PROVENT HEALTH
DETECT · PREVENT · PROTECT
INVESTING IN YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET
Car services, annual financial reviews, spring cleaning. Why not extend that same level of care to your health?
We all know that prevention is better than cure. But with fewer people now having their own regular GP, and consultation times barely long enough to deal with even one problem, is it any wonder that preventive health care is not keeping pace with the growing body of evidence and technological advances in the field. That's what we're here to change.There are three stages of preventive health care:
| Primary | Aims to prevent disease from developing in the first place, e.g. weight control to prevent type 2 diabetes. |
| Secondary | Aims to detect and treat early disease that has not yet become symptomatic, e.g. fasting blood sugar testing to diagnose type 2 diabetes. |
| Tertiary | Aims to prevent further deterioration or subsequent events in those who already have symptomatic disease, e.g. regular screening and monitoring of the potential complications of type 2 diabetes such as eye disease, kidney disease etc. |
Traditionally, executive and other preventive health services focus on secondary prevention by providing a health snapshot in time. But by taking a more long term view, we ensure all three forms of prevention are applied while adhering rigorously to the principles of evidence-based medicine – no "precision medicine" or "biohacking". After all, it was the science that enabled modern medicine to eradicate smallpox, slash infant mortality rates, and turn HIV from a fatal illness to a chronic disease. So it's the science we follow. And now done virtually and in your own time – convenience without compromising care.
What
We offer comprehensive, science-based health assessments guided by the leading evidence-based preventive health authorities. Such consultations also provide an opportunity to ask questions that patients often don’t consider important enough to make an appointment for, review current treatments, provide specific education, and reassure patients about more minor health concerns. Below are some more important features of our service...
Individualised Care
We conduct a pre-consultation assessment to determine what specific pathology and/or radiology tests a patient requires based on what is clinically appropriate as a result of your own individual circumstances. This may then be followed up by further tests following your consultation. True individualised preventive healthcare.We DO NOT offer different categories of health checks (e.g. platinum, gold etc.), as patients should not be expected to have the medical knowledge to know what should and shouldn't be included in their own health assessment ... and why would you not provide the best assessment you possibly can every time. After all, that's the whole reason you sought out medical help in the first place.
Virtual Consultations
Consultations are conducted virtually in the privacy of your own home or office, with all documentation delivered electronically, making use of the latest online technology.The traditional annual physical examination has been shown neither to reduce deaths (mortality) nor even health outcomes (morbidity) in asymptomatic adults. However the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) makes evidence-based preventive health recommendations that have been proven to reduce mortality and morbidity, and yet don’t require a physical examination by a doctor, as only two physical details are required as part of the assessment—weight (or waist) and blood pressure—both of which can be accurately supplied by the patient. As a result, lack of a face-to-face consultation is no longer a barrier to being assured of the most comprehensive, science-based preventive health management.
Women's Health
All aspects of women's health are thoroughly addressed, with the most up to date recommendations and advice provided. Female patients are not a neglected afterthought in what has been a traditionally male patient dominated executive health sector.
Heart Health
When clinically appropriate we refer for a CT coronary artery calcium scan—a rapid, low-radiation (now equivalent to the radiation received from a standard mammogram) scan requiring no patient preparation and having no contraindications, and which is also endorsed by the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. This test has the ability to detect both early and extensive heart disease in asymptomatic patients, many of whom would be categorised as low risk if only traditional determinants were used. As such early intervention and aggressive risk factor management can therefore be recommended to prevent further progression of the disease, potentially preventing an impending heart attack (50% of which occur in people with no prior symptoms).We DO NOT recommend nor endorse routine treadmill stress testing, which is no longer recommended by either the American College of Cardiology or the American Heart Association as a screening tool for heart disease in asymptomatic patients. This is due to the fact that it only detects advanced coronary artery disease—and even then the chance of a positive test in an asymptomatic patient with significant disease is only about 60% (little better than tossing a coin).
Medical Imaging
When clinically appropriate we refer for specific, evidence-based medical imaging referrals for each unique patient.We DO NOT recommend nor endorse whole-body scanning for tumour screening. Studies continue to show that such scans are neither sensitive (ability to detect a problem when it's present), specific (ability to rule out a problem when it's not present), nor cost-effective. Indeed they may only serve to heighten the anxieties of the patients they were meant to reassure, and result in unnecessary and potentially harmful radiation exposure and further procedures.
Comprehensive Report
We provide you with a comprehensive, confidential medical report that collates all the information we have gathered, before focusing on the primary, secondary and tertiary preventive health recommendations applicable to your needs.
Vaccination Recommendations
Personalised vaccination recommendations are also included in your report, as with an ever-increasing number of vaccinations it's hard to keep a record of what you've had, what you need, and when you need the next. And in a world where biosecure international travel is non-negotiable, such a record can prove invaluable in future overseas travel planning.Please note Provent Travel is another service we provide exclusively for your travel health needs. We also do occupational health vaccination consultations. Go to provent.health#travel.
Pathology
Pathology testing performed by the renowned NATA and RCPA-accredited Sonic Healthcare Australia Pathology.
How
Simply begin the process by completing the contact form...
STEP 1
STEP 2
You'll then receive an SMS with a link to schedule your brief welcome phone call with our registered nurse, who will provide further information and answer any questions you may have. An email link will then be sent for online PayPal or Stripe purchase via credit card, direct debit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Afterpay or Zip.
STEP 3
Following this you'll receive a link to complete your online pre-consultation assessment.
STEP 4
Your pre-consultation assessment is reviewed medically, after which we will mail your pathology package so you can get the specific tests you may require based on your own individual medical circumstances.
STEP 5
Once your results are back you'll receive an SMS with a link to schedule your online video consultation with the doctor, who will take a deeper-dive into your health, discuss your results, and may refer you for further pathology ± medical imaging when clinically indicated.
STEP 6
Finally you are emailed your medical report, including all of your results, in a secure, password-protected PDF. You will then have the opportunity to discuss your report with our registered nurse, who can assist you in recommendation planning, and provide any health coaching that may be relevant to your needs.
Note we do not receive any pecuniary or non-pecuniary benefit from the above companies for which we may recommend services—we do so only because of the clinical quality of their products or services.
WHO
DR BENSON RIDDLE
MBBS(Syd) FRACGP MAICD Grad.Cert.Directing(AFTRS)
Dr Benson Riddle studied medicine at the University of Sydney (1994–1999), completing his clinical training at Royal North Shore and Westmead hospitals. He spent the next few years gaining valuable acute care experience in hospital emergency departments before undertaking general practice training.
Background in executive health medicine, including as medical director of former national corporate health company Peak Health, where he redesigned their executive health service to align with evidence-based practice.
Australia’s first SHAPE (Society for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication) certified practitioner.
Medical lead for Western Sydney Local Health District’s virtual care service inTouch, established as a COVID community care service when the delta wave hit in 2021 before expanding into supporting residential aged care facilities in need of virtual medical care in 2022.
Australasian medical director for US-based global telehealth company Teladoc.
Medical Officer of the Commonwealth for the Department of Home Affairs where he was involved in policy-making of national significance with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recipient of an Australian Border Force operation medal.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs medical assessor.
Veterans' health practitioner at Veteran Medical.
Practitioner at specialty online sexual health practice.
Established the GP clinic for employees at Google HQ in Sydney.
In-house GP at the Optus campus in Sydney.
Civilian medical officer for the Royal Australian Navy, for which he received a formal commendation from the commanding officer at HMAS Penguin.
Founding clinical lead for the federal government’s pioneering after-hours GP helpline, and later consulted to Telstra Health in the set-up of their own telehealth platform ReadyCare.
Practitioner at specialty women's health clinic.
Better Access initiative GP Mental Health Skills trained.
Practitioner at specialty travel health clinic.
SA Health Communicable Disease Control Branch immunisation course trained.
Q fever vaccination course trained.
Advocate for preventive public health measures – most notably successfully lobbying the federal government to make the recommended and potentially life-saving vaccinations for patients without a functioning spleen available for free under the National Immunisation Program Schedule.
AHPRA Registration: MED0001187286
Medically indemnified by Avant
Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
SHAPE-certified Practitioner certificate
Yellow fever vaccination certified provider certificate
Q fever vaccination course certificate
KATIE DAWSON RN
BSc(Nursing) CertIV(Fitness)
Registered nurse Katie Dawson studied at the University of Greenwich in London, completing clinical training in 2001 at Queen Mary’s Hospital. She specialised in acute respiratory and palliative care before immigrating to Australia in 2008.
Background in executive health medicine, working as the lead RN for former national corporate health company Peak Health, focussing on preventive health assessments and healthy lifestyle counselling.
Community registered nurse specialising in chronic disease management, aged care, oncology, palliative care and spinal cord injury.
Certified government health coach working with chronic disease patients.
Clinical nurse educator for NSW Health, supporting registered nurses and new graduate nurses in the community setting.
Advanced wound care including negative pressure and compression therapy.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs community RN.
Certified wellness coach with a focus on preventative health and wellbeing.
Certified fitness professional practicing rehabilitation training.
Co-founder of Ruby Lane Wholefoods.
AHPRA Registration: NMW0001069560
Member of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association
Wellness Coaching Level 3 Certificate
Certificate IV in Fitness
