[BobAugustine]

The reason they don't do colonoscopies after age 75 is the possibility that you face a greater risk of piercing your colon than you do of contracting colon cancer.

[paulat585]

Thanks for this great discussion. I met with my PCP, who is a nurse practitioner, a few months back. When I asked her about tests I might need, she declined to order any & said I should go to one of the health screeners. I hesitated doing this as I knew they produced many false positives. Now I'll just wait until my PCP orders something.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by paulat585

Thanks for this great discussion. I met with my PCP, who is a nurse practitioner, a few months back. When I asked her about tests I might need, she declined to order any & said I should go to one of the health screeners. I hesitated doing this as I knew they produced many false positives. Now I'll just wait until my PCP orders something.

What is a health screener?

[Deden]

Tri County Health Cardiologist, on 441 at the Sharon next to the Village hospital in Lady Lake the villages fl. she did all my exams your asking about right at the office. Also, Novu Dermatology Dr. Cristina Novela Cortes, MD (Internist) Shares the building with her husband which is a dermatologist. Good Luck with all your exams!

[Lisanp@aol.com]

The reason you received a "complete exam" is that the facility you went to owned expensive machines that they needed to pay for, and your insurance company helped them to do so. A good PCP will order test that are needed following your annual visit based on your individual case (or recommended according to established guidelines of age or time since last test). You don't need a bone density every year. Yes it's less convenient to have to schedule at another facility/date following your annual but this is actually what good doctors do.

[CosmicTrucker]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

OK, let's play devil's advocate. Why would you need or want "that kind of 'complete' physical exam"????

We don't do stress tests for the fun of it---we need a reason, especially since the false positive is 10-12% as is the false negative rate. Translation---if you get on a treadmill for the fun of it, there's a 10-12% chance you will end up with a cardiac catheterization.

Unless you are female or have some unusual bone disorder, you don't need a DEXA scan

Coronary artery calcium scoring has become popular for those with high LDLs, not a routine screening test

Bottom line, when it comes to medical tests, there are screening tests and diagnostic tests. They should NOT be confused with each other. Yes, there are places that make a lot of $$$$ by doing "complete" (also known as unnecessary) testing, many in Florida (probably only second to California). But fair warning---when it comes to medical testing, MORE is not usually BETTER.

I would be guided by your primary care physician as to what type of testing is indicated in your particular case

Solid advice.

[MrLonzo]

I've wondered about the same question. I used to get annual physical exams until 8 or 10 years ago. Medicare no longer covers them. I'm not one to rush to a doctor with every itch or bump, so I wondered if I'm supposed to wait until I have untreatable Stage 4 melanoma before I see a doctor? I keep hearing about someone in a news report that a nasty disease was 'caught early on a routine physical', but never hear how that happens. Is there really such a thing as a 'routine physical'?

[rrdsg]

Why undergo unnecessary procedures? Personally, I adhere to the plan: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

I've wondered about the same question. I used to get annual physical exams until 8 or 10 years ago. Medicare no longer covers them. I'm not one to rush to a doctor with every itch or bump, so I wondered if I'm supposed to wait until I have untreatable Stage 4 melanoma before I see a doctor? I keep hearing about someone in a news report that a nasty disease was 'caught early on a routine physical', but never hear how that happens. Is there really such a thing as a 'routine physical'?

Medicare doesn't cover a yearly physical but it covers a yearly "wellness" visit.

Before I retired, I would get a yearly physical. Now I get a yearly "wellness" visit. I haven't noticed a big difference between a physical and a "wellness" visit.

Annual Wellness Visit Coverage

What is the difference between a physical exam and a Medicare Wellness Visit? | UnitedHealthcare.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Medicare doesn't cover a yearly physical but it covers a yearly "wellness" visit.

Before I retired, I would get a yearly physical. Now I get a yearly "wellness" visit. I haven't noticed a big difference between a physical and a "wellness" visit.

Annual Wellness Visit Coverage

What is the difference between a physical exam and a Medicare Wellness Visit? | UnitedHealthcare.

About $80

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by ithos

I have never agreed that less information is better when it comes to health especially since the medical schools do a very poor job of covering nutrition. Sometimes bad news will have a motivating effect for people to take their health more seriously. The vast majority of our ailments in this county are due to poor diet and lack of exercise. The major concern I see with too much testing if it involves radiation or some other potential harm such as a colonoscopy.

I recommend one of my favorite podcasters who is a cardiologist who does short programs on the latest research for wellness. Heart Doc VIP with Dr. Joel Kahn.

(I might need some cognitive testing since at first I posted this in the wrong thread)

2 points:

Less information is better than more information if the "more" information is either a load of crap or gives false information.

I take it the medical school YOU went to did a very poor job of teaching nutrition, since you must have first hand information to make that sweeping claim.

[rogerk]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

OK, let's play devil's advocate. Why would you need or want "that kind of 'complete' physical exam"????

We don't do stress tests for the fun of it---we need a reason, especially since the false positive is 10-12% as is the false negative rate. Translation---if you get on a treadmill for the fun of it, there's a 10-12% chance you will end up with a cardiac catheterization.

Unless you are female or have some unusual bone disorder, you don't need a DEXA scan

Coronary artery calcium scoring has become popular for those with high LDLs, not a routine screening test

Bottom line, when it comes to medical tests, there are screening tests and diagnostic tests. They should NOT be confused with each other. Yes, there are places that make a lot of $$$$ by doing "complete" (also known as unnecessary) testing, many in Florida (probably only second to California). But fair warning---when it comes to medical testing, MORE is not usually BETTER.

I would be guided by your primary care physician as to what type of testing is indicated in your particular case

And what qualifies you to make comments? For me a complete physical every year can pick up changes early and avoid major problems later. Why wait till symptoms appear and that end up requiring more aggressive treatment.

[Normal]

I went to a private practice in Leesburg and found it pointless. Then I discovered the VA on 42. They are very efficient and I have zero complaints.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by rogerk

And what qualifies you to make comments? For me a complete physical every year can pick up changes early and avoid major problems later. Why wait till symptoms appear and that end up requiring more aggressive treatment.

Hmmmm.......what makes me qualified?????? Let's start with

Then, without posting my entire CV, let's just summarize with AOA graduate Univ of NY, 35 years in practice board certified in Internal Medicine, Retired Chief of Staff of my Community Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at SUNY Upstate.

So, just to be fair, what makes you qualified to challenge that????

That being said, you should have a "complete" physical every year----that means seeing your physician, and having whatever lab and screening tests are indicated for you as an individual. That's not what the OP was looking for. He/she was interested in a location that runs a panel of unnecessary tests without a clear indication---the problem is that this often gives useless and false information that only leads to more tests, some of which might be invasive.

PS----did you read post #3 on this thread?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Hmmmm.......what makes me qualified?????? Let's start with

Then, without posting my entire CV, let's just summarize with AOA graduate Univ of NY, 35 years in practice board certified in Internal Medicine, Retired Chief of Staff of my Community Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at SUNY Upstate.

So, just to be fair, what makes you qualified to challenge that????

That being said, you should have a "complete" physical every year----that means seeing your physician, and having whatever lab and screening tests are indicated for you as an individual. That's not what the OP was looking for. He/she was interested in a location that runs a panel of unnecessary tests without a clear indication---the problem is that this often gives useless and false information that only leads to more tests, some of which might be invasive.

PS----did you read post #3 on this thread?

Knew that was coming.