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I think you just need a better Doctor. My Doc and I have genuine conversations when I visit for checkups. We discuss my diet (I recently dropped 30 pounds), my exercise regimen, how things are at home and in my work. The blood test "numbers" are briefly discussed, but he mostly wants to know, generally, how am I doing.
I'm posting this with my tongue in cheek, but with a wee bit of seriousness, too.
Just had a wellness check-up, Medicare variety, from my NP (nurse practioner)
Was asked and/or offered tests for colon, breasts, bones, etc. Vaccines for various ailments. I ended up feeling I was parceled out like chicken parts in the meat section...no questions about overall aches, pains, diet, nutrition, quality of sleep, amount of exercise and such.
I know I am the total sum of my parts, but gee whiz, I am also a living, breathing organism whose health and well-being are greatly influenced by lifestyle. And a physical exam can show swelling, sore points, etc.
Never once was I examined in a hands-on kind of way -- except for being cuffed for blood pressure. Just asked verbally lots of questions. Remember the good old days -- when doctors actually touched you? Am I weird? I think the technology side of medicine, while terrific diagnostic tools, should be coupled with healing hands-on, too.
Or is my NP different from your doc?
Yes! Sometimes I feel like modern medicine has become a huge processing plant. I'm just on the conveyor belt being shuttled through. I have some very good providers and they are good people but their jobs have been complicated by the dictates of too much management.
It's important to take control of the management of your health as well as you are able. This means preparing ahead of time with questions you want answered and making sure all your providers are on the same page.
It should be a given with computers that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing but it's surprising how often they don't access the material. The Mayo, which nearly has a monopoly here in Southern MN, makes what I think are unreasonable demands upon their staff. I think this is unhealthy for both patient and provider. If I'm not mistaken they have a very short time-line in which to spend with each patient just as though they have a quota each day to meet.
We are truly more than bodies. We are triune entities - body, mind and spirit. Modern medicine acknowledges that all three components need to be addressed for healing and health maintenance but in practice it's rare to see it.
This is the kind of medicine you get with the insurance companies and the bookkeepers running the clinics. Some of this is on us. If we can't find the psychological and spiritual support within the healthcare system it's a good idea to find it elsewhere to keep us up and running at optimum wellness.
Tell me about it. When I turned 10 and got my period, I could not longer even go to a Pediatrician because I was now considered a woman, not a child. That more or less ended routine now called "wellness" exams. I only went to a doctor, as did my parents, when I was actually sick. Schools did not require yearly physicals or 50 odd vaccinations until HS graduation. It started to change my own kids were young 30+ years ago, but nothing like today.
Preventive Medicine keeps repeat customers, and billions of dollars, from cradle to grave.
Jo, to me preventive medicine are supps/vits/minerals which keeps customers from doctors and pharma...that's me anyway. Pharma meds are when people are already having health issues and sickness. They are bandaids and not getting to the root of things is what I see.
My GP checks lungs/breathing, lymph nodes, looks in eyes, throat, ears. Asks me all kinds of questions and gives me plenty time to talk.
My RA doctor checks all my joints (hands on), etc.
My gyno is hands on too.... wish that wasn't the case.
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She's not pushing tests on me, she's pushing some of injections for bone density, and and of course she can't force anything on me, she just doesn't want to take no for an answer. Interestingly enough, she wasn't like this two years ago. The only reason I'm keeping this appointment is because I don't have the time to research out another doctor right now, But this is the end, I'll find another one.
Insurance companies are paying doctors if patients get screenings, get vaccines and if they get their prescriptions filled and refilled.
That's why she asking. She makes MORE money for every patient that agrees to those test and vaccines and prescriptions.
Insurance companies are paying doctors if patients get screenings, get vaccines and if they get their prescriptions filled and refilled.
That's why she asking. She makes MORE money for every patient that agrees to those test and vaccines and prescriptions.
Nope....wrong again....that is NOT how it works...
Docs/NP's/PA's don't see a DIME more if you say yes to a test or vaccine or a prescription, absolute rubbish
In fact, the way medicine is heading the exact OPPOSITE will soon be true and already is true....soon there will be a "pool" of money for a group of Medicare patients and Doc's would actually make MORE money by cutting back on tests, surgeries etc...
I'm posting this with my tongue in cheek, but with a wee bit of seriousness, too.
Just had a wellness check-up, Medicare variety, from my NP (nurse practioner)
Was asked and/or offered tests for colon, breasts, bones, etc. Vaccines for various ailments. I ended up feeling I was parceled out like chicken parts in the meat section...no questions about overall aches, pains, diet, nutrition, quality of sleep, amount of exercise and such.
I know I am the total sum of my parts, but gee whiz, I am also a living, breathing organism whose health and well-being are greatly influenced by lifestyle. And a physical exam can show swelling, sore points, etc.
Never once was I examined in a hands-on kind of way -- except for being cuffed for blood pressure. Just asked verbally lots of questions. Remember the good old days -- when doctors actually touched you? Am I weird? I think the technology side of medicine, while terrific diagnostic tools, should be coupled with healing hands-on, too.
Or is my NP different from your doc?
I think there absolutely should still be an expectation of "hands on" exam for a yearly physical or any type of problem visit....
If this is what you are getting from your doc's office I would suggest going elsewhere as well....
I'm getting ready to drop my doctor, because she sits in front of her computer, and asks me questions of which the answers are in my records. But apparently, she doesn't have my records up on the screen if she has to keep asking them over and over again.
I have an appointment at the end of October (which will be my last one), and when she starts asking questions, I'm just going to tell her that nothing has changed, and the answers are in my records.
She's also been pushing injections on me for bone density, and doesn't want to take no for an answer, but she's going to get a surprise, because the minute she starts talking about injections, I'm walking out the door.
I'll find a new doctor that accepts my insurance and Medicare, and start with him/her after the first of the year.
Doctors often get too much credit. The public often assumes they magically have all the answers to our ailments, yet that's quite far from the truth. I'm sure there are excellent ones out there, but many ask cookie cutter questions, and expect cookie cutter answers, without actually coming up with any accurate diagnosis. Then they push the meds/injections, etc.
During my wellness exam, my doctor took my BP, listened to my heart and lungs, looked in my ears and in my mouth, did all the regular stuff I've had done in every physical exam I've ever had. Maybe she's a better doctor than some.
The review of systems, the questions they ask, gives them the information they need to look for other problems. The labs also give information about other potential problems. I don't have a problem with that at all, that's how they keep an eye on me.
I do remember, back in the day, having one doctor instead of multiple referrals to different doctors. It seemed so much simpler then. I do occasionally fret over the sheer number of doctor visits I have to get every year, when one used to do it all, but I know that specialists are a good thing to have overall.
Mine did all that too. I got the bone density test and the results weren't good, so he went over the type of exercises I should do and diet to strengthen bones.
I'm posting this with my tongue in cheek, but with a wee bit of seriousness, too.
Just had a wellness check-up, Medicare variety, from my NP (nurse practioner)
Was asked and/or offered tests for colon, breasts, bones, etc. Vaccines for various ailments. I ended up feeling I was parceled out like chicken parts in the meat section...no questions about overall aches, pains, diet, nutrition, quality of sleep, amount of exercise and such.
I know I am the total sum of my parts, but gee whiz, I am also a living, breathing organism whose health and well-being are greatly influenced by lifestyle. And a physical exam can show swelling, sore points, etc.
Never once was I examined in a hands-on kind of way -- except for being cuffed for blood pressure. Just asked verbally lots of questions. Remember the good old days -- when doctors actually touched you? Am I weird? I think the technology side of medicine, while terrific diagnostic tools, should be coupled with healing hands-on, too.
Or is my NP different from your doc?
This depends on the doctor or NP. I do agree, we often are like a bunch of chickens or cattle. One shoe fits all and if they ask us this and that plus order this or that test all is well. It is a combination of several things I think: one protecting their butts by suggesting test on top of test and all kinds of lab work; rules they are forced to follow by medicare and our wonderful government and the length of time they are allowed per visit. When we go to a doctor that will never go outside the box, we try to find a new one. This has nothing to do with their being a NP or a MD. or a DO. In fact we had one doctor everyone called Dr. Referral. Most of us found a new doctor. it was too bad cause she was really caring.
The doctor I have now, orders blood work the week prior to my annual appointment, which BTW happens to be today. Then I do back the following week, she goes over everything with me, she does listen to my lungs, checks to see if my ears and eyes look clear and asks me about any aches and pains I might have. From there she decides is anything more is needed. I am very happy with her, considering I know she is limited to only so many minutes per patient.
Last edited by nmnita; 08-21-2017 at 06:06 AM..
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