Most people don’t think about preventive care until something feels wrong. More often, it’s a moment that brings it into focus. A friend gets a diagnosis they never saw coming. A family member ends up in the hospital from something that could have been caught earlier. Those are the moments that remind us how much our health matters, not just to us, but to the people who love us. 

“I think of an annual visit as a time to catch up and look ahead. Are we up to date with what we need to do, let’s look to the next year. This is the time everyone looks ahead,” says Dr. Sam MacBride. “People in this community do pay a lot of attention to their health, doing the things they can to make themselves healthier. Unfortunately, many of the things that catch up when they’re older aren’t visible when they’re younger. Hypertension is the silent killer. Heart health, kidney health, cholesterol, these are things people may be dealing with that don’t show up right away.” 

During Spring Health Month, Telluride Regional Medical Center makes that step more accessible. The Spring Health Month special includes an annual wellness exam and corresponding blood work for $185 or less for adults and $50 for children. For many patients with insurance, these visits are fully covered. 

Many serious conditions develop quietly. Kidney disease, for example, often shows no symptoms until it has progressed. “Kidney health, blood test, urine test. Often there aren’t symptoms until things are more advanced,” Dr. MacBride explains. “I worked in hospitals for many years. When people find out, it becomes catastrophic. They need to be on dialysis for a couple of years.” 

Even for people who are doing everything right, there are factors beyond our control. “People spend a lot of time maximizing their health in the ways that they can like eating well and maintaining an active lifestyle. Unfortunately, some people are more predisposed than others,” he says. I often hear things like: me and my mountain biking buddy do the same things, but we have totally different cholesterol levels. Some things we can’t see by looking at the scale or looking in the mirror. 

That’s where preventive care plays a critical role. An annual exam is not just a routine check-in. It is a chance to understand what is happening in your body before symptoms appear. Catching changes early can make a meaningful difference in both treatment and long-term outcomes. 

It also establishes something just as important: a relationship. “Before TMC, I worked in the inpatient part of a hospital, supporting patients who had been hospitalized with major illness. After they were admitted, I cared for them through discharge. I would connect with their primary care doctor and do my best to help correct and optimize things,” Dr. MacBride says. “Because I’ve spent much of my career managing severe chronic disease, one of the things I really value about primary care is helping people stay on top of those conditions so they don’t turn into more urgent, serious health issues. 

That relationship makes a difference when something does come up. Instead of starting from scratch, you have a provider who knows your history and your baseline. 

Dr. MacBride also acknowledges that staying on top of health can feel overwhelming. “It can be so hard to keep up with regular doctor’s visits,” he says. “Perfect is the enemy of good. Don’t get overwhelmed with striving for perfect health. Do your best to control the things you can control, and try not to worry about what you can’t.” 

Preventive care is not just about avoiding illness. It is about being there for the people who count on you. It is about having the energy to do what you love, and having support in place if something changes. If you have been putting it off, consider this your moment to come in. Not just for yourself, but for the people who want you healthy and well for years to come. 

Call Telluride Regional Medical Center at (970) 728-3848 to schedule your annual preventive visit.