Preventative Medicine
Proactive screening, early detection, and long-term wellness planning.
Preventative medicine is key to staying healthy and preventing the onset of diseases. At Three Rivers Concierge Medicine, your physician offers a comprehensive approach to prevention, helping you reduce your risk of illness through personalized care and screenings. Our goal is to identify potential health risks early, so you can make informed choices and maintain long-term health and wellness.
Preventative Medicine Q & A
What is Preventive Medicine?
Preventive medicine focuses on maintaining your health by preventing disease, detecting health issues early, and protecting you from future health risks. It involves regular health evaluations, screenings, immunizations, and counseling to manage factors that could lead to serious conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. By focusing on prevention, we can help you stay ahead of potential health problems and improve your overall quality of life.
Which Preventive Medicine Services Are Available?
At Three Rivers Concierge Medicine, we offer a wide range of preventive services tailored to your individual needs:
- Comprehensive executive physicals
- Heart disease prevention strategies
- Women's health exams
- Men’s health exams
- Vaccinations
- Exercise and nutrition counseling
- Medical weight loss programs
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Prostate cancer screening
- Breast and cervical cancer screening
- Cholesterol and blood pressure screenings
- Diabetes and prediabetes screening
- STD testing
Routine check-ups and early screenings allow us to detect and treat any conditions before they become serious. With our preventive medicine services, you can feel confident that your health is in good hands.
What Should I Expect During Preventive Medicine Visits?
During your visit, your physician will assess your overall health by reviewing your medical history, lifestyle, and any potential symptoms. We’ll check your blood pressure, pulse, weight, and other vital signs to ensure everything is in optimal range. Depending on your age, family history, and risk factors, we may recommend additional tests such as blood work, urine testing, heart function tests, or bone scans. We also screen for common health concerns, including depression and mental health conditions.
What Are Common Treatment Options?
If you’re healthy, you may not require immediate treatment but could benefit from preventive options like vaccinations or birth control. However, if health concerns are identified, we offer recommendations ranging from lifestyle adjustments to medications or specialty care. Our goal is to provide you with the tools you need to stay healthy and prevent future complications.
We will work with you to monitor your health, adjusting your treatment plan as needed, and refer you to specialists if necessary. Your health is our priority, and we will help guide you through every step of your wellness journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is preventive medicine and why does it matter?
Preventive medicine focuses on identifying and addressing health risks before they become diseases — through screenings, immunizations, lifestyle guidance, and ongoing monitoring. According to the CDC, 6 in 10 adults in the U.S. have at least one chronic disease, and most of these conditions develop silently over years before causing symptoms. At Three Rivers Concierge Medicine in Creve Coeur, preventive care isn't a once-a-year checkbox — it's the foundation of everything we do.
What preventive screenings should I be getting?
The answer depends on your age, sex, family history, and individual risk factors — which is why a personalized screening plan matters more than a generic checklist. At Three Rivers, Dr. Shoemaker evaluates your complete risk profile and recommends screenings accordingly, which may include cardiovascular assessments, cancer screenings (breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate), metabolic panels, bone density scans, and advanced diagnostics like genetic testing. The goal is to test strategically, not indiscriminately.
How does concierge medicine improve preventive care?
Traditional practices see 2,000+ patients with 15-minute appointments — there's simply no time for the kind of thorough risk assessment that effective prevention requires. At Three Rivers, Dr. Shoemaker's smaller patient panel and extended visits mean she can review your full history, order targeted diagnostics, and build a proactive health strategy rather than just reacting when symptoms appear. This is preventive medicine practiced with the time and attention it actually demands.
When should I start thinking about preventive care?
Now — regardless of your age or how healthy you feel. The American Heart Association reports that nearly half of U.S. adults have hypertension, and the CDC estimates over 1 in 3 adults have prediabetes — the majority undiagnosed. Patients in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who invest in preventive care at Three Rivers in St. Louis consistently gain the most from early detection and intervention.
Does preventive care actually save money?
Yes — catching a condition early is almost always less expensive than treating it after it's advanced. A cardiovascular risk assessment that identifies elevated markers early can prevent a heart attack; a cancer screening that catches a tumor at stage 1 dramatically reduces treatment costs compared to stage 3 or 4. The Three Rivers membership model is built around this principle: invest in prevention now to avoid costly, disruptive interventions later.
What vaccines and immunizations do you offer?
Three Rivers Concierge Medicine provides a full range of adult immunizations consistent with the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) schedule, including flu, pneumonia, shingles, Tdap, hepatitis, and travel-specific vaccines when needed. Dr. Shoemaker reviews your immunization history as part of your preventive care plan and recommends updates based on your age, health status, and any upcoming travel. Everything is coordinated through our Creve Coeur office so nothing falls through the cracks.
