This past weekend, I was at my 4-year-old son’s baseball game with my dad, who’s in his late 60s. I noticed his back was bothering him. He was leaning on the batting cage and clearly wasn’t comfortable sitting on the bleachers either.
“Hey Dad, what’s going on with your back?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m fine,” he replied.
I looked at him skeptically. “You good?”
He looked back at me, nearly eyerolling. “I’m good.”
And if you’re a Bostonian like us, you know exactly what that means: Nope. Case closed. Do not talk about it. Sweep it under the rug.
My dad has always avoided the doctor. His back started bothering him when he was just a kid working in his uncle’s hayloft over summer breaks. One day he fell backwards off the top of the loft and landed flat on his back. It hasn’t been right since.
As he got older his old injury started creeping back up, nagging him throughout his life. He’d say he’d make an appointment, but it was always “I’ll do it later.”
Why am I sharing this?
My job at HealthTap is, somewhat ironically, to engage patients in their care and help them understand how important prevention is to living healthier, happier lives by seeing an online primary care doctor. My toughest customer has been my dad. Perhaps, he’s one of the reasons I chose this path and why I am so passionate about helping people stay healthy.
But his story is relatable for a lot of men (and the women in their lives, too). So many try to tough it out, brush things off, or avoid anything that might make them appear weaker. They’ve been told their whole lives that they have to be strong for their families.
What I’ve always wondered is how much more my dad could have enjoyed if he just took care of it and saw a doctor. There have been so many times he’s thrown it out and ended up laid up for days. What if, back when it started bothering him, it was something totally fixable? He’ll never know.
In honor of Men’s Health Month, my question for you is:
When was the last time you saw a doctor?
Did you have to stop and think about it? If so, you’re in good company. A majority of men don’t regularly see a doctor unless something already feels wrong—or they’ve had a real scare. But that approach can cost you. Literally.
When things are caught early you get ahead of the issue. It can mean saving thousands of dollars on emergency room visits, prescriptions, and referrals to specialists.
Over the years, these are some of the things I’ve heard and what I’d say back:
“I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor right now.” Great—a doctor can confirm that. Labs can catch what you might not be feeling yet.
“I don’t want bad news.” Skipping the visit doesn’t make problems go away. It just gives them time to grow. Ehhem. My Dad.
“It’s awkward.” No hospital gowns here. Video visits happen from home, no touching and it’s required to be fully clothed!
“I don’t want a surprise bill.” Video visits are included with your CHM membership.
“I don’t have time.” Fair. But video visits with a doctor from HealthTap are on your schedule.
Gentlemen, you’re honestly spending more energy avoiding the doctor than it would take to actually see one. A video visit with a HealthTap doctor takes 15-30 minutes of your time. Plus, you’ll walk away knowing you’re on track and if you’re not a doctor will come up with a game plan with you.
Here’s what seeing your doctor from HealthTap will be like:
- Pick a doctor
Your choice, and they’re yours to keep if you like. - Book a time
Same day, same week appointments. - Join your video visit
The doctor asks you health questions and gets to know you. They’ll determine if you need prescriptions, medication adjustments, refills, labs, or specialty referrals. - Get your plan
And any next steps.
Seeing your new doctor regularly will allow you to stay strong and keep showing up for your family, friends, work, and things you love to do. Plus, you’ll honor the only body you’ve been given by taking good care of it.
So now I’m going to ask you:
“You good?”
This month is Men’s Health Month. Why not make it the month you finally take that step? And if you’re like my Dad and are still not convinced, try this: spare your oldest daughter the headache and do it for her instead.
See a doctor from HealthTap — included with your CHM membership. Schedule today.
Editor’s note: Sherrie is the Vice President of Patient Engagement at HealthTap. Additionally, please note that any associated lab, testing, or treatment costs with HealthTap are not automatically included in CHM membership; however, eligible bills can be submitted to CHM for sharing per your program guidelines. Please refer to the CHM Guidelines for the most up-to-date information.
