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Summer health checklist: Offer these preventive care tips to patients
Help patients enjoy summer safely by providing them this comprehensive health checklist.
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- Use your EHR’s digital intake forms to ask summer-related questions.
- Share educational tips via automated texts or portal messages.
- Promote wellness visits and summer screenings using your appointment reminders and scheduling links.
Summer brings sunshine, vacations, and more time outdoors — but it also brings new health challenges. From heat-related illnesses to seasonal allergies and increased travel, patients may not realize how the summer months can impact their health.
Private practices are uniquely positioned to help patients prepare for the season. A simple, well-timed summer health checklist not only encourages preventive care but reinforces your role as a trusted partner in their year-round wellness.
Here’s a ready-to-use checklist you can give to patients — with guidance on common seasonal risks and how to stay healthy all summer long.
1. Stay on top of hydration and heat safety
Longer, hotter days mean greater risk for dehydration and heat exhaustion — especially for older adults, young children, and people with chronic conditions.
Tips to give patients:
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you’re not thirsty.
- Avoid outdoor activities during peak sun hours (10am–4pm).
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and wide-brimmed hats.
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, nausea, excessive sweating, or confusion.
Provider tip:
Consider sending automated reminders through your patient portal about hydration and heat safety, especially to at-risk groups. If your EHR supports group messaging (like Tebra’s), segment patients by age or condition to tailor outreach.
2. Practice smart sun protection
UV exposure increases in summer — and so does the risk of sunburn, skin damage, and long-term skin cancer.
Tips to give patients:
- Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+) 15 minutes before sun exposure.
- Reapply every 2 hours, or after swimming or sweating.
- Don’t forget easy-to-miss spots: ears, feet, scalp, and lips.
- Schedule annual skin checks, especially if you have a history of sunburn or skin cancer.
Provider tip:
If your practice offers dermatology or primary care, consider a summer skin screening day and promote it via your practice’s text or email outreach.
3. Keep chronic conditions in check
Summer heat and travel can disrupt routines — including medication adherence, diet, and exercise plans for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, or hypertension.
Tips to give patients:
- Keep medications cool and carry them with you while traveling.
- Use a daily routine or reminder app to stay on schedule with meds.
- Avoid high-sodium or sugary summer treats that may worsen symptoms.
- Talk to your provider before traveling if you have ongoing care needs.
Provider tip:
Use your EHR's automated appointment reminders to encourage chronic care check-ins or medication refills before peak vacation months.
4. Manage allergies and asthma proactively
Pollen, mold, and pollution levels tend to spike in summer — and can lead to worsening allergy or asthma symptoms.
Tips to give patients:
- Check daily air quality and pollen forecasts.
- Keep windows closed during high-pollen days.
- Shower and change clothes after spending time outdoors.
- Always carry your inhaler or allergy medication when traveling.
Provider tip:
Use patient portal messaging to share seasonal allergen forecasts or reminders to refill allergy medications.
5. Travel smart: vaccines and safety on the go
Whether patients are traveling cross-country or overseas, preventive planning is key — especially for those with children, chronic conditions, or upcoming procedures.
Tips to give patients:
- Check if your destination requires any travel vaccines or COVID boosters.
- Pack a travel health kit with medications, hand sanitizer, bug spray, and sunscreen.
- Stay hydrated on flights and road trips.
- Know where the nearest urgent care or pharmacy is at your destination.
Provider Tip:
Include a quick “Are you traveling this summer?” intake question for June/July visits. Tebra users can easily add seasonal questions to digital intake forms.
6. Prioritize summer-ready preventive care
The summer lull is a great time to schedule annual check-ups and screenings — before the back-to-school and holiday rush begins.
Tips to give patients:
- Book your annual physical, well-woman visit, or sports physical.
- Ask about immunizations, like Tdap or flu (if traveling).
- Update your medical history, especially if anything changed since your last visit.
- Use your patient portal to schedule appointments, access records, and send questions.
Provider tip:
Use your online scheduling tool to promote preventive appointments. If your EHR supports appointment request forms, it’s a great way to streamline summer bookings.
Bonus: Practice safety in pools and parks
Don’t forget to help families enjoy summer safely:
Tips to give patients:
- Always supervise children near water.
- Wear helmets for biking, skating, or scooters.
- Use insect repellent to prevent mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses.
- Clean and cover minor wounds quickly to prevent infection.
Final takeaway: Be a summer health partner
Preventive care doesn’t take a vacation. Independent practices that check in with patients during the summer can strengthen relationships, reduce urgent visits, and help patients enjoy the season with confidence.
A seasonal checklist makes care approachable — and encourages patients to reach out before small issues become major problems.
Make it easier with the right tools:
- Use your EHR’s digital intake forms to ask summer-related questions.
- Share educational tips via automated texts or portal messages.
- Promote wellness visits and summer screenings using your appointment reminders and scheduling links.
Dr. Soma Mandal, internal medicine physician, shares this about summer care strategies: "Summer presents unique health challenges, but with the right preventive care strategies, patients can enjoy the season safely. By providing a comprehensive summer health checklist, healthcare providers can reinforce their role as trusted partners in wellness, helping patients stay hydrated, protect their skin, manage chronic conditions, and prepare for travel. Leveraging tools like Tebra for automated reminders and personalized outreach can enhance patient engagement and ensure proactive care throughout the summer months."
“By providing a comprehensive summer health checklist, healthcare providers can reinforce their role as trusted partners in wellness, helping patients stay hydrated, protect their skin, manage chronic conditions, and prepare for travel.”
Want to personalize and send this checklist to your patients?
Practices using Tebra can customize seasonal templates, automate preventive reminders, and track follow-ups — all from a single dashboard.
Need help making your summer outreach more effective?
Explore how Tebra helps practices simplify patient communication and proactive care.
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