Despite the uselessness of the annual physical, we still have to do them:
True, the very notion of a requisite annual physical is controversial. However, patients appreciate doctors who are meticulous, and patients (and jurors) don’t read medical journal articles advising against physicals. I use the annual physical as a preventive review for my patients to make sure they’re up to date on mammo, Pap, DEXA, PSA, urinalysis, guaiac smear test, colonoscopy, etc.
Preventive care is going to become much more difficult in the era of the high-deductible insurance.
