Address Healthcare Needs Now for a Fresh Start in the New Year
9/16/2025
TUCSON, AZ (Sept. 16, 2025 – Northwest Healthcare’s “Enjoy the Ride: Navigating a Longer, Healthier Life” email campaign features the importance of prevention and addressing other medical needs for overall health and longevity. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who procrastinate when it comes to preventive health screenings and elective medical procedures, now is the time to get it scheduled and checked off the list before the end of the year.
From colon cancer screening to joint replacements, getting procedures scheduled during the remainder of 2025 may also maximize insurance benefits for patients who have met their health plan deductibles. However, the real benefit is taking care of your health.
“If a health screening is recommended, it is typically because early detection of a disease or condition can prevent more serious health issues,” said Anyul Ferez-Pinzon, M.D., a general surgeon at Northwest General Surgery at Oro Valley. “With certain elective procedures – like joint replacement or hernia repair – delay can mean more pain or a more complicated procedure and recovery. Physically and mentally, we all feel better when we make our health a priority.”
Preventive screenings to schedule by the end of the year include:
Wellness visit – An annual appointment with a primary care physician is a key component of preventive health. These visits will likely include discussions about overall health, any health concerns or issues and health history. The physician will check your blood pressure and heart rate and may also recommend blood tests to check cholesterol, blood sugar or other conditions.
Mammogram – The American College of Radiology recommends annual mammograms for women of average risk starting at age 40. Different guidelines apply to women at higher risk, including African American women, those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and women with a family history of breast cancer.
Colonoscopy – The CDC recommends colon cancer screening for adults of average risk starting at age 45 and continuing at regular intervals based on physician guidance. Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps which can be found and removed during a screening colonoscopy. A colonoscopy should be repeated every 10 years for those who do not have an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
In addition to preventive health screenings, many adults often put off surgical procedures that could significantly improve their quality of life and overall health such as joint replacements. If your dally life is compromised because of pain or limited mobility, a surgery is often the first step toward better health.
The most common orthopedic surgeries, such as knee and hip replacements, are especially important for a healthier lifestyle because they help restore your ability to be active. Because the joint may further deteriorate over time, it’s usually best to have joint replacement sooner rather than later to alleviate pain and optimize recovery. Physical therapy after a joint replacement is designed to help you regain strength and mobility and ease into appropriate levels of activity throughout the recovery process.
Whether you’re ready to schedule an elective procedure or just want to take care of annual screenings and visits, the patient access team at Northwest Healthcare can help you understand your insurance coverage and what you can expect to pay for care.
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