Okay, hear me out. What if, instead of your once-a-year doctor’s visit, you and your kids came in for seasonal wellness visits?

If you haven’t noticed, our healthcare system isn’t always so much about health.  At my last physical exam, I was told by the doctor that I didn’t need to come back for another visit for five years (!) since I wasn’t due for any tests. Annual visits, she said, are a thing that some people do but they are not really necessary if you don’t have any medical complaints. I guess she did not know what to do with me because I am relatively healthy.  

I thought about this a lot.  In some ways, I thought that I was lucky.  But I also felt dismissed.  If I don’t have a diagnosis, conventional medicine doesn’t have much to offer. This is because our system is built around disease care, not health care.

It was also frustrating because I was hoping to build a relationship with a doctor – someone who might actually know me in case I ever do need some help down the road. Waiting five years to be seen again doesn’t create that kind of connection. And let’s be real, she may not even be practicing in the same place five years from now. So much for the doctor/patient relationship. 

Had she asked about my diet, stress levels, water consumption, sleep etc. she would have had lots with which to work.  I am a human being and I could use some extra support in some places, just like I am sure you could too.  

So to bring it back to my question: what would it look like to have seasonal doctor visits?  

Introducing: The Four Seasons of Health

For my own patients, adults and children alike, I’ve started offering quarterly visits, something I call the “4 Seasons of Health.”  Each season brings up its own physical, mental and emotional challenges. Think:

• seasonal allergies,
• hydration,
• back-to-school stress and immune prep,
• colds/flus,
• winter blues,
• holiday stress

Why wait until something is wrong? Focusing on calendar-based health concerns and thinking proactively could definitely make it worth your time. Why not work on spring seasonal allergies so that your child isn’t uncomfortable when the flowers bloom?

These visits offer more than just prevention. More importantly, they provide you or your child with a person, whom you know and that knows you, and who asks “how are you doing?” and then listens. Seasonal visits build a real relationship between doctor and patient.

What Happens in a Seasonal Wellness Visit?

Together, we would make tweaks to treatment plans, discuss challenges around food choices, sleep, exercise, life, etc, and change up medications or supplements as needed. For children, this consistent contact builds an ongoing relationship of trust and safety with their doctor. They will feel comfortable and not see me as a stranger if they have to come in when they are sick or need a sensitive exam/procedure.  For adults, this provides you with a health “cheerleader” to keep you on track and help you achieve your long-term health goals. Plus, investing in this doctor-patient relationship minimizes the potential for medical trauma and could even provide a corrective and healing experience for those who have had a negative doctor visit in the past.

Before you ask, no, these visits will likely not be covered by your medical insurance. Why? Because this is not disease-based care but instead is health care. These visits are for people who want to be proactive rather than reactive. There is not a catch here though. 

• After you are an established patient, each seasonal visit is just $100 for 30 minutes.
• Available in-person or over telemedicine. 
• If I am your primary care provider, we can sub in one season for your full annual physical, which is 45-minutes and $125 (which could be covered by your insurance). 

No contracts. No hidden fees. Just care.     

Final Thought

Waiting a whole year to ask all of your health questions or talk through concerns? That’s too long. Don’t you think? At Intuition Wellness Center, we specialize in health and wellness services for children, young adults, and their families. If you think you would like some extra support, we’re here for you. To learn more or to get started on your seasonal journey to health, give Intuition Wellness Center a call at 520-333-3320.

Written by: Dr. Kate Sage, NMD, Naturopathic Family Physician