Most adults walk into a primary care appointment with one thing on their mind. A cough that won’t quit, a form that needs signing, a refill. Then the visit ends and the other questions, the ones you meant to ask, ride home with you.
We’d rather you use that time well. At our Staten Island practice, Dr. Marina Fest, DNP, offers primary care built around prevention, along with testing and evaluations. Below are the topics worth raising at your next visit, and how each one connects to care we provide.
Health Screenings and Topics to Raise at Your Primary Care Appointment in Staten Island
Your primary care appointment is an opportunity to discuss more than the concern that brought you in. Preventive care, physical exams, ongoing health conditions, and questions about testing can all be worth raising.
Start with prevention and immunizations
Disease prevention and immunizations are part of our core primary care services. If you aren’t sure where you stand on vaccines, or you’d simply like a fresh look at your preventive care, say so early in the visit. That keeps it from getting squeezed in at the end.
Prevention, wellness, and long term health are at the center of how our practice approaches care. Asking about them directly gives Dr. Fest a clearer picture of what you want from your visits beyond today’s concern.
Physical exams for work, sports, school, and surgery
We offer several types of physical exams, including routine, employee, sports, school, and preoperative exams.
If you need a particular exam, mention which one when you book and bring any forms you’ve been given. It’s a small step, and it helps the visit go smoothly. A routine physical is also a natural moment to bring up the other topics on this list.
Diabetes and other chronic conditions
Diabetes and chronic disease management are part of our primary care services. If you’re already living with a chronic condition, your appointment is the place to talk about how things are going day to day. If something has changed since your last visit, tell us. That conversation shapes your ongoing care.
Your medications, and when a referral makes sense
Medicine management and referrals are both part of what we do. Bring a list of everything you take, including prescriptions and supplements, so Dr. Fest can review it with you.
If a concern calls for care outside our practice, ask about a referral. Primary care often works best as the place where your care gets coordinated, and referrals are one way we do that.
Allergy concerns and allergy testing
Allergies are easy to brush off as just part of life. If you’re dealing with symptoms you suspect are allergy related, our practice offers allergy testing and immunotherapy. Testing covers inhaled, ingested, and contact allergens. Treatment plans are customized and specific to each patient.
Hormone, thyroid, and testosterone questions
Some concerns don’t always come up on their own, so it helps to name them. Through our functional medicine care, we offer hormone, gut, thyroid, and adrenal testing.
In men, low testosterone may be associated with symptoms such as fatigue, low sex drive, depression, and muscle loss. If any of those sound familiar, mention them. Dr. Fest uses personalized testing and treatment plans to look into these concerns. Only an evaluation can tell you what’s behind a symptom, so the visit is where that conversation belongs.
Weight concerns and metabolic evaluations
If weight is on your mind, you can raise it at your appointment. Our medical weight loss program includes personalized plans and metabolic evaluations as part of long term weight management care.
When telehealth is an option
Not every conversation needs an office visit. Our primary care services include telehealth for patients in New York and Florida. Women’s Hormone Therapy is also offered through telehealth as part of our functional medicine care. If you’re unsure whether your appointment can take place through telehealth or requires an in person visit, call our office to ask about the available options.
Prepare for Your Next Primary Care Appointment
Jot down two or three things you want to talk about before you come in. Prevention, a nagging symptom, a medication question, an exam form. Then bring the list. We’d much rather hear about it in the room than have you wonder about it afterward.
Book your appointment online through our Book Now page, call us at (718) 285-4440, or email drmarinafest@gmail.com.
FAQs
What types of physical exams do you offer?
We offer routine physicals, plus employee, sports, school, and preoperative exams.
Can I have a primary care visit through telehealth?
Yes, for patients in New York and Florida. Call (718) 285-4440 if you aren’t sure which option fits.
Do you offer allergy testing?
Yes. Our allergy testing covers inhaled, ingested, and contact allergens. We also offer customized immunotherapy with patient specific treatment plans.
What ages does the practice see?
We serve patients aged 14 and older.
