Newspaper Page Text
Ij
I still believe in
ANNUAL CHECKUPS
Despite what detractors
say, this "quality time"
serves to connect you
and your doctor.
A TIME-HONORED tradition
in medicine has been the an
nual physical examination.
But during the last several
years, much debate has occurred as to
whether the exam is a worthwhile exer
cise. Groups such as the U.S. Preven
tive Services Task Force advocate “tar
geting screenings” for specific problems
in place of the old standard checkup of
the past.
Reasons for moving away from the
annual checkup? Some authorities feel
that the cost of performing general evaluations is not
justified. Many patients who see their doctors for an
nual visits still don’t undergo recommended preventive
screenings. Also, if the annual checkups include broad
screening studies, such as blood tests and X-rays, then
the costs associated with such an evaluation
might not be justified. As the cost of health
care has climbed steadily, such considerations
of how health-care dollars are spent certainly
are to be expected.
What’s the other side of the story? When
surveyed, a significant majority' of patients and
doctors say they find annual checkups neces-
sary. Such “healthy” visits offer intangible benefits that
can’t be measured by statistical analyses alone. Having
an allotted time to discuss topics of concern helps a doc
tor and a patient bond, leading to a level of trust that’s
important to the patient’s health.
Based on my experience, I come down on the side of
doctors and patients. Certainly bonding can occur when
I’m performing acute care. But the real connection oc
curs when the patient and I are visiting at the time of
his or her checkup. We’ve all heard about the importance
of “quality time” with family and friends. That’s true of
10
USA WEEKEND • Sept 14-16,2007
Health
By DR. TEDD MITCHELL
1
The bond that
physicians and
patients create
and share is
invaluable.
the annual checkup, too, which is why doctors and pa
tients cherish it so much.
One of our Cooper Clinic physicians has a patient who
travels quite some distance to come see him for an ap
pointment every year. When the man’s physician back
home asked him why he travels so far to get a
simple checkup every year, the patient’s re
sponse was simple: “Because that doctor re
turns my calls.”
We live in a world in which the pace of
everything is getting more hectic, and our
interactions with everyone seem to occur at
an increasingly faster rate. Medicine is no dis-
ferent We’re all in a hurry; we want to streamline and
are looking for the simplest, most efficient, most cost
effective means of doing everything.
In our effort to do this, however, we miss out on
“human touch,” which could well be the most impor
tant part of a physician-patient relationship. By rele
gating an annual physical to a mere checklist, we run
the danger of losing the quality that makes the rela
tionship special.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and medical director of
Dallas' Cooper Clinic, writes Healths mart every week.
Health
Don't spread
it around!
How to curb 4 contagious
skin problems in children
PARENTS, IF YOUR CHILD suddenly devel
ops a skin infection, get prompt attention from
a skin specialist.
“Proper diagnosis is especially important for
treatment because some home remedies like
over-the-counter cortisone can make an infec
tion worse,” says Jody A. Levine, M.D., head of
pediatric dermatology at Montefiore Medical Cen
ter in New York City.
Her advice on the four top and highly conta
gious skin conditions in children:
► Impetigo. When kids rub their runny noses
and develop a honey-colored crust, or when dia
per rash erodes the skin, the staph and strep bac
teria that ordinarily live on the top of the skin get
in deeper and cause infection. To prevent spread
ing: Protect the skin. Use petroleum jelly or zinc
oxide ointment on the nose, lips or diaper area;
cut children’s nails short; don’t share washcloths
or towels.
► Moltoscum. Shiny pimples caused by a virus
can spread from one area of the body
to another. To prevent spreading:
Don’t share tow'els; disinfect
showers; avoid picking or \Jh
squeezing the pimples. 1
► Warts. They are infec-
tious, but not everyone gets
the virus. Plantar-warts appear .
on the soles of feet To prevent
spreading: Keep warts cov
ered; wear sandals while in .
the shower. JS
► Ringworm. The fun- m
gal infection tinea likes n|
warm, moist areas of the IBKgj f
body. To prevent spread- S?
ing: Diy off thoroughly
after swimming or sweat
ing; disinfect any brushes, IS
combs, hat= and helmets,
and don't share them; exam- Cfjf -
ir.e and treat pets (cats, in uH
particular); practice good hy
giene. ra
Susan T. Lennon VI J