Took An "Am I A Moron?" Test At My Doctors Office Today

fmdog44

fmdog44

Well-known Member
Location
Houston, Texas
As part of the Annual Wellness Visit today I was handed a piece of paper and asked to draw a clock with the time of 10 minutes after 11. Next, to spell the word table, lamp and chair. I was waiting to see if I could read the sentences "See Jane run. Run, run, run. It's good to know our government has put a great deal of thought in monitoring the elderly.
 

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So maybe they plan to give it to you again, same test,
given at certain specified time intervals, later on, so they can compare the results you'd had in the past?:rolleyes::D
 
fmdog44 said:
As part of the Annual Wellness Visit today I was handed a piece of paper and asked to draw a clock with the time of 10 minutes after 11. Next, to spell the word table, lamp and chair. I was waiting to see if I could read the sentences "See Jane run. Run, run, run. It's good to know our government has put a great deal of thought in monitoring the elderly.
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This is a government medical facility? VA?
 
I was given what they refer to as the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) to screen for possible cognitive issues. I passed it with flying colors but felt insulted. I let them know how I felt about their 'exam' too. I'm due for the annual wellness visit December 6th.
 
Kaila said:
So maybe they plan to give it to you again, same test,
given at certain specified time intervals, later on, so they can compare the results you'd had in the past?:rolleyes::D
Click to expand...
I think you are onto something here, Kaila. Hubby has taken this test twice. The first time he was 30/30 but the second time he missed some easy questions. They were not memory questions. The deterioration was in his ability to reason. It is good that I now know what I have to do to support him.

He is very troubled by any new technology. We had to buy new house phones and although they are the same brand as the old ones, they are more advanced and he was upset that the contact numbers were not there. We have gone through the process together, I have drawn a diagram for him to follow and he is now rather painfully entering the contacts. In this way he can still feel in control of part of his life.

Don't feel insulted @PamfromTx, your doctor is trying to watch over you and catch any problems early.
 
Ive supposedly had an annual wellness visit the last 2 years, 20 & 21,because my BCBS plan gives a credit for that and some other things like shots, but I don’t remember any test like that. ( or is that in itself significant?) I think if I have a “wellness” in 22 I’ll ask more questions.
 
fmdog44 said:
As part of the Annual Wellness Visit today I was handed a piece of paper
Click to expand...

If they had a 5-minute conversation with a person, instead,
they could easily and quickly screen for possible cognitive problem, and much better too.....
But they either prefer the paper method, it seems?:unsure::confused:
Or they are required (by someone) to have written evidence, that they assessed it? :oops::rolleyes::(

Again, a very short interaction, would expose a possible need to be further assessed, and would likely be enjoyed, as well. Ask a couple of friendly questions, I wish they would , to replace this 'test' if they need to do some type of evaluation that.
 
Our doctors gave us the choice of taking it or not.
I told them that its a waste of government funds,, refused to take it.

Took one ,, thought it would be more than blood pressure , word test,etc.

From what I later learned its a way to check to see if doctors are doing their job.

Maybe doctors would ask those questions if they were given more time with patients?
 
fmdog44 said:
As part of the Annual Wellness Visit today I was handed a piece of paper and asked to draw a clock with the time of 10 minutes after 11. Next, to spell the word table, lamp and chair. I was waiting to see if I could read the sentences "See Jane run. Run, run, run. It's good to know our government has put a great deal of thought in monitoring the elderly.
Click to expand...
I did this in my Doctor's office this morning as well. Just before the memory test, I told the nurse that I had just driven 30 miles to get there and didn't get lost. We did it anyway: The Clock, and then Village, Kitchen, Baby.

What a waste of time.
 
Sliverfox said:
Maybe doctors would ask those questions if they were given more time with patients?
Click to expand...
My doctor, whom I've known for 12 years, is wonderful. He takes all the time a patient needs. One time, I mentioned thinking about doing planks (it's still on think) and he took the time to show me a video and some information about it. He was pretty happy -- apparently few of patients take good care of their bodies. In fact, he has a reputation around town for telling people not to eat/drink "sodas, Christmas cookies, and chips".

Somehow, patients are seen on time or within 15 minutes of their appointment.

I told him about his rep, and he said he thought telling them that was better than giving them a lecture on losing weight - they already know that.
What I didn't say was how mad people get when they hear that. They want to lose weight without giving up any of their dietary norms. We live in a town in which the first thing one notices when driving through it is how overweight so many people are. It is a real big problem here. He is also physically fit -- he is a good example for his patients.

The other thing is, when I was worried about him not taking Medicare, there was no need to be. True, his patient level is full, so he really can't add patients. People stick with him even though he says "no Christmas cookies". Then he told me he keeps all patients no matter what, and takes Medicare for the ones who reach age 65. If a patient doesn't have health insurance, he charges $50 for a visit. Then he tells them how to get financial aid from the hospital for tests, etc.
 
Warrigal said:
I think you are onto something here, Kaila. Hubby has taken this test twice. The first time he was 30/30 but the second time he missed some easy questions. They were not memory questions. The deterioration was in his ability to reason. It is good that I now know what I have to do to support him.

He is very troubled by any new technology. We had to buy new house phones and although they are the same brand as the old ones, they are more advanced and he was upset that the contact numbers were not there. We have gone through the process together, I have drawn a diagram for him to follow and he is now rather painfully entering the contacts. In this way he can still feel in control of part of his life.

Don't feel insulted @PamfromTx, your doctor is trying to watch over you and catch any problems early.
Click to expand...
I didn’t know what the actual date was. I told my doctor I am retired, I don’t need to know what the actual date is. So she asked me what the day of the week was. Yeah, I knew that cause I was there 😂. Sometimes the days of the week blend together as well, it’s not like I have a life.
 
I wouldn't answer it! Another way to insult and humiliate seniors. But I have had worse questions that were not part of a stupid wellness test. Tell the doctor to answer them herself.
 
Aneeda72 said:
I didn’t know what the actual date was. I told my doctor I am retired, I don’t need to know what the actual date is. So she asked me what the day of the week was. Yeah, I knew that cause I was there 😂. Sometimes the days of the week blend together as well, it’s not like I have a life.
Click to expand...
When I got asked that question I looked at my watch & replied. The Dr. said you don't know the day or date? I said I don't write checks anymore, don't work, & I'm retired if I need to know what time, day & date it is I look at my watch. He said good point, at least you know how to use technology.

I pulled out my C.P. & showed him my calendar on it. I told him it's not that I can't remember dates but when your nurse comes in to make another appt. 3 months in the future, I can look & tell her I already have an appt on that date & time. Saves going home & looking at the calendar on the wall then call back in to change the Appt.
 
Kaila said:
If they had a 5-minute conversation with a person, instead,
they could easily and quickly screen for possible cognitive problem, and much better too.....
But they either prefer the paper method, it seems?:unsure::confused:
Or they are required (by someone) to have written evidence, that they assessed it? :oops::rolleyes::(

Again, a very short interaction, would expose a possible need to be further assessed, and would likely be enjoyed, as well. Ask a couple of friendly questions, I wish they would , to replace this 'test' if they need to do some type of evaluation that.
Click to expand...
Right you are. At 75 i've yet to be given one of these tests. The local clinic i have my annual at the docs (big turnover cause not everyone can hack small town life, or the hour's commute from city in winter) always ask if there's anything else concerning you healthwise. And they've learned--i want the full results of my blood tests--i understand the implications of the numbers and know how to look them up if i'm fuzzy on what the 'healthy normal' is.

Years ago, when life circumstances confined me to sliding scale fee clinics and i had no insurance, i learned to carry whatever non-fiction (science or history) book i was reading with me to appointments. It helped pass the time as usually long waits in those clinics. But also gave astute staff a clue who they were dealing with and sometimes if they asked questions about it, it gave me a clue about them. (Do they make assumptions about intelligence based on someone needing to use their clinic? On Gender?) And i make sure to give more than yes/no answers to questions about pain that day, confirming allergies and medications . No doubt some medical professionals see as a pain in derriere, but the smart ones realize they can use reason and that i'm unlikely to just accept their prescriptions but not use them, i may decline some too, and can usually make my case reasonably.
 
Tom 86 said:
When I got asked that question I looked at my watch & replied. The Dr. said you don't know the day or date? I said I don't write checks anymore, don't work, & I'm retired if I need to know what time, day & date it is I look at my watch. He said good point, at least you know how to use technology.

I pulled out my C.P. & showed him my calendar on it. I told him it's not that I can't remember dates but when your nurse comes in to make another appt. 3 months in the future, I can look & tell her I already have an appt on that date & time. Saves going home & looking at the calendar on the wall then call back in to change the Appt.
Click to expand...

That conversation proved my point, which I found amusing. :LOL::ROFLMAO::giggle:

His brief conversation with you, gave him all he needs to know about your cognitive awareness. :)
 
feywon said:
Right you are. At 75 i've yet to be given one of these tests. The local clinic i have my annual at the docs (big turnover cause not everyone can hack small town life, or the hour's commute from city in winter) always ask if there's anything else concerning you healthwise. And they've learned--i want the full results of my blood tests--i understand the implications of the numbers and know how to look them up if i'm fuzzy on what the 'healthy normal' is.

Years ago, when life circumstances confined me to sliding scale fee clinics and i had no insurance, i learned to carry whatever non-fiction (science or history) book i was reading with me to appointments. It helped pass the time as usually long waits in those clinics. But also gave astute staff a clue who they were dealing with and sometimes if they asked questions about it, it gave me a clue about them. (Do they make assumptions about intelligence based on someone needing to use their clinic? On Gender?) And i make sure to give more than yes/no answers to questions about pain that day, confirming allergies and medications . No doubt some medical professionals see as a pain in derriere, but the smart ones realize they can use reason and that i'm unlikely to just accept their prescriptions but not use them, i may decline some too, and can usually make my case reasonably.
Click to expand...
Different sorts of conversations and interactions, but yes again, they don't need that test discussed in this thread, in order to figure out a person's cognitive abilities,
if there's even just a short time of actual interacting with each other, while there at an appointment. (Or remotely, for that matter)
 

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