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In today's world there is almost no such thing as a general practitioner. If you are seeing an internist and happen to mention a rash which is bothering you he will refer you to a dermatologist. I saw an internist for something pretty routine and asked her to remove a few skin tags. She runs to get some contraption which I think was dry ice. She held it up and said "Um let's see , how does this work?" and all she did was burn the hell out of my neck and the skin tag was left untouched.
I'm old enough to remember 1 doctor for the whole family but with so much technology and pharmaceuticals and advancements in medicine there is no way a family can have 1 doctor. Even dentists are specialized into all sorts of sub specialties. There are special pediatricians for allergies, heart problems, respiratory issues, etc. And BTW John, most "regular doctors" will not see children.
When the child of a doctor boasts about never having seen a doctor in his life and to make fun of those of us who do see doctors, all sorts of red flags go up for me.
Is it really like that where you are? General practitioners are very much still in existence over here and take care of most issues people will have.
When I called to get an appointment for my rising 6th grader her necessary shot I realized this 11 year old child had not been seen by a physician for 3 years. Is that so terrible? Now if she had been sick, or course I would not hesitate to get her ASAP to doc. She had all her well baby checks and shots, what she needed for starting school, etc. But I figure if it ain't broke why fix it. She is growing fine, weighs what she needs to, all systems are working fine, skin clear, no bruises, no aches or pains.
I was told she had to have a physical and could not just get a shot. Well I guess I don't mind but it got me to thinking what do other parents do? Do you take a healthy kid to get a physical just cause somebody says (doctor lobby?) it has to be done every 12 months?
My first 2 kids are well grown and I never had physicals for them unless they were sick of needed it for sports team, etc. And they turned out great. When did this every 12 month stuff start?
This "stuff" started when parents lost children because some parents didn't pay attention to "stuff" the child has a disease not readily apparent and died or then suffered for the rest of their lives.
An annual checkup costs what? Too much to be bothered with?
Seemingly unrelated and small things means much to physicians. Some diseases can mimic the symptoms of relatively benign and routine sicknesses.
Children can't usually go for a checkup themselves, they rely on the parent to be the adult and act responsibly.
"Stuff" can and will harm or kill your child. Who in their right mind thinks an annual checkup is "stuff"?
The concept of preventative medicine a bit difficult to grasp, eh?
Annual checkups and running to doctors everytime a child sneezes isn't preventative medicine. You don't prevent anything by going to doctors, there is either something there that the parent failed to notice and the doctor found or there isn't anything there.
Preventative health care is what people should do on their own, they shouldn't have to be told never use pesticides in a home where there are children, get the proper exercise and good dietary habits. The pediatrician doesn't feed the child -- and if the parent thinks a candy bar and a soft drink make for a good lunch, or has sprayed every inch of the home with cancer causing chemicals, nothing will be prevented.
That would be the true test of how many parents really believe in annual physicals. Would people give up their cell phones to run kids to the doctor frequently? If Medicaid began to require a co-pay like many insurance plans require, how often would people run to doctors then?
The reason many people do go to the doctor every chance they get is because it's all "free".
If you want your posts to be taken in context, then quote the post that you're referring to. Otherwise, they ARE in context. And during a "sick" visit, a pediatrician can use a tympanogram to determine the amount, if any, of hearing loss from an ear infection and put the child on a different antibiotic or take other measures if the child seems susceptible to ear infections.
Getting an annual physical is a huge step toward preventing illness.
Then how come I have never called in sick to work, never missed a day of college from being ill and missed only 2 days in high school from being ill -- and I very rarely go to a doctor? Same with my kids, they've almost never been sick, most years had perfect attendance.
Putting children on antibiotics when the child doesn't have an infection is a good clue that one should find another doctor -- that kind of practice has created a whole lot of antibiotic resistent bacteria that now no antibiotic can treat and the antibiotics are getting to be too strong and dangerous. Why would anyone ever put a healthy kid on antibiotics?
Annual checkups and running to doctors everytime a child sneezes isn't preventative medicine. You don't prevent anything by going to doctors, there is either something there that the parent failed to notice and the doctor found or there isn't anything there.
Preventative health care is what people should do on their own, they shouldn't have to be told never use pesticides in a home where there are children, get the proper exercise and good dietary habits. The pediatrician doesn't feed the child -- and if the parent thinks a candy bar and a soft drink make for a good lunch, or has sprayed every inch of the home with cancer causing chemicals, nothing will be prevented.
Moderator Cut.
I strongly suggest you do some reading:
Here is a description of exactly what is expected at well checkups (expand Checkups):
Today I got the bill from the Pediatrician because the insurance company is being slow to pay the bill.
$130 exam
40 audio test
35 vision test
150 meningitis shot
26 to give the shot
60 pertussis shot
26 to give the shot
---------------------------
$467.00 for less than an hour in the doctor's office
I was blown away. Her father went with her which was a big mistake but I had a very important dr appointment myself at the same time. She had eye test only 2 weeks prior and he knew it but I guess he was just not paying attention. He did tell me that he was told she had to have a complete physical before they could administer shots and he figured hearing and vision were part of that physical.
When I asked the receptionist on the phone if those tests are optional she said "Yes they are but we don't tell you". Can you believe that??? She further said while they are optional we will not be told that and we have to formally opt out and this will happen every year if we want physicals. So now I know why I haven't taken my kids for annual physicals. Our insurance will probably pay in full but it galls me for them and me to be ripped off like this. No wonder our medical costs in this country are so ridiculous. It should be criminal.
No pee analysis, no blood work, no procedures. $467 for a physical and 2 shots.
Last edited by Jaded; 08-27-2013 at 11:28 AM..
Reason: Merged threads
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there are so many things the doctor checks at an annual well visit. Of course, someone who doesn't go to them wouldn't know...
