The gift card, yup. Don't know how many healthy already seeing doctors fall for that. But home health care or more 'casual' visits are the future. PAs and nurses are the future with many plans and/or in many areas.
I see my GP every 8 weeks as I am diabetic. Once a year I get a complete physical, this might be the "Wellness visit" you guys are referring to. A much more thorough going over and in depth interview.
I have had the same doctor for 35 years. I met him while he was still interning and went with him when he opened his practice. He is Chinese and in all these years his English hasn't really improved.
Any way.....
There we were, he on his stool, me on the bench. He is looking through my chart, "Ooh, You no have digital long time, turn aroun", my day went to hell in a single thrust!
I have had the annual wellness exam. I asked my doctor during a normal visit what exactly that meant or was. His response, its basically a conversation, not an exam. Medicare pays for it. (nothings free) I agreed to do it, as it turned out he asked about your parent's health history, alive or deceased, brothers /sisters and your kids. Looks at height and weight, wants you to draw the time he gives you on a piece of paper. that's it. Since I have no copay I did it. probably wont do it again, never would if I had a copay.
To me, it's a waste of everybody's time. My parents' (deceased) health history is part of my record there, if they'd bother to look it up, and any concerns I have are addressed at my annual checkup or if something comes up in the interim. And I certainly have no intention of hashing all this stuff over with someone who is not my PCP.
That's my take on it too. My parents' health history (along with my siblings) has nothing to do with my health. There's no helpful genetic information to be culled, so why waste my time?
The health history of first, second and depending on the types of diseases, third degree relatives plays a big part in your overall healthcare. It gives physicians an idea of what diseases you may be prone to and what they should watch as part of a surveillance plan.
For example my brother, first degree relative, was diagnosed at age 40 with bowel cancer. I was immediately checked and had it as well although it was stage 2 and not 4.
My mother had uterine and kidney cancer in her 70's so my brother and I got checked for Kidney and Bladder Cancer. My brother was good, me not so lucky {or I guess I could rephrase that as lucky it was found early}
So yes, family history is extremely important in your healthcare plan. It saved me from an early grave.
Not only that but the last one I supposedly had, it was an intern asking and then entering "their" interpretation of my answers, followed by similar questions from a nurse, and then a follow up from the doctor where he discussed with me what he chose to from what they had entered into the computer. I was wore out, frustrated, and did not feel like I got what I had hoped to from the visit, and I didn't get to discuss all the things I wanted to with the doctor that I wanted to after being grilled a couple of times by others... geesh that ain't the way to do things.I never meant to say it was not important. My point is, it is already in my records at my doctor's office. So why do I need to go through all that again? My parents and grandparents are still dead, and their causes of death and other history have not changed. My sister is still alive and goes to the same practice I do, and everybody knows we are sisters. So, what's the point in spending time writing down all that when they already have it? Big boondoggle, IMHO.
Not only that but the last one I supposedly had, it was an intern asking and then entering "their" interpretation of my answers, followed by similar questions from a nurse, and then a follow up from the doctor where he discussed with me what he chose to from what they had entered into the computer. I was wore out, frustrated, and did not feel like I got what I had hoped to from the visit, and I didn't get to discuss all the things I wanted to with the doctor that I wanted to after being grilled a couple of times by others... geesh that ain't the way to do things.
My friend went to one of those and she said she found the whole thing intrusive, offensive and insulting and felt like they were trying to catch her at something or decide she wasn't bright enough or together enough to take care of herself. She came back close to tears.
I had a similar experience right after I had my hips replaced, when a bright young thing physical therapist insisted on talking over my head to my daughter-in-law (who had dropped by to visit me) about whether I knew how to take my medications correctly and whether I was having any problems, etc. I assured that PT that I was right there in the room, and was quite competent to take care of myself and to address her questions to me and not to a visitor in my home. I also told her not to come back. I am simply not going to tolerate that kind of treatment from medical professionals -- I may be older, but I will not be treated like a child just because I have grey hair.
i have the same problem as butterfly--i take my daughter with me to the ent dr and the vascular dr--they talk to my daughter(who is sitting across the room) i am hard of hearing but they could stand aside of me-i am paying for this and i have to get all my information from my daughter.
Can I be the devil's advocate ?
Problem?..at least you have a daughter that goes with you. There are those that will not be bothered. There is a whole thread on that.
And perhaps the doc , is trying to explain it to the person, younger person, with the better hearing & comprehension . And that knows best how to explain it to you? Perhaps later at home, in the less stress environment, over a nice cup'o tea/coffee.
Perhaps so, but I seriously resent the assumption that the younger person has "better hearing and comprehension" than the older person, and that the older person needs someone to interpret the doctor's instructions. Just because a person has grey hair does not mean they do not have all their marbles and/or needs to be talked down to.