By Dr. Tich Changamire,
Chief Medical Officer, CareFirst,
BlueCross BlueShield
While I – and many – have the same recommendations every year for how to become our best selves through healthy lifestyle choices, this year, I want to focus on preventive medicine as part of our overall well-being. Investing in our health fosters a culture of well-being among friends, family, loved ones and our communities.
As we look forward to 2023, we must prioritize scheduling our annual physicals, getting up-to-date vaccinations, and completing preventive screenings to identify any indicators or issues before they become problematic.
According to Reuters, before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, researchers found that only 8% of the population over age 35 were getting all the medically recommended preventive services for improved health, including blood pressure and cholesterol checks, cancer screenings and mental health counseling.
This means most Americans are missing out on opportunities to prevent disease or disability. And Minority and underserved populations have a disproportionate number of people skipping these screenings.
That percentage declined even more during COVID-19 times as we stayed home while hospitals, doctors and providers recalibrated practices to meet the needs surrounding the virus. Colorectal cancer screenings alone were down more than 51% at the height of the pandemic, according to a 2021 study by the National Institutes of Health.
Innovative health solutions, like telehealth primary care and value-based health insurance plans, prioritizing quality over quantity of visits, largely emerged from – or were accelerated by – this global crisis. And, while some screenings are on the rise post-COVID, many patients have not returned to in-person services or gotten back in the habit of scheduling preventive care.
The delayed tests are finding more advance-staged cancers, a reminder of why yearly checkups are so important. Before the pandemic, according to a University of California San Diego survey, 64% of breast cancer patients were diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer. Post-COVID, that number dropped to 51%, leaving a risk for poorer treatment outcomes because of the delayed routine mammograms.
The good news is that primary care visits through telehealth portals have skyrocketed recently. The downfall, however, is that research shows primary care screenings are often skipped without the in-person touch point.
Regardless of where you see your primary care provider, becoming your best self in 2023 should include a discussion of health prevention and screening with your doctor. Take the extra step of scheduling an in-person examination for routine preventive screening, even if you exhibit no symptoms of illness.
It’s part of my profession to build a culture that prioritizes health and well-being, equity, and accountability in healthcare. And wellness management starts at the personal level with a commitment to routine medical appointments. When is the last time you or your closest loved ones saw a doctor as a part of a well-check physical?
If you are uncertain on what appointments, vaccinations or screenings are important to you, schedule an annual physical today. Then, speak to your provider about your risk factors and the recommended path you should pursue in order to be your best, most healthy self as you head into the New Year.
About the Author
Dr. Tich Changamire is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), the region’s largest not-for-profit healthcare company. He is responsible for leading CareFirst’s efforts to achieve excellence in healthcare affordability, quality, and accessibility through innovative initiatives to improve the health of members and communities in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.
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