Why you want a yearly “physical” from your personal physician.
By Craig M. Wax DO
Yearly health physical exams and review of patient’s history have been a staple of medicine in modern times. Recently, though, it has come under fire in the age of third-party health insurance reimbursement and government intervention in healthcare. When other entities pay for care, others decide on what you get. Everything is viewed by “payers” is an expense and must be “justified.” But, the question remains as to what justification is necessary if both the patient and their physician of choice agrees on a test or procedure. Ideally, patients should choose their daily lifestyles, caregivers, and options for care using their own individual value systems.
