At Essex County OB/GYN, our goal has always been to provide thoughtful, personalized care while making the most of the time we have together. To help ensure every patient receives the attention they deserve, we’re making a few updates to how certain appointments are scheduled beginning June 1.
Types of Visits
When you schedule a visit with us at Essex County OB/GYN, there are two categories of visits: routine visits and “focused” visits. Rest assured, nothing is changing about how you book your appointments. We just want you to be aware, prior to arriving at the office, that if you book an annual physical, this visit will focus on preventative care only. If you have chronic issues or new problems you would like to address, a separate visit will need to be scheduled.
Why We Are Changing
Annual exams are designed to focus on preventive care, including screenings, routine exams, and preventative health counseling. Addressing a new symptom, chronic condition, medication concern, or other medical issue often requires additional evaluation, discussion, documentation, and sometimes testing. Provider schedules are built based on a 20-minute period for annual appointments, so separating these visits allows them to dedicate the appropriate time and attention to each concern rather than rushing through important conversations.
It’s important to us that we take the time to truly listen so we can thoroughly address any concerns and give you the best care possible. We also want to be mindful of both your time and other patients’ time, and this small change will help keep providers’ schedules on track!
As always, please note that emergencies and deliveries do occur and occasionally cause delays in our schedule. We always try our best to honor your appointment time. If we are delayed, we will do our best to notify you, giving you the choice of rescheduling or being seen by another provider.
FAQs:
What if I’m not sure which type of appointment I need?
Don’t worry – we’re happy to help! When you contact our office, our scheduling team can discuss your concerns and help determine which appointment type is more appropriate. If you need both a preventive visit and time to address a specific concern, we’ll help coordinate those appointments in a way that works best for you.
What does a routine visit consist of?
A routine well-women exam is comprised of a physical exam including a clinical breast and pelvic exam, age-appropriate cancer screenings, birth control, and STI screening/counseling. Preventive visits are meant to maintain health, not treat current symptoms.
What if I come in for a routine exam but have other concerns?
If you are scheduled for your routine exam, but come in feeling like you have other issues that should be discussed immediately, we can always address your concerns the same day and reschedule your annual appointment for another time – just let us know when you arrive!
We understand changes to scheduling can raise questions, but our goal is to ensure every patient receives the time, attention, and high-quality care they deserve. By clearly separating preventive visits from visits focused on specific concerns, we can spend more time addressing your needs and keep our schedule running as smoothly as possible for all patients.