Preventive care, annual physicals play important role in overall health, wellness

The Center for Healthy Living (CHL), located on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, offers acute care and primary care services to benefits-eligible employees covered on a Purdue health plan. Covered dependents also are welcome to use the center for their primary care needs. Annual physicals are among the many important services provided, and you can earn incentives as part of the Healthy Boiler Program by completing your annual physical. Completing a biometrics screening earns you additional funds.

Yearly physical examinations at the center include well-woman, well-man and well-child checks. The center also offers $25 sports physicals for dependents covered on a Purdue medical plan.

According to Jordan Blanchard Myers, certified physician assistant at the CHL, it is recommended everyone get a yearly physical.

“When individuals make the time and have their annual physicals and other preventive services and screenings, it allows for early detection should a major health issue already be present,” Blanchard Myers said. “Additionally, preventive care helps identify patients who are at high risk for certain diseases and provides time to implement care and treatment.”

For a first-hand look at how yearly checkups can play a significant role in an employee’s health, Andrea Mattingly’s story speaks volumes about the importance of scheduling those appointments.

All preventive care at the center is covered at 100 percent for anyone 8 weeks and older who is covered on a Purdue medical plan. Similarly, if an employee covered on a Purdue medical plan has an outside primary care provider, preventive care is covered at 100 percent there as well.

For more information on preventive care, Anthem provides a Preventive Care & Guidelines web page where individuals can input their gender and age range to see a populated list of recommended (screenings and vaccines) guidelines. Additionally, within the Healthy Boiler Portal, age appropriate preventive screenings will be displayed as options to complete within your personal Healthy Boiler log in. Each individual will see different screenings based on their appropriate age group.

According to Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources, the goal is for all employees to get their annual physicals, either at the CHL or at a community provider of their choice.

“Healthy employees tend to be happier, more productive employees,” Shaffer said. “We want our employees to seek out preventive care and get their annual physicals. The CHL provides convenience and great services to our West Lafayette campus population, but we also understand that some employees have longstanding relationships with other providers in the community. Our goal is making sure employees are utilizing preventive care services wherever it makes the most sense for them. And being able to earn additional Healthy Boiler incentive dollars for having those other preventive screenings done makes it worthwhile to their physical health and their financial wellness.”

The bottom line is that getting and staying healthy is the best way to get in front of diseases that could become chronic.

“Annual physicals and preventive screenings offer the best way for providers and patients alike to gain knowledge and get in front of any health concerns,” Blanchard Myers added.  

Everyone has different healthcare needs, so ask your provider how often you should be seen and what screenings/tests you should have. Additionally, Anthem, Purdue’s medical plan administrator, provides information to help make sure you are asking the right questions. 

If you are in need of a primary care physician, you can establish with a provider (physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) at the CHL on the West Lafayette campus or a provider at the Campus Health Clinic on the Fort Wayne campus.

The CHL is open Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lab hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call 765-494-0111 or utilize the patient portal.