Preventive Care & Lifestyle Counseling

Preventive care is the part of medicine that keeps you out of the hospital. It's the wellness visits, the screenings, the vaccines, and the conversations about diet, sleep, alcohol, and stress that catch problems before they become emergencies.

At Good Health NC in Knightdale, preventive care is built around three things:

1. Age- and risk-appropriate screening — the right tests at the right intervals, based on USPSTF recommendations and your personal risk profile.
2. Immunizations and vaccinations — flu, COVID, shingles, Tdap, pneumococcal, and travel vaccines as indicated.
3. Lifestyle counseling — practical, evidence-based guidance on the four areas that actually move the needle: nutrition, activity, sleep, and stress.

Most commercial insurance plans, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage cover one annual wellness visit at 100% — no copay, no deductible. We use that visit to set your prevention plan for the year.

Your prevention plan depends on age, sex, family history, and risk factors. The most common services we provide include:

• Annual wellness exams — comprehensive history, physical, and prevention planning
• Cardiovascular screening — blood pressure, lipid panel, ASCVD risk calculation, baseline EKG when indicated
• Diabetes and prediabetes screening — fasting glucose and A1C starting at age 35 (earlier with risk factors). See diabetes care.
• Cancer screening referrals and coordination — colonoscopy, mammogram, low-dose lung CT, cervical, and skin checks
• Bone density (DEXA) — for postmenopausal women and at-risk men
• Thyroid screening when symptoms suggest it. See thyroid care.
• Mental health screening — depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and alcohol use
• Immunizations — flu, COVID, Tdap, shingles, pneumococcal, HPV, and travel vaccines
• Lifestyle counseling — tobacco cessation, weight management, alcohol reduction, and sleep hygiene

Lab work is done on-site so most results are back the same day or next morning.

Your annual wellness visit at Good Health NC runs about 45 minutes. Here's the structure:

1. Vitals and intake — blood pressure, BMI, oxygen saturation, medication review.
2. History review — personal and family medical history, current symptoms, lifestyle factors, mental health screening.
3. Physical exam — head-to-toe based on age and risk.
4. Labs — drawn on-site. The standard panel includes a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, A1C, TSH, and vitamin D when indicated.
5. Your prevention plan — a personalized written plan covering screenings due this year, vaccines, lifestyle goals, and specialist referrals if needed.

We send results through the patient portal with a clear explanation. If something is abnormal, we call you directly.

Most chronic disease in America is driven by four modifiable factors: diet, activity, sleep, and stress. We coach you through changes that fit your real life — not generic handouts. Nutrition — Mediterranean and DASH-style patterns for cardiovascular and metabolic health. Practical food swaps, not restrictive diets. Activity — building toward 150 minutes/week of moderate activity in ways that work for your schedule. Weight management — for patients with BMI ≥27 and a related condition, or BMI ≥30 alone, we discuss GLP-1 therapy and other tools. See medical weight loss. Tobacco and alcohol — evidence-based counseling and medication support when appropriate. Sleep — screening for sleep apnea, restless legs, and shift-work issues. Stress and mood — brief intervention plus referral to behavioral health when needed.

We also coordinate any specialist referrals your prevention plan calls for and follow up after to make sure nothing falls through.

Most adults benefit from a wellness visit once a year. Schedule sooner if:

• It's been more than 12 months since your last comprehensive exam
• You've turned 40, 50, or 65 — milestone ages with new screening recommendations
• You have a family history of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer in a first-degree relative under 60
• You've started or changed prescription medications without follow-up
• You're due for a vaccine (flu shots: September through November is ideal)
• You're planning a pregnancy, international travel, or a major life change
• You haven't established care with a primary care provider in the Triangle

Preventive care visits don't replace urgent care or sick visits — but having an established relationship with a primary care provider means faster, smarter care when you do get sick.

Good Health NC was founded by our experienced PA-C clinical lead with 22 years of practice — to deliver the kind of preventive care that actually changes outcomes. That means:

• Real appointment time — annual visits are 45 minutes, not 12
• Same-day labs — most blood work is done on-site with same-day or next-morning results
• Walk-in urgent care under one roof — minor illnesses, injuries, and acute issues handled without sending you elsewhere
• Care coordination built in — we manage your screening reminders, vaccine schedules, and specialist follow-ups. See care coordination.
• Evidence-based prevention — we follow USPSTF, ACP, AAFP, and CDC guidelines, not marketing-driven panels

Most major commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage plans are expected to be accepted at opening.