Tests and screenings

Primary care doctors at Ascension Saint Thomas provide tests and screenings for chronic conditions, cancer, and minor illnesses and injuries.

Tests and screenings

Doctors at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee, provide a wide range of tests and screenings for patients of all ages. Your primary care team offers screenings for cancer and chronic conditions, and diagnostic testing for minor illnesses and injuries. Primary care doctors also provide ongoing monitoring for chronic conditions.

Your blood pressure helps your doctor understand your overall health. High or low blood pressure can be a sign of a health condition. Your doctor can check your blood pressure during doctor visits, and they can help you keep track of your blood pressure at home using at-home monitoring.

A good way to know how much body fat you have is the body mass index (BMI). The most accurate way to find your BMI is to have an exam by your doctor. Your doctor can also talk with you about your risks for health problems. They can give you advice for diet and exercise to get to a healthy BMI.

For women, your routine physical exam might include a breast exam. Your doctor can examine your breasts for lumps, which can be a sign of breast cancer. Your primary care doctor can refer you for additional imaging, such as a mammogram or breast ultrasound.

This test checks the cells from inside a woman's cervix for any changes that could lead to cancer. The cervix is the lower part of a woman's uterus that opens into the vagina.You may need this test as a screening test to look for cervical cancer or changes in cervical cells that might eventually lead to cancer.

Two screening tests can be used to check for prostate cancer:

PSA blood test: This test looks at the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. PSA is a protein made by prostate cells. A high level means it's more likely that a person has prostate cancer. This test can be done alone or with a digital rectal exam.
Digital rectal exam (DRE): In this exam, your doctor puts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to check the size of the prostate and feel the surface through the bowel wall for hard lumps or abnormal areas. Only part of the prostate surface can be felt during the exam. A DRE is best performed with a PSA blood test.

Chlamydia, herpes, and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs are also commonly called sexually transmitted diseases. Many STIs cause no symptoms at first. Even symptomless STIs can be contagious. They can later cause long-term (chronic) or serious health problems. Once diagnosed, many STIs can be successfully treated. Some STIs, such as herpes, can't be completely cured and may happen again. But each recurrence can be prevented or treated.