Stay Healthy at Mace Avenue Medical
Preventive Care and Health Screenings in the Bronx
The most powerful medical intervention is the one that prevents a problem from starting. Preventive care — health screenings, vaccines, counseling, and early detection — is the foundation of a long, healthy life.
At Mace Avenue Medical, preventive care is not an afterthought. It is woven into every visit. Our team works to ensure that every adult patient in the East Bronx receives the screenings, immunizations, and health counseling they need — at the right time and in the right way.
Why Preventive Care Matters
Many of the most serious health conditions — heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke — develop silently. There are often no symptoms in the early stages. By the time a person feels sick, the disease may have been progressing for years. Preventive screenings catch these conditions early, when they are most treatable and when interventions are most effective.
According to leading medical organizations, preventive care can:
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke)
- Detect cancer at early, more treatable stages
- Prevent type 2 diabetes through early pre-diabetes detection and intervention
- Reduce vaccine-preventable illness and death
- Improve management of high blood pressure and cholesterol before they damage organs
Preventive Screenings by Age Group
Adults Ages 18–39
- Blood pressure screening (at least every 1–2 years)
- Cholesterol screening (starting at 20 or earlier with risk factors)
- Blood glucose / diabetes risk screening (earlier with risk factors)
- Cervical cancer screening (Pap smear every 3 years for women ages 21–65)
- STI screening as appropriate
- Mental health screening (depression, anxiety)
- BMI assessment and obesity counseling
- Immunizations: flu (annual), Tdap, HPV (up to age 26), meningococcal
Adults Ages 40–64
All of the above, plus:
- Mammogram (women 40+, annually or every 2 years per guidelines)
- Colorectal cancer screening (colonoscopy at age 45, or earlier with risk factors)
- Diabetes screening (A1C or fasting glucose)
- Prostate cancer screening discussion (PSA, men 50+, or 45+ with risk factors)
- Lung cancer screening (low-dose CT scan for adults 50–80 with smoking history)
- Eye exam (for glaucoma and diabetic eye disease)
- Hearing screening
- Immunizations: flu (annual), Tdap booster, shingles vaccine (50+), pneumonia vaccine (per guidelines)
Adults Ages 65+
All of the above, plus:
- Osteoporosis screening (DEXA scan — women 65+, men with risk factors)
- Cognitive / dementia screening - Fall risk assessment
- Vision and hearing evaluation
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (men 65–75 who ever smoked)
- Comprehensive medication review (polypharmacy assessment)
- Immunizations: flu (annual), RSV vaccine (60+), high-dose flu or adjuvanted flu vaccine, pneumonia, shingles (if not already received)
Cancer Screenings We Offer
Early detection saves lives. At Mace Avenue Medical, we ensure that our patients are up to date on the following cancer screenings:
1
Colorectal cancer — Colonoscopy referral (beginning at age 45), stool-based testing options
2
Breast cancer — Mammogram referral coordination
3
Cervical cancer — Pap smear and HPV co-testing
4
Prostate cancer — PSA discussion and testing
5
Lung cancer — Low-dose CT referral for qualifying patients
6
Skin cancer — Visual skin examination during annual physical
Immunizations and Vaccines
Adult vaccines are a critical and often overlooked form of preventive care. We administer and recommend:
- Influenza (flu) vaccine — annually
- COVID-19 vaccine and boosters
- Pneumococcal vaccine (for adults 65+ and younger adults with certain conditions)
- Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine — recommended for adults 50+
- Tetanus/Tdap booster — every 10 years
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- HPV vaccine (adults up to age 26, and 27–45 based on shared decision-making)
Frequently Asked Questions
What preventive screenings should adults get every year?
All adults should have an annual blood pressure check, a cholesterol review, a blood sugar (glucose or A1C) assessment, and an annual physical exam. Additional screenings depend on age, sex, and risk factors. Your Mace Avenue Medical provider will guide you through what you need.
When should I get a colonoscopy?
Current guidelines recommend that average-risk adults start colorectal cancer screening at age 45. If you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, screening should begin earlier — typically at age 40 or 10 years before the youngest affected family member. Talk to your provider at Mace Avenue Medical about your individual risk.
What cancer screenings are covered by insurance?
Most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover recommended preventive screenings at no cost to the patient. This includes mammograms, colonoscopies, Pap smears, and PSA tests. Call our office to verify coverage for your specific plan.
How do I know if I need a shingles vaccine?
The shingles vaccine (Shingrix) is recommended for adults 50 and older, even if you have had shingles before or received the older Zostavax vaccine. Our team will review your vaccination history during your annual physical and make appropriate recommendations.
What is the difference between preventive care and sick care?
Preventive care focuses on maintaining health and catching problems before they cause symptoms — through screenings, vaccines, counseling, and wellness visits. Sick care (acute care) addresses symptoms and illnesses that are already present. Mace Avenue Medical provides both.
