Issue Date: September 16, 2007
I still believe in annual checkups
Despite what detractors say, this "quality time" serves to connect you and your doctor.
The bond that physicians and patients create and share is invaluable.
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A time-honored tradition in medicine has been the annual physical examination. But during the last several years, much debate has occurred as to whether the exam is a worthwhile exercise. Groups such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advocate "targeting screenings" for specific problems in place of the old standard checkup of the past.
Reasons for moving away from the annual checkup? Some authorities feel that the cost of performing general evaluations is not justified. Many patients who see their doctors for annual visits still don't undergo recommended preventive screenings. Also, if the annual checkups include broad screening studies, such as blood tests and X-rays, then the costs associated with such an evaluation might not be justified. As the cost of health care has climbed steadily, such considerations of how health-care dollars are spent certainly are to be expected.
What's the other side of the story? When surveyed, a significant majority of patients and doctors say they find annual checkups necessary. Such "healthy" visits offer intangible benefits that can't be measured by statistical analyses alone. Having an allotted time to discuss topics of concern helps a doctor and a patient bond, leading to a level of trust that's important to the patient's health.
Based on my experience, I come down on the side of doctors and patients. Certainly, bonding can occur when I'm performing acute care. But the real connection occurs when the patient and I are visiting at the time of his or her checkup. We've all heard about the importance of "quality time" with family and friends. That's true of the annual checkup, too, which is why doctors and patients cherish it so much.
One of our Cooper Clinic physicians has a patient who travels quite some distance to come see him for an appointment every year. When the man's physician back home asked him why he travels so far to get a simple checkup every year, the patient's response was simple: "Because that doctor returns my calls."
We live in a world in which the pace of everything is getting more hectic, and our interactions with everyone seem to occur at an increasingly faster rate. Medicine is no different. We're all in a hurry; we want to streamline and are looking for the simplest, most efficient, most cost-effective means of doing everything.
In our effort to do this, however, we miss out on "human touch," which could well be the most important part of a physician-patient relationship. By relegating an annual physical to a mere checklist, we run the danger of losing the quality that makes the relationship special.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and medical director of Dallas' Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmart every week.
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HealthBrief
Don't spread it around!
How to curb 4 contagious skin problems in children
Parents, if your child suddenly develops a skin infection, get prompt attention from a skin specialist.
"Proper diagnosis is especially important for treatment because some home remedies -- like over-the-counter cortisone -- can make an infection worse," says Jody A. Levine, M.D., head of pediatric dermatology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.
Her advice on the four top -- and highly contagious -- skin conditions in children:
Impetigo. When kids rub their runny noses and develop a honey-colored crust, or when diaper rash erodes the skin, the staph and strep bacteria that ordinarily live on the top of the skin get in deeper and cause infection. To prevent spreading: Protect the skin. Use petroleum jelly or zinc oxide ointment on the nose, lips or diaper area; cut children's nails short; don't share washcloths or towels.
Molloscum. Shiny pimples caused by a virus can spread from one area of the body to another. To prevent spreading: Don't share towels; disinfect showers; avoid picking or squeezing the pimples.
Warts. They are infectious, but not everyone gets the virus. Plantar warts appear on the soles of feet. To prevent spreading: Keep warts covered; wear sandals while in the shower.
Ringworm. The fungal infection tinea likes warm, moist areas of the body. To prevent spreading: Dry off thoroughly after swimming or sweating; disinfect any brushes, combs, hats and helmets, and don't share them; examine and treat pets (cats, in particular); practice good hygiene.
-- Susan T. Lennon
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