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Just had my first annual physical exam
I didn't know what to expect so I looked at the clinic's website. It listed a bunch of tests and screening they were going to do to you. Like, a pap smear, mammogram, cancer screenings, weight management, dermatology, etc… I have insurance under my mom. I get one free physical every year until I’m 26. So I went. I was told that if it was a regular checkup it's free but if I asked her about anything else I would be charged. They only took my blood, height, weight, and that was it. The doctor came into my room with a male intern. I told her I was uncomfortable with male doctors examining certain areas of my body. I don’t think she got the hint. She started asking me about a previous diagnosis I had and I explained the basics to her. I told her I already saw a primary doctor for it and was prescribed medication. I already had an appointment to see a specialist next month. They are all in the same building and correspond with each other. She suddenly prescribes me the same medication I already have but in higher dosage. I told her no multiple times but she stated that I needed it. I was so upset that she disregarded my words and forcing me to pay the copay when this visit was supposed to be free. I asked her about the pap smear, mammogram and she suggest I wait until I’m 30 to do them or else they would come back abnormal. I’m 23. Was that how a physical exam should be like? I feel like I was given poor or half services. Besides the blood drawn, nothing else was done. They didn’t take a urine sample or any. Should I have gone to another place?
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Adviceman did a good job of answering the question I'll just add a feel things
1. Don't hint at things; if you told her I don't want an intern in the room then she needs to tell them to leave. You have the right to refuse all and any medications, it doesn't matter what any doctor says don't sign anything if you don't want to take it.
2. Pap smears should be done at 21 years of age once a year
3. Mammograms should be done at 50 years of age once a year unless you have risk factors for breast cancer (mom or other relative have had breast cancer) , if you do have risk factors then you can talk to your ob about getting tested when he or she believes is more appropriate, 30 years old with no risk factors is not.
That's pretty much it; try not to feel uncomfortable around professionals though, I never heard anything inappropriate coming from students about patients at my school
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These days it is hard to say what the norm is as it is based on what the insurance company is willing to pay for. Who sent you to this clinic for a physical? The reason I ask is most primary care physicians I've been to will do the basic annual physical in their office only sending you to a specialty clinic for those things they are not set up to do such as a mammogram or certain types of EKG's.
The intern should have left the room when you said you were not comfortable with him in there. Yes, they may have been a teaching clinic and my primary care doctor is also a teaching doctor. When she has a med student or intern I am always ask first if they can observe or practice on me. I would suggest you write and complain to the clinics director. You can also complain about the doctor and how she forced you into a situation where you feel you were forced to pay a copay. While you're writing you can also write the state's Insurance Commissioner and file a complaint. Doing so will do two things. It may just get you your copay back and it will force the insurance commissioner to examine the practices of this clinic.
I can't say what is the standard of care each provider provides. My doctor and my insurance provides for annual and preoperative physicals. Both are about the same type of physical. They generally include a blood draw, an EKG, taking and recording of all vitals such as blood pressure, Pulse and temperature. Then the doctor will do a general examination. All of this is done for my standard copay and in the office of my primary care doctor. Only blood draws that need to be taken after fasting are done at a clinic as they are done before her office is open.
I would you call and talk to your insurance company and find out if your primary care physician can do your future physicals and if this one can be redone by him or her. Then call your doctor and see if he or she is willing to accept what your insurance company pays for this physical and is willing to provide it for you.
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