I have read many accounts about inadequate physical exams and I thought I would share my experience of my annual physical which took place yesterday.
After arriving at my doctors’ office I had to wait about ten minutes before her medical assistant (MA) called my name. We stopped in the hallway and she had me read an eye chart. Then it was on to a scale for my weight. She then had me stand with my back to the wall and measured my height. After that she ushered me into the exam room and had me sit on the exam table. She took my temp., BP and pulse then had me stand up. She asked me to raise my shirt and she took a cloth tape measurer and measured my abdominal circumference. I sat back down and she asked me to remove my shirt so she could do an EKG. She left the room to get the EKG machine and I just laid back and waited for her to return. After some minor shaving on my chest she took the EKG and removed all pads and cords. We chatted for a bit and then she handed me a blue paper gown and a paper sheet. As she does every year, she said to “take all your clothes off” and put the gown on with the sheet to cover your legs. As I do every year, I stripped, put the sheet on the chair and covered my lap with the gown. I have always followed this procedure and my doctor has never said anything.
My doctor entered the room about five minutes later. She sat down and took about 20 minutes to review my chart and historical data. During that time we also talked about our vacations and the national health care issues affecting the US. She then started the actual exam which included the following: HEENT, glands in neck and under arms and reflexes. She listened to my lungs from both my back and front. She had me lay back and listened to my heart and then to my abdominal area. After that she palpated the abdominal area and just above the pubic area. Once that was complete she put on exam gloves and pushed the gown to my knees. She asked me spread my legs a bit and she began palpitating the pubic area above my penis. She worked her way down then pushed into my groin and asked me to cough for the hernia check. She then examined my testicles and felt the internal cords. All the while she asked if I had any discharge and if I did a self exam of my testicles. She spread the tip of my penis to check the opening and then felt the shaft. She then asked to roll on my side and she did a rectal exam and checked my prostate.
Afterwards I sat up, we chatted for another five minutes and I was to see her again in six months for a follow up visit. BTW, everything checked out fine. Also, she handed ma a form so I could get my blood work done (standard stuff plus PSA since I’m over 50). From the time I was called in by the MA to the time she left the room about 1 hour and 15 minutes had passed. I feel that I’m very fortunate that my doc is not only thorough but spends time talking and listening to me. Her receptionist once told me that she always schedules physicals for one hour. Lucky me
She has a very outgoing personality which makes it all the more pleasant during my visits. Her office consists of herself and another female doctor (whom I’ve never met) and two female APRN’s. I have dealt with both the NP’s in the past and they are just as thorough and outgoing as she is. By far this is the best doctor I’ve ever had. It was pure luck that I selected her as my physician ten years ago and after hearing so many complaints on so many different boards I feel that I’m truly fortunate. I almost forgot to mention that yes, I do have a medfet but my relationship with her office is purely professional and I value her advice and opinions. My medfet is my fantasy and mine alone. It’s just so nice that “I can have my cake and eat it too” so to speak.