Preventative Care Screening
St. Clair Medical Clinic offers the following preventative care screening services:
Why? Early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.
How often? Every 3 years. More frequently if history of abnormal pap tests. Discuss with MD.
Why? Early detection and prevention of breast cancer.
How often? Every 1-2 years. Screening before age 50 if significant family history of breast cancer. Discuss with MD.
Why? Early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer.
How often? FIT (fecal immunochemical test) every 2 years. Colonoscopy every 10 years. More frequent screening depending on personal or family history of colon cancer or polyps. Screening before age 50 if significant family history. Discuss with MD.
Who? Everyone over 6 months of age, especially residents or workers in long term care facilities, and those high risk patients with chronic health conditions (i.e. diabetes, cancer, lung, heart, or kidney disease).
Why? Prevention of influenza and its more serious complications such as pneumonia.
How often? Annually, preferably in the fall with the start of flu season.
NOTE: Please inform us if you have received your flu vaccine elsewhere so that we can record it in your medical records.
Who? Children 2 to 18 months, and 4 years of age.
Why? Prevention of serious, potentially life threatening diseases. The school system requires all children entering kindergarten be up to date on their immunization before starting school.
How often? At 2, 4, 6, 12, 15 and 18 months of age and 4 years of age. Please see your doctor to ensure you have received all necessary immunizations.
Who? Everyone.
Why? To discuss general health and preventative measures that can be taken to optimize overall health.
How often? Every 1 to 2 years.
Who? Adults over 65, all smokers, those younger than 65 with any chronic disease, such as, diabetes, lung, kidney, liver, immunocompromised, cochlear implants.
Why? Prevention of pneumonia and its complications.
How often? Once, although some may require a booster in 5 to 7 years. Discuss with MD.
Who? Healthy adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. You should get Shingrix even if in the past you:
- Had shingles.
- Received Zostavax.
- Are not sure if you had chickenpox.
Why? To protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles.
How often? National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has no current recommendation for booster doses of either shingles vaccine. It is not known whether booster doses of shingles vaccines are beneficial. This is an area of ongoing research.