First visit with new provider

After being with my last medical practice for over 10 years I decided to switch providers. The practice I had been going to was very large and the visits seemed to be getting shorter and shorter, mostly just bloodwork and a very quick cursory exam. I only received a prostate exam and check of my testicles by requesting it. No other clothing was removed, no skin check, no reflex check, no range of motion. It was nothing like this when I first went to this practice. Maybe this is just how medicine is practiced now. This isn’t even a fetish thing, I feel like it’s a waste of my time for this to be an annual physical. I guess I will find out later today when I go to my new provider, the new provider is a DO instead of an MD, not sure if that will make a difference.

I moved providers when I first moved to the city I live in. My first provider would have me in my underwear and a gown on top. I went to one annual exam with this provider and it was fine. Very basic, didn’t really do a comprehensive exam. Just checked my testicles at the end, but no rectal or anal pap at the end which I need because I am an active gay man.

I switched to a new provider the following year and it was remotely different. I stripped to just my underwear (I was wearing a jockstrap), no gown. Very comprehensive exam, a lot of questions, a lot of poking and touching. Got a thorough testicle check and an anal pap at the end.

I think sometimes moving providers is the correct decision. I’ve been with this provider for now 4 years. Every exam is the same as the first and I’m very comfortable with him

My new PCP is a DO and she did a fully nude exam, so maybe DOs are just better. The concept seems better, focusing on the whole instead of part by part, symptom by symptom.

I just had my first visit with a new provider the other day. It was with the nurse practitioner this time, as I am a new patient. After this, I think I start seeing the regular doctor

I have an new patient physical with a new provider this Friday. First time with a female dr. Not sure what to expect. My last place was getting harder & harder to schedule visits. Most of the time they were 6 months away & most of the time they only wanted to do virtual visits.

I changed provider due to a new city I went due to job reason. She was a female in her 50s. She did a comprehensive examination with a lot of questions. Heart and lung auscultation. Blood pressure. Then asked to remove my underware and did a testicle palpation and take a look to my glans. She asked if I had genital surgeries, if I had urethral procedures and if I ever had considered circumcision.

Seems the level of the exam changes with age, or more specifically your insurance coverage. Before I went on Medicare and I had private group insurance, my first visit with a new PCP was mostly introductory, with a follow up for an assessment physical that was more or less thorough (some docs were more detailed than others). With Medicare, it a “wellness exam”, BP heart and lung check, prescribe drugs….anything else that’s a concern gets a referral to a specialist.

I have a physical exam scheduled for tomorrow morning with a new male doctor.

It’s been a while since my last physical with a doc and I’m really hoping this doc does exams like my first adult doc did where I had to strip and such.

@kid89 be sure to come back tomorrow and give us all the kinky details.😜

While we await @Kid89 for his post, I moved back from Maine where a Canadian trained family doctor gave me a literal head to toe physical. My album pics are from it. I started with a Medicare doctor who offered only the Wellness questions exam. I tried a brand new, family practice doctor, son of the original doctor in the practice. The physical, fully dressed, ended at the waist. I joined a concierge medical practice. Yes, two hours were spent, but one of them was a series of tests, EKG, grip, multipoint pulse, eyes, etc., and the second was history taking, talking through. Then heart, lungs, hernia. The first two dressed. The third with dropped pants, underwear. I had a new patient appointment with a practice which is focused on gay men. An hour going over my history. Heart, lungs, blood pressure for the physical. Referrals were offered.

My DO doesn't do much of an exam during the annual wellness check. It's all about the blood tests and the prescription-writing.

Kind of funny that @Kid89 had an exam with a new provider this week as I also had an exam today with a new provider. I have not been to the doctor in some time... so was quite nervous for it. Will be curious if what I experienced is similar to theirs!

As for me - Was lead to the exam room where height/weight were obtained, brief history with the MA and then blood pressure and pulse. Pulse was a bit high, but came down before she took off the pulse ox monitor. She left the room and did not ask me to remove any clothing, just shoes. I sat there waiting for the provider and when he came in, he went over my medical history for a bit. Then asked me to jump up on the exam table and listened through my shirt to my heart and lungs. Then had me lie back and listened to my heart/lungs again and felt my abdomen. After that, he was finished. There was no "quick peek" or hernia exam at all and I stayed completely dressed. It was then off for bloodwork (which, much to my surprise, I ended up passing out at.....).

MUCH different experience than I would have anticipated. Had I known, my heart rate would have been more calm the whole time. Maybe this will make me more calm the next time I go - but I'm sure that will be the time to drop the shorts!

I recently had a first visit with a new doctor. The nurse did the blood pressure, blood oxygen check, weight. The doctor came in and introduced himself, talked about my medical history, listened to my heart and lungs. He adjuster one of my prescriptions and said he would see me next year.

So here is my cynical question: why do doctors or consumers even bother scheduling such an exam? I can weigh myself, do blood oxygen, and check my blood pressure, etc at home. I have a smart watch that monitors half a dozen metrics every 30 minutes and records it. My blood draws are at a third-party lab, so that is a separate appointment anyway. I cannot imagine if I had to schedule and appointment, take off of work, sit in the waiting room to be called back and then sit again to wait for the doctor - and only have the doctor listen to my heart and breathing.

So here is my cynical question: why do doctors or consumers even bother scheduling such an exam? I can weigh myself, do blood oxygen, and check my blood pressure, etc at home. I have a smart watch that monitors half a dozen metrics every 30 minutes and records it. My blood draws are at a third-party lab, so that is a separate appointment anyway. I cannot imagine if I had to schedule and appointment, take off of work, sit in the waiting room to be called back and then sit again to wait for the doctor - and only have the doctor listen to my heart and breathing.

More and more people are entiely skipping this farcical exam. I do too - I have a great PCP who orders the blood/urine work with all the markers I ask for. And we review the results over email.

So @DoctorMichael, does you PCP just call in the orders and that's it? You never go to his office and have a consult by email? That's sounds very efficient

So @DoctorMichael, does you PCP just call in the orders and that's it? You never go to his office and have a consult by email? That's sounds very efficient

Mostly, yes. I email him and he emails me back. When the test results are in the portal, I check and check with him on any diet/ supplement plan and that's it.

I'd only go in to see someone for urgent care or emergency at this point. Or to see a specialist. There is nothing that most (90%+) of the PCPs can do that you cannot get diagnosis online.

The first visit with a new provider, for me, is a contrast against previous PCP's. I've been proactive with lab work, understanding what is ordered, adding what I want to keep track of. I receive the results, and read comments from the PCP.

I won't stay with a new provider if his exams are Wellness via Medicare; if they are weight, dressed, vital signs, with heart, and lungs. I'm nearsighted. I don't pay attention to my body. I need someone who is an acute observer, who takes the time to start at the top, end at the feet, using eyes, touch, tools to form an opinion.

It's a challenge these days. Concierge medical practices are an option. Small medical practices outside of medical center scheduling are an option. I know what I have received in the past, and work is find it in the present.

No it absolutely feels like a waste. I went to a new provider a couple of years ago and they didn’t even have me take my shirt off.