you to try this system to see how it works, and hope it is of convenience for you. Please also know that you do not have to use this system and can call our front desk at any point to book your appointment.
Cancer Screening
Cervical - Read More
- Screening for cervical cancer is done by a pap test. To do a pap test, you will be asked to lie on your back on an examining table. An instrument, called a speculum, is gently inserted into your vagina so your doctor or nurse can more clearly see your cervix. Cells are taken from the cervix and are sent to a laboratory to be examined under a microscope.
- The new Ontario guidelines for pap testing are every 3 years for those who are sexually active, aged 21-69 years and who have had previously normal pap results. Your healthcare provider may suggest that you come in more often if you have had an abnormal pap in the past.
- New! If you are due for a repeat pap test, you can book an appointment online for one of our evening Pap Clinics here: Book a Pap Test Appointment Online. Please note that paps done at these clinics may be performed by male or female providers.
- If you would like to schedule your first ever Pap test, please call and book with your healthcare provider to discuss the procedures and your booking options.
- For more information ask your healthcare provider or visit Cancer Care Ontario.
Breast
- The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) is a program of Cancer Care Ontario. The OBSP provides high-quality breast cancer screening for women aged 50 to 74 years or aged 30 to 69 years who have been confirmed to be at high risk for breast cancer.
- Screening for breast cancer is done by mammogram every 2 years. A mammogram is a low dose X-ray of the breast. The X-ray can find changes in the breast, even when the changes are too small for you or your healthcare provider to see or feel. For most women, the mammogram results will be normal. Ask your primary care provider when breast cancer screening is right for you.
- For more information ask your healthcare provider or visit Cancer Care Ontario.
Colon - Read More
- Colon Cancer Check recommends that all Ontarians aged 50 and over be screened for colorectal cancer. For those at average risk for colorectal cancer, a simple at home test - the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) - once every 2 years is recommended. The FIT is a simple stool test that can be done in the privacy of your own home. FIT tests replaces the older FOBT tests, and are easier to complete and more accurate.
- For those at increased risk because of a family history of one or more first-degree relatives (parent, sibling or child) with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, colonoscopy is advised.
- For more information ask your healthcare provider or visit Cancer Care Ontario.
Vaccinations
- Childhood vaccinations are an important part of your child's well baby visit.
- Healthy adults require periodic vaccinations, and some additional vaccines are important for adults with certain health conditions.
- Vaccinations are particularly important for adults over 65, to prevent complications of certain infections.
- Vaccinations help the body recognize and fight infections by introducing them in a safe way that does not cause the person to become sick.
- Once the body has seen a specific infection it can remember how to fight it for a long time.
- Muscle aches, fussiness, tiredness, low grade fever and some redness and swelling at the site of injection are normal reactions to vaccinations.
For more information on vaccinations, visit Toronto Public Health online, or read Your Child's Best Shot: A Parent's Guide to Vaccination, Ronald Gold, MD, MPH.
Flu Shots
Getting your flu shot can help prevent serious illness from the influenza virus. We generally offer flu shots starting in late October or early November of each year. Flu shots are important for everyone, but especially important for those over 65 years of age. Check this website in the fall for updates about when flu shots become available, and how to book an appointment.
Many pharmacies are also offering flu shots, some by appointment, others by walk-in. Please call or visit your local pharmacy to see if you can get your flu shot there.
If you are 65 years of age or over and you got your flu shot somewhere else (like a pharmacy), please call us or CLICK HERE to send us a message letting us know that you got your flu shot.
