Preventive Care in Queens & Manhattan, NY

The right screenings depend on your age, sex, family history and habits. National guidelines such as those from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force set the starting points, and your preventive care doctor in NYC adjusts them to your risk. Someone with a parent who had colon cancer, for example, may need to start screening earlier than the general schedule suggests.

Many screenings are simple blood tests or quick in-office checks. Others, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, bone density scans and low-dose lung CT, are done at outside imaging centers and specialists by referral. Our referral services team sends the order, helps you find an in-network location, and follows up on the results with you. Lab work ordered through our diagnostic testing service is reviewed by your provider and explained in plain language.

Adults 18–39

In your twenties and thirties, the focus is on building a baseline. Guidelines recommend regular blood pressure checks, a one-time HIV and hepatitis C test, and screening for depression and anxiety. Women are advised to begin cervical cancer screening at 21, with a Pap test every three years or HPV-based testing later on. Sexually active younger adults may need chlamydia, gonorrhea or other STI testing. Cholesterol and diabetes checks start sooner if you carry extra weight or have a strong family history.

Adults 40–64

Midlife is when cancer screening moves to the front. Guidelines now recommend colorectal screening starting at 45, using a stool-based test or a colonoscopy by referral, and mammograms every other year for women starting at 40. Adults 35 and older who are overweight should be checked for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Cholesterol testing and heart risk scoring guide decisions about statins. Current or former heavy smokers aged 50 and up may qualify for yearly low-dose lung CT.

Adults 65+

After 65, screening shifts toward keeping you independent and safe. Women should have a bone density scan to check for osteoporosis, and men 65 to 75 who have ever smoked are advised to have a one-time ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm, arranged by referral. We also look at fall risk, hearing, vision and memory. Some cancer screenings taper off after 75, so we talk through what still makes sense for your health and goals.

Vaccines are among the simplest tools a preventive care doctor in NYC has, yet many adults fall behind once school requirements end. If you are looking for vaccinations near me, both clinics give routine adult vaccines during scheduled visits, and patients looking for vaccinations in Elmhurst or Chinatown can often get a shot during the same appointment as a physical.

The vaccines we generally offer include flu, COVID-19, Tdap, shingles and pneumococcal (pneumonia). Supply changes through the year, especially for seasonal shots, so please call your clinic to confirm a vaccine is in stock before you come in. Bring any vaccination records you have, including records from another country, and we will check them against current CDC recommendations.

Flu & COVID-19 Vaccines

The CDC recommends a flu shot every year for nearly everyone six months and older, ideally in September or October before the virus spreads widely. Protection fades and the strains change, so last year's shot is not enough. COVID-19 vaccine guidance is updated regularly, and recommendations differ by age and health conditions. Adults 65 and older, pregnant patients and people with chronic illnesses are at the highest risk from both viruses. We can give both vaccines at the same visit when they are due.

Tdap, Shingles & Pneumonia Vaccines

Tdap protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. Adults who never had it should get one dose, followed by a tetanus booster every ten years, and a Tdap is advised during each pregnancy. The shingles vaccine is a two-dose series recommended for adults 50 and older, even if you have had shingles before. Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for adults 50 and older and for younger adults with conditions such as diabetes, lung disease or a weakened immune system.

If you have had Medicare Part B for more than 12 months, you are eligible for a yearly Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. Medicare generally covers it with no copay or deductible when you see a provider who accepts assignment. New Part B enrollees start with the one-time Welcome to Medicare preventive visit instead.

The wellness visit is a planning appointment rather than a full head-to-toe exam. You fill out a health risk questionnaire, and then we review it with you. A typical visit includes:

• Updating your medical and family history and your list of medications and supplements
• Checking blood pressure, weight and other routine measurements
• A brief memory and cognitive check, plus screening for depression
• Reviewing fall risk, home safety and hearing
• A written screening and vaccine schedule for the next five to ten years
• An optional conversation about advance care planning

As your preventive care doctor in NYC, we can go over the plan in English, Spanish or Chinese, with a family member present if you like.

Prevention works best when the same team knows you year after year. Your primary care provider tracks your screening dates, lab trends and vaccine history, and our staff send reminders when something is due. Seeing one preventive care doctor in NYC who knows your history beats starting over at a new urgent care center each time.

Language should never be a barrier to good care. The Elmhurst team speaks English and Spanish, and the Chinatown team speaks English, Chinese and Spanish, so questions about test results or vaccine side effects can be answered clearly. If a screening finds high blood pressure or prediabetes, we start treatment here and coordinate with specialists when needed.

We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, so please call to confirm your plan. Same-day appointments are held back each weekday, and walk-ins are seen when the schedule allows. The easiest way to get on the calendar is to book your preventive visit online.