Annual Physical & Wellness Exams in Hilo & Across Hawaiʻi — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted

An annual physical, or wellness exam, is a yearly visit focused on keeping you healthy rather than treating a problem, where we review your health, update screenings and vaccines, and catch issues early. It is one of the highest-value things you can do for your long-term health. At Ohana Care Clinic in Hilo, we use these visits to partner with you on prevention across your whole life.

What a wellness exam is for

Most of medicine is more powerful when it is early. A wellness exam is dedicated time to step back from any single complaint and look at the whole picture: your blood pressure and other vital signs, your weight and metabolic health, your risk factors, and the preventive steps that fit your age and history. It is also where we build the relationship that makes every future visit better, because we already know your story.

What we cover

We tailor each visit to you, but it generally includes reviewing your personal and family history, a physical exam, and the screenings recommended for your age and risk by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and age-appropriate cancer screening. We also make sure your vaccines are up to date using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s adult immunization schedule, and we talk through lifestyle, sleep, and stress.

The mind-body connection

A real wellness visit includes mental health, not just physical health. We screen for depression and anxiety as a routine part of preventive care, because emotional wellbeing shapes everything from blood pressure to sleep to motivation. This is where our clinic is different: because we integrate primary care and behavioral health, you can address both in one place, with one team that knows you.

How we see you

Some parts of a wellness visit, such as the hands-on exam and certain labs and vaccines, are best done in person at our Hilo clinic. Other pieces, including reviewing results and follow-up planning, work well by telehealth. We will help you figure out the right mix.

Culturally grounded care

We care for the whole person, in the spirit of lōkahi — balance and harmony among the connected parts of life: the body, the mind and emotions, the spirit, the ʻohana (family), and our relationship with the ʻāina (land) and community. In a Native Hawaiian understanding of health, these are not separate, and neither is our care. To mālama (care for and protect) your wellbeing and to live pono (in balance and rightness), we listen to your whole story, welcome your ʻohana into the process, and honor the values and traditions that ground you. Offering kōkua (help given freely, with aloha) in a way that respects who you are is at the heart of how we practice.

Insurance and how we see you

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaiʻi QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, the Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), ʻOhana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance, and we are accepting new patients in Hilo. Primary care works best as a partnership. Your first visit is in person at our Hilo clinic. We see patients in person for physical exams, vitals, and lab work, and we use telehealth for follow-up visits, medication management, and chronic-disease check-ins whenever it is clinically appropriate.

Common questions about annual physicals and wellness exams

What happens during an annual physical?

We review your personal and family history, check vital signs, perform a physical exam, order age-appropriate screenings (such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and cancer screening), update your vaccines, and discuss lifestyle and mental health. The visit is tailored to your age and risk.

How often do I need a wellness exam?

Most adults benefit from a yearly wellness visit, though the right interval depends on your age, conditions, and risk. We will recommend a schedule that fits you.

Do wellness exams include mental health?

Yes. We screen for depression and anxiety as part of preventive care. Because we integrate primary care and behavioral health, we can address emotional wellbeing in the same place as your physical health.

What insurance do you accept?

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaii QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, HMSA, Ohana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance. We are accepting new patients in Hilo.

References

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (n.d.). A and B recommendations. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation-topics/uspstf-a-and-b-recommendations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Recommended adult immunization schedule by age. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html

Papa Ola Lōkahi. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian health. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.papaolalokahi.org/

This page is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic, written by George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you think you may have a medical condition, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.

George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP — President & Owner