Meet Jennifer Joy, RN, one of the Cheshire Medical Center providers who offer Annual Wellness Visits.
These visits are annual preventative care appointments—covered by Medicare Part B—that are designed to help patients stay healthy through preventative care.
Prior to joining Cheshire’s staff earlier this year, Joy has spent most of her 30 years in nursing with a community and ambulatory health focus, which she brings to her Annual Wellness Visits role.
“A holistic approach to wellness is something that I as a nurse value immensely,” Joy said, “and the Annual Wellness Visit definitely aligns with that.”
Rather than focusing on one specific diagnosis or acute illness, Annual Wellness Visits review every aspect of a patient’s health.
“We are looking at a patient’s overall wellness and the ways we can mitigate health risk by identifying risk factors and strategies to combat them, utilizing screenings, vaccinations and education, as well as assisting our patients with accessing community resources,” Joy said.
Early detection of any health issue leads to better outcomes. Through Annual Wellness Visits, Joy is able to review health risks, assess medical history, discuss the social determinants of health and create a personalized plan to help patients reach their health goals.
For Medicare Part B recipients, this service is completely free and has no copay. To schedule an Annual Wellness Visit, call 603-354-6760.