A preventive wellness visit checklist

Walk-In Wellness • October 20, 2026

Prevention & continuity

A preventive wellness visit checklist

Prepare a discussion of screening, health habits, and personal risk factors.

Reviewed by Nicholas Atudonyang, MD — October 2026.


Prevention is individual

Screening looks for certain conditions before symptoms develop. Which tests are useful depends on factors such as age, health history, anatomy, family history, and individual risk. A universal panel is not a substitute for an appropriate discussion.


Bring dates and past reports

If possible, bring the dates of prior screenings and relevant results. Mention family health history and changes since your last visit. This can help avoid missing necessary follow-up or repeating tests without a clear reason.


Make room for everyday health

Ask about habits you want to improve, such as physical activity, sleep, nutrition, or tobacco exposure. Choose practical questions rather than expecting every issue to be resolved in one appointment. A concern with current symptoms may require a separate diagnostic discussion.


Know what happens afterward

Ask which screenings are recommended, where they would be performed, what preparation is required, and how results will be explained. Confirm costs and coverage before testing when practical. This guide does not establish which screening is appropriate for you.

A wellness reading recommendation


From our Medical Director: How Not to Die

Dr. Nicholas O. Atudonyang recommends How Not to Die by Michael Greger, MD, with Gene Stone (Flatiron Books, 2015) as a starting point for conversations about nutrition and everyday health habits. He listens to the audiobook while driving.

This is a personal reading recommendation, not a treatment plan, and the practice has no affiliation with the book or its publisher. Talk with your clinician before changing your diet or care plan, especially if you have an ongoing condition or take medications.

About the book on the publisher's website (opens in a new tab)

Emergency symptoms?

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a routine appointment, phone call back or email reply.


Read more from public health sources

- MedlinePlus — Health screening (opens in a new tab)


Questions for your next visit?

Call or text Walk-In Wellness to ask about primary care appointments. Time-sensitive concerns may need a different level of care.

Call (936) 439-6070 · Text (936) 297-6665

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A short record of important diagnoses, allergies, major procedures, and recent tests can help you prepare for an appointment. Include the names of other clinicians involved in your care. Ask the office which records are most useful for the visit.
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If the practice provides a secure way to submit images, use good light and include both an overall view and a closer view. Do not send sensitive images by ordinary email or text. A photograph may not replace a direct examination.
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Empty your bladder and avoid food, drinks, caffeine, smoking, alcohol and exercise for 30 minutes beforehand. Sit quietly with your back supported and feet flat for at least five minutes. Put the cuff on bare skin and rest the arm on a table at chest height. Avoid talking during the reading. Ask your clinical team to c