Exam with a keen young doctor

Had my usual annual company physical earlier today. At the same hospital I have been going to for the previous 2 years but had a different doctor today a guy in his late 20s. I'm in my mid-30s and it was the 1st time I've been examined by a (RL) doc quite a bit younger than me.

I think I prefer younger docs now. He seemed more enthusiastic and thorough than the 40-50 y.o. docs I usually see. He explained that he's only been at the hospital for 3 months and is clearly trying hard to build up a practice.

Has anyone else found younger docs are more enthusiastic to examine you thoroughly?

I'm not sure if I would make that generalization. I think it really just depends on the doctor, the practice they're in, and insurance restrictions. You mentioned you saw him at a hospital, so maybe that has something to do with it. All of the doctor's I've seen were in a private practice of one type or another. In my own experience, the older doctors do a thorough exam, the middle aged ones are just so-so, and with the younger ones, fresh out of school, you never know what you'll get. Sometimes thorough, and other times very cursory.

My reference to a hospital was probably confusing. I'm in the Middle East and most clinics/medical centers brand themselves as "hospitals".

The guy I saw specialized in internal/general medicine. He will be on a basic retainer salary and a share of the fees he brings in. My company were paying for this exam, required to clear me for travel to some weird, wonderful and not so wonderful parts of the world...

I think there's truth in the idea that docs in middle age/mid-career are more likely to be so-so.

I find that most younger doctors here in the NE USA are much more modest or are are trained to be overly concerned with patient modesty.

I find that most younger doctors here in the NE USA are much more modest or are are trained to be overly concerned with patient modesty.

I agree with that. I think generally that anyone who graduated from medical school in the last 20 years has grown up in an environment where patient modesty has been placed above exam thoroughness in priority. They likely experienced that themselves when they visited the doctor, and they were likely taught to be that way in med school. But again, it really does depend on the individual doctor or nurse.

I seek care at a relatively big teaching hospital. I have a primary care internist but I am assigned to a young resident every few years for most of my needs including my yearly physical. I am asked to undress to my underwear and I am offered the gown option which I decline. This level of nudity does not really bother as the doctor is going to observe or examine what they need to regardless-gown or no gown. The gown just gets in the doctor's way.

I am pushing 50 and I can't recall ever being examined by someone younger. Never really thought about it until reading this post. My experience has been that unless you are having a issue with your private parts they usually don't go there

My doctor's about the same age as me (24) - it's a bit weird but also nice to be talking to someone my age!

Can we hear the details of the younger doc's physical?

I suppose it's only natural that a doc fairly fresh out of med school would be keen to test out the exam techniques he/she has been taught. Perhaps even if not strictly necessary for the patient 😉

In short, yes. Had to see my GP a few weeks ago and got an F2 doctor, which in the UK is a doctor in their second year after qualifying. She introduced herself, was attentive, didn't patronise me and explained things, as well as ordering blood tests for pretty much everything, Quite unlike the locum GP I had to follow up with whose name I didn't even catch until after the consultation and appeared not to have any of my records...

I went down that path today for my annual physical. I was expecting my regular doctor however as the situation turned out I was examined by a female NP who was about 1/2 my age. Because she was not too familiar with me she reviewed my medical history in great detail as I sat on the edge of the exam table in my underwear. She conducted a very thorough exam on me paying some extra attention to my left ankle (athletic injury). At one point while I was lying on the exam table there was a knock on the door from my regular doctor who took a moment to stop by to ask how I was doing. She gave her usual greeting. "How's it going, tough guy?" and we exchanged a little banter. After my doctor departed The NP politely started informing me about the differences in accuracy between a PSA test and an actual prostate exam. I think she had an impression I was uncomfortable with the prostate exam and wanted to provide me with an exit strategy. IE The PSA test option. I just smiled at her and said "Look I know it's probably not the highlight of your days work and I certainly seek no enjoyment being on the receiving end of it either, but I think we can get through this together and still be friends". She broke out laughing. My follow up remark as I dropped my shorts and leaned against the table "Hey look at the bright side at least you did not study veterinary science" Once again she got a decent laugh then told me to stop the comedy routine as she did not want to make any mistakes. It is often said that is the doctor's responsibility to make the patient at ease. I consider it a two way street. I want my doctor or the other medical professisonal that I interact with to also feel at ease with me even in those awkward situations. What I do not want is to have them rolling their eyes and thinking "Oh, not this guy again" as they open that exam room door. When I get those more intimate exams I just "man up" smile and accept it. Drop your shorts? Man up. Turn your head and cough? Man up. Blood test? Man up.Cold stethoscope on my chest? Man up. I was also informed I was overdue on my Tetanus shot. I tried to convince her my days of collecting worn out and rusted GE aircraft engine components were behind me and the shot was not required .She did not buy it and I now have a slightly sore arm to prove it.

I want my doctor or the other medical personal that I interact with to also feel at ease with me even in those awkward situations.

I think that's a great attitude to have. It's really like any relationship -- you get back what you put into it.

I want my doctor or the other medical personal that I interact with to also feel at ease with me even in those awkward situations.

IRL exams then absolutely but as a fantasy I usually prefer the opposite and either a cold/stern or authoritative doc, more orders and commends than chatting.

I like younger doctors also, as long as they are not cocky. My doctor is about 40. Very good looking guy.

I'm am not crazy about young doctors. When I was a Corpsman, we were taught "If you here hoof beats, hunt horses not zebras." This was also the general feeling with the Medical Officers i worked with. We would make diagnoses from the symptoms and the examination, then order tests to confirm our diagnosis. Nowadays, Care providers seem to make diagnoses from test results, then confirm them by examining the symptoms.

A good example was brought up about the PSA. Many younger doctors will use the PSA as a substitute for a DRE. My NP does the DRE, then adds the PSA to my basic physical lab tests. (Urinalysis, CBC, etc.)

Very good point. PSA should always be in addition to, never in place of, a a DRE. Only very poor docs make this error.

Sorry, I meant how do the doctors that you recommended conduct exams?