Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How to do a no hands-on physical in 3 minutes (or less)

Pamela Wible, MD
Physician
March 12, 2016
722 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Pamela-Wible-Big-Box-Medicine2

Step 1: Greet patient.

Step 2: While chatting, check all boxes in electronic medical record for a complete review of systems and physical exam. Copy and paste parts of previous chart note while looking at patient every once in a while. Smile if possible.

Step 3: Tell patient to do yoga.

Step 4: Bill insurance company for complete physical exam.

Welcome to big box assembly line medicine.

Ever wonder what happens when a doctor goes to the doctor? Same sh*t.

A physician friend recently told me: “My last trip to my PCP was shorter than the time it takes to brush my teeth! If I hear one more suggestion to drink chamomile tea and do yoga … I just don’t need the 3-minute bullsh*t session.”

The truth is health care can’t happen in 3-minute increments. Assembly-line medicine doesn’t work for patients or doctors. Here’s why: doctors aren’t factory workers and patients aren’t widgets.

I shared my physician friend’s experience on Facebook and turns out it’s the norm for many Americans.

E. B. Sheffield writes: “Lol, this made me laugh. The last time I went to see a doctor for a yearly lab and all check, he didn’t touch me. The stethoscope never left his neck, and he kept talking about Suzanne Somers. But he is board certified. Sigh.”

“I’ve had the ‘no-hands’ PE [physical exam] before, which is always really, really, weird to me. I’m a veterinarian and our PEs [exams] are totally hands-on, all over and everywhere …” claims Margaret Brosnahan.

Dr. William Halstead shares, “I thought this only happened to me. Haven’t had a complete physical exam since I finished residency.”

Amina Moghul reports, “Yup, recently developed a tremor, went to a neurologist who didn’t even examine me and shooed me out the door telling me to do yoga because I must be stressed out.”

“My internal med doc spends about 5 to 7 minutes with me,” claims Theresa Stier Brown, “He never listens to my heart/lungs or lays a hand on me. He only asks about my diabetes meds even though I take meds for seven other health problems — so no medication review.”

“I’ve had fraudulent physical exam where no hands on, no listening to heart or lungs but he dictated lungs clear to auscultation and heart rate regular, etc.,” confirms Louann Harrack. “That’s why my primary care is a nurse practitioner. (No offense to the good doctors out there.)”

So what’s a patient to do?

1. Boycott big-box assembly-line medicine.
2. Find a good doctor or nurse practitioner.
3. Can’t find one? Go see a veterinarian.

Pamela Wible pioneered the community-designed ideal medical clinic and blogs at Ideal Medical Care. She is the author of Physician Suicide Letters — Answered and Pet Goats and Pap Smears. Watch her TEDx talk, How to Get Naked with Your Doctor. She hosts the physician retreat, Live Your Dream, to help her colleagues heal from grief and reclaim their lives and careers.

Image credit: Pamela Wible

Prev

MKSAP: 55-year-old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV)

March 12, 2016 Kevin 0
…
Next

Women may experience more pain than men, but receive less treatment for it

March 12, 2016 Kevin 3
…

Tagged as: Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
MKSAP: 55-year-old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV)
Next Post >
Women may experience more pain than men, but receive less treatment for it

More by Pamela Wible, MD

  • 13 tips for depressed doctors who need confidential mental health care

    Pamela Wible, MD
  • Doctors are trained to lie

    Pamela Wible, MD
  • Medicine’s culture of betrayal

    Pamela Wible, MD

Related Posts

  • A physician’s addiction to social media

    Amanda Xi, MD
  • How physical should medical training be?

    Orly Farber
  • A medical student learns to listen with her hands

    Simone Phillips
  • We have an obligation to keep firearms out of the hands of children

    Shayla A. Sullivant, MD
  • Health insurer: I want my 8 hours and 6 minutes back

    Anonymous
  • The tension between intense commitment and physical, emotional, and interpersonal well-being

    Timothy Keyes

More in Physician

  • Practicing medicine with conviction

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • The power of memory in shaping human identity

    Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD
  • Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

    Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH
  • The erosion of patient care

    Laura de la Torre, MD
  • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

    Eleanor Menzin, MD
  • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

      Angel Garcia Otano, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions
    • Practicing medicine with conviction

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The power of memory in shaping human identity

      Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD | Physician
    • How Tratak yoga reshaped my USMLE Step 2 prep

      Dr. Nikita Mehdiratta | Education
    • Transforming primary care for physician well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 71 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • FDA Relents, Approves Novel Antidepressant After Many Rejections
  • OSHA Comes in for Both Praise and Harsh Criticism at House Hearing
  • New Insight Into Hyperglycemia Risk With PI3K Inhibitor for Breast Cancer
  • Oktoberfest Doctor: Not the Wurst Job You Could Have
  • Blue Shield of California Has Fix for MA Enrollees Worried About Co-Pays

Meeting Coverage

  • New Schizophrenia Treatments Are Coming: Don't Panic
  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

      Angel Garcia Otano, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions
    • Practicing medicine with conviction

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The power of memory in shaping human identity

      Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD | Physician
    • How Tratak yoga reshaped my USMLE Step 2 prep

      Dr. Nikita Mehdiratta | Education
    • Transforming primary care for physician well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

How to do a no hands-on physical in 3 minutes (or less)
71 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...