7 minute read
Regular Check-Ups Are Vital
The Meaning of Screenings
It all adds up. Preventive care is a critical part of your overall health and well-being. After all, preventing certain illnesses and diseases can help you maintain a higher level of health and avoid the side effects and problems that come with preventable health conditions.
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And regular screenings are a critical part of preventive care.
“Health screenings are vital to preventative medicine because it helps providers identify potential lifestyle changes that may be imperative to prevent disease and even identify disease before it becomes a more serious illness,” said Anna Nicek, MD, Internal Medicine, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission.
By undergoing regular health screening, you can find out whether you might have any health conditions before you experience symptoms. An important element of preventive care includes getting sufficient information to help make informed decisions. This way, you’ll be able to get any necessary treatment as early as possible.
“During a preventative exam, we review your current and past medical histories, medications, discuss your diet and exercise regimen, and perform a complete review of systems and physical exam. On a more practical level, I think that a provider should be able to go beyond screening tests and immunizations and discuss ways to achieve a patient’s personal wellness goals that work within their daily life,” said Nicek.
What are health screenings?
3 Cancer (Breast and cervical in women, prostate in men, colorectal and skin in men and women) 3 Diabetes 3 High cholesterol 3 High blood pressure 3 Osteoporosis 3 Obesity
Another year, another check-up.
Thanks to regular health screenings, you can feel confident that your health is good, and you can continue participating in your favorite activities.
If you visit the doctor regularly, you probably have certain screenings performed regularly. For example, when you get on the scale, your doctor is checking to determine whether you are at a healthy weight. Because your weight can be a risk factor for other health conditions, getting on the scale at a doctor’s visit is considered a health screening.
“Your blood pressure, waist measurement, and BMI often tell quite a bit about a patient’s health. Higher measurements of any of these put you at increased risk of high blood pressure,
diabetes, cardiovascular disease (stroke and heart attack) and fatty liver injury,” said Nicek.
What health screenings are recommended just for you?
Your doctor will recommend health screenings based on key factors such as age, family, history, risk factors, and sex — this will include which screenings are recommended based on your medical history and your overall health.
“Depending on your age, gender, medical issues including exposures and lifestyle, we may obtain lab work like a complete blood count, cholesterol panel, A1C (a value that tells us your average blood sugar over the past 3 months), and complete metabolic panel (electrolytes and kidney function). Immunizations are also reviewed and administered as needed,” said Nicek.
Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health
“At AdventHealth, we always ask our patients three questions: Do you have someone who loves and cares for you? Do you have a source of joy in your life? Do you have a sense of peace today? I think those are three, very important questions to get a sense of your emotional health,” said Nicek.
At AdventHealth, we know it’s important to have a doctor, but we want to help you find the right doctor. Visit MyHealthKC.com, answer a few, quick questions, and we’ll connect you with a primary care physician who best matches your health and wellness needs.
Anna Nicek, MD, Internal Medicine, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission
Anna Nicek, MD, is a pediatrician and internist with AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care at Shawnee Mission. She provides pediatric and internal medicine care for patients with a wide range of health needs, and she sees patients of all ages.
Dr. Nicek earned her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, where she was active in student leadership. She then moved to Kansas City to complete her dual internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Children’s Mercy Hospital, where she was named chief resident. She joined AdventHealth Medical Group in 2021.
In South Overland Park, WholePerson Health Just Got a Whole Lot Closer to Home
The best health care focuses on your whole health — body, mind and spirit. The just-opened AdventHealth South Overland Park is already providing the same quality of care you have come to know and expect.
“It’s rare to have the opportunity to open a brand-new hospital. In fact, this is the first in the Kansas City area in the last 15 years. We couldn’t be more excited to serve our patients in this beautiful new building that matches our high-quality care,” said Alan Verrill, MD, chief executive officer for AdventHealth South Overland Park.
Located at 165th and Antioch in the BluHawk Development, this 193,000 square-foot inpatient hospital is designed to provide patients with easy access to a full suite of medical and emergency services.
“Our patients have demonstrated a clear need for expanded services in southern Johnson County and surrounding communities, and we are thrilled to provide these with our whole-person care approach,” said Verrill.
The new facility complements already existing emergency, imaging and laboratory services onsite that have served thousands of patients since opening in 2017.
The new hospital offers expanded services including colonoscopies and other GI procedures, cardiac cath lab procedures and orthopedic surgeries.
“Our new full-service community hospital features an Emergency Room, Surgical Services, Obstetrics, full-service Radiology along with Cardiac Services,” said Monica Powers, chief nursing officer for AdventHealth South Overland Park.
With this expansion, AdventHealth South Overland Park now joins its sister campus at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in offering a birth center and bringing maternity care services, including a level II NICU, closer to home for families in south Johnson County and surrounding communities.
Of course, AdventHealth nurses are the foundation of our mission in the delivery of whole person care — mind, body and spirit. They are experts in the science of healthcare, innovators in constant pursuit of exceptional outcomes and advocates of loving compassionate care to all they serve.
“The nursing team at AdventHealth South Overland Park brings the excellent patient experience and high-quality care that AdventHealth is known for,” said Powers.
“Our facilities and our staff provide so much more than medicine by caring for our patients’ body, mind and spirit and we are proud to have the opportunity to deliver this care in a beautiful, high-quality facility,” said Verrill.
Monica Powers, RN, BSN, CNOR, MBA, Chief Nursing Officer, AdventHealth South Overland Park.
Monica Powers is the Chief Nursing Officer of AdventHealth South Overland Park. She previously served as Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission. Powers launched the bariatric surgery program at AdventHealth Lenexa and led the expansion of the department to the Bariatric Center of Kansas City. Most recently, she served as Incident Commander through AdventHealth Shawnee Mission’s COVID-19 response and participated in the planning and design of the South Overland Park campus.
Alan Verrill, MD, Chief Executive Officer AdventHealth South Overland Park
Alan Verrill, MD is the president and CEO for AdventHealth South Overland Park. Dr. Verrill has served as the chief medical officer for Littleton Adventist Hospital, part of Centura Health in Littleton, Colorado, for five years. He is a board-certified internist with 25 years of experience in the hospital setting, leading in various fields such as patient care, governance and regulatory compliance. Dr. Verrill joined Littleton Adventist Hospital from Bridgton Hospital in Maine, where he served as division chief for the medical group and president over the medical staff.
No matter what brings you to us or which medical services you need, we’re all connected by more than just our name. We’re connected by our commitment to your whole-person health.
Every thoughtful detail reflects our mission.
This new hospital is filled with thoughtful and powerful features that reinforce the AdventHealth mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ.
As guests enter the main lobby floor, they’re welcomed with words of hope and healing displayed on the glass of the second floor.
A Creation Art Walk was also designed for people to enjoy artwork representing each of the days of God’s creation. There is seating in each location that allows one to enjoy the art or explore one’s faith.
And the chapel was designed with glass panels in the front to showcase the final day of creation, with a landscape of the sunset portraying the day of rest with a cross in the center. Depending on the time of the day and light brilliance, the piece shows varying colors and hues.
“This new location allows us to extend our healing mission to south Johnson County and surrounding areas — caring for the body, mind and spirit. We’re about meeting people where they are in their health journey and finding ways to best serve their needs to provide a better health care experience,” said Verrill.
Let us help you live the life you love for many years to come. Let us help you heal in body, mind and spirit. For more information about AdventHealth South Overland Park, call 913-373-2000 or visit AdventHealthKC.com/SouthOP.
