Every year in March, everyone knows what is coming. The office will close for one day so that the office staff can undergo their annual physicals. Everyone knows that Michelle still believes in a thorough annual exam just like her parents who owned the practice before her. Every patient seen still gets a full head to toe exam including the genitals and rectal exams for those who are old enough to need one.

On Thursday as the office is close to closing and finishing up with the last patients, Michelle sends an email out that she would like to have a meeting in the provider office at 4:45. Everyone makes their way into the large room with four workstations where Michelle is sitting at a desk in the corner. When everyone is in and settled she tells everyone that as they know, physicals are due and that is why the schedule for Friday is clear. Most of the employees have been here long enough they know what to expect. Most of them all know who they will want to do their exams. a list of employees other than providers is made and everyone starts writing down who they prefer to examine them.

Elyse- Aaron

Nicole- Ashley

Ann- Aaron

Bridget- Michelle

Amara- Ashley

Jenny- Michelle

Taylor- Aaron

It is not surprising that many of the ladies prefer Aaron as of all of the providers he does a majority of well woman exams due to being very gently and making everyone at ease while he does them. Kaley does not do adult wellness exams due to her pediatric specialty so when annual physicals come around she typically just assists the other providers. During the physicals as a perk to working there Michelle offers multiple services at no charge to her employees, full lab tests, IUD insertions, and other screenings and tests.

When the providers are examined it has turned into a slightly unorthodox method that lets everyone keep their clinical skills up, the provider exams happen after all other employees are done and are done with all four providers in one exam room with one on the exam table, one doing the exam and the other two assisting with getting vitals etc. on whoever will go next. So in turn all four providers see each other get examined. Due to the close friendship of the group it is not uncommon for them to undress in front of each other and get examined with little to no draping. As most of them have allowed each other to practice skills, exams and try new equipment and techniques on each other.

As everyone is finishing deciding who will examine them, Michelle announces that additionally this year we will be starting drug testing. The way their drug testing policies have been designed is that every sample will be a witnessed sample. For staff samples, a provider will be the one in the restroom to witness the sample. To make the process easy, the provider who is doing their exam will witness their sample. For the staff members who have Aaron doing their exam, they can choose whether they would prefer him or a female provider to be the one who collects their sample. This came with a little confusion as to why this was necessary all of a sudden. Michelle put everyone at ease that it will not be a common occurrence and that after the annual exams they will all only have to submit to maybe one other test a year. It is only due to a new policy that the office insurance requires.

She finishes her briefing with explaining the procedure and when everyone needs to show up. Nurses at 8am, medical assistants at 9am, office staff at 10am. Except for Amara who should be in early to run all of the labs and drug test samples.