TL;DR
Preventive care at Dr. Oldham’s Spanish Fork practice covers annual wellness exams, lab screenings, immunizations, cancer screenings, and chronic disease risk assessments for patients of every age. First visits run 45-60 minutes and include a personalized prevention plan. Most preventive services are covered at no additional cost under ACA-compliant insurance plans. Call (385) 265-6060 to schedule.
What Is Preventive Care and Why Does It Matter?
Preventive care is the set of screenings, immunizations, counseling, and routine exams designed to catch health problems early or stop them from developing at all. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that chronic diseases account for 90% of the nation’s $4.5 trillion in annual health care spending, and most of those conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers, respond best when identified in their earliest stages. Dr. Oldham builds a preventive care plan around each patient’s age, family history, and risk factors during a 45-60 minute first visit at 972 N 600 E in Spanish Fork.
In Dr. Oldham’s experience with Utah County families, patients who commit to an annual wellness exam and keep up with age-appropriate screenings catch problems like prediabetes, borderline cholesterol, and early-stage thyroid dysfunction at the point where lifestyle change alone can often reverse the trend, before medications or specialist referrals become necessary.
What Does a Preventive Care Visit Include?
A preventive visit with Dr. Oldham covers a comprehensive review of vitals (blood pressure, heart rate, BMI), a physical exam, a review of current medications and family history, and a lab order tailored to the patient’s risk profile. Standard panels include a complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, A1c for diabetes screening, and thyroid function tests. Dr. Oldham reviews every result in person at a follow-up or by phone, not through an impersonal portal message.
The visit also covers immunization status, cancer screening timelines (mammography, colonoscopy, Pap smear, PSA based on guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force), and mental health screening. Because Dr. Oldham is trained in osteopathic medicine, a brief musculoskeletal assessment is part of every physical, catching postural problems and joint restrictions before they become chronic pain.
What Screenings Does Dr. Oldham Recommend by Age?
| Age range | Key screenings | Typical frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn-17 | Well-child exams, developmental milestones, immunization schedule, vision/hearing | Per AAP Bright Futures schedule |
| 18-39 | Annual wellness exam, lipid panel (starting at 20), blood pressure, STI screening, Pap smear (21+) | Annually, some labs every 3-5 years if low-risk |
| 40-49 | Above plus diabetes screening (A1c), mammography (discussion at 40, routine at 50), colonoscopy at 45 | Annually, colonoscopy every 10 years if normal |
| 50-64 | Above plus colonoscopy, lung cancer screening (if smoking history), bone density (women 65+, earlier if risk factors) | Annually |
| 65+ | Medicare wellness visit, fall risk assessment, cognitive screening, shingles and pneumonia vaccines | Annually |
Dr. Oldham adjusts these timelines based on individual risk. A patient with a strong family history of colon cancer may start screening at 40 instead of 45. A patient with gestational diabetes history gets A1c testing earlier and more frequently. The table above is a starting point, not a rigid calendar.
How Often Should You Get a Physical Exam?
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends an annual wellness visit for most adults, though patients under 40 with no chronic conditions and no family history risk may safely stretch to every 2-3 years with lab work in between. Dr. Oldham recommends annual visits for any patient managing a chronic condition, taking a daily medication, or over 50, and at minimum every two years for healthy adults under 40.
What Spanish Fork patients commonly report is that the value of the annual visit is not just the exam itself but the conversation: reviewing how medications are working, adjusting a prevention plan, and catching the early warning signs that patients tend to dismiss or delay bringing up until they have a scheduled reason to sit in the room.
What Immunizations Are Available at This Practice?
Dr. Oldham stocks and administers the full CDC-recommended immunization schedule for children and adults, including flu (annual), Tdap, MMR, HPV (ages 9-26), hepatitis A and B, meningococcal, pneumococcal (PCV20 or PPSV23 for adults 65+), shingles (Shingrix, 50+), and COVID-19 boosters as updated. Childhood vaccines are given during well-child visits so parents don’t need a separate trip. Dr. Oldham’s team typically combines immunizations with well-child checkups, completing the recommended schedule in fewer appointments than most families expect.
Does Insurance Cover Preventive Care?
Under the Affordable Care Act, most ACA-compliant insurance plans cover preventive services, including annual wellness exams, immunizations, and USPSTF A/B-rated screenings, at no out-of-pocket cost when performed by an in-network provider. The practice accepts 30+ insurance plans, including most major Utah carriers. Medicare patients receive an Annual Wellness Visit (separate from a standard physical) at no cost. Call (385) 265-6060 before your visit and the front desk will verify your plan and confirm which preventive services are covered.
How Does Dr. Oldham’s Approach to Prevention Differ?
Dr. Oldham’s osteopathic training adds a structural and functional lens to every preventive visit. Where a standard physical checks vitals and orders labs, Dr. Oldham also assesses joint mobility, posture, and soft-tissue restrictions that signal developing musculoskeletal problems. A desk worker with early thoracic kyphosis, a teenager with asymmetric hip motion from a growth spurt, a postpartum mother with sacroiliac instability: these findings come up in routine preventive visits and can be addressed with osteopathic manipulative treatment before they become chronic pain complaints.
Dr. Oldham also favors the lowest-intervention option that works. That means using the Choosing Wisely evidence to avoid tests that add cost without changing management, discussing lifestyle change before adding a medication for borderline labs, and making sure every screening ordered has a clear clinical reason behind it.
What Should You Bring to a Preventive Care Appointment?
New patients should bring a photo ID, insurance card, a list of current medications (including supplements and over-the-counter drugs), any recent lab results or records from a previous physician, and a written list of health concerns or family history items to discuss. Established patients should bring an updated medication list and any home monitoring data (blood pressure logs, glucose readings, symptom journals) that helps Dr. Oldham track trends between visits.
How Do You Schedule a Preventive Care Visit with Dr. Oldham?
Book a preventive care visit
New and existing patients can schedule by phone or online. Most visits are scheduled within one week.
Call (385) 265-6060 Book online
972 N 600 E, Spanish Fork, UT 84660
Frequently Asked Questions About Preventive Care
Is a wellness exam the same as a physical?
They overlap but are not identical. A wellness exam focuses on prevention, screenings, and health goals. A physical may address a specific concern. Medicare distinguishes between the two. Dr. Oldham combines both when appropriate so patients don’t need two visits.
Can I get lab work done before my visit?
Yes. Dr. Oldham can send a lab order ahead of time so results are ready to review during the appointment. Call (385) 265-6060 to request a pre-visit lab order.
Do you see children for preventive visits?
Yes. Dr. Oldham follows the AAP Bright Futures schedule for well-child visits from newborn through adolescence, including developmental screening, immunizations, and school physicals.
What if something abnormal comes up during my screening?
Dr. Oldham explains the finding, discusses next steps (additional testing, imaging, specialist referral, or watchful waiting), and follows up personally. Nothing gets lost in the system because the same physician manages the entire process.
Medical disclaimer: This page is informational and does not replace an in-person evaluation. Screening recommendations vary by individual risk factors. Discuss your personal prevention plan with Dr. Oldham.
Content accuracy: Screening guidelines reference the USPSTF, CDC, AAP, and AAFP. Last reviewed April 2026.