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Search for primary care physicians near you and schedule your next appointment todayYou likely already know that exercise and a healthy diet are critical to proactive good health, but you might not realize how critical a routine physical examination is to your overall preventive medicine plan. One study published in the American Journal of Medicinerevealed that inadequate physical examination is a significant source of medical errors and subsequent adverse effects. Meanwhile, a Critical Methodsstudy says a "thoughtfully performed" exam yields roughly 20 percent of the data your physician needs to diagnose and manage symptoms. What Is a Physical Exam? A physical exam can be general or specific to a particular problem. Your primary care physician conducts an overall physical exam at least once annually; this may be more frequent if specific health issues are being managed. A cardiologist's examination, on the other hand, may focus on heart-related health markers, some of which are included in a general physical. All physicals integrate your medical history. Health questions about you, your parents, your grandparents, your siblings, and your children become part of the diagnostic picture. Be prepared by researching this information beforehand. Other information you'll provide includes medications you take -- both prescribed and over-the-counter -- as well as any previous medical procedures, tests, doctors, and treatments. Elements of a Physical Exam When asking, "What is a physical exam?" health care consumers should know its essential elements. A thorough physical examination covers head to toe and usually lasts about 30 minutes. It measures important vital signs -- temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate -- and evaluates your body using observation, palpitation, percussion, and auscultation.
Tests You Might Encounter Your doctor may perform tests specific to something revealed from your medical history, your symptoms, or the physical examination. He or she should explain what the test is looking for and what will be done with the information. Common laboratory tests that make up part of the physical examination may include having blood drawn to test for body chemistry, the presence of pathogens, or body functions. A urine specimen checks for kidney and urinary tract health, and gender-specific issues. Certain symptoms may require taking stool and sputum cultures. Imaging studies may include X-rays, computer tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance (MRI) scans. An electrocardiogram (EKG) measures heart activity. Your doctor may also rely on more specialized and in-depth diagnostics. In this case, sleep studies, home monitoring devices, and any number of other tools could become essential after you leave the office. Physical Examination Is Teamwork There are things you can do to help ensure a thorough exam. Your physician needs honest and complete information, and having all your medications and medical records on hand saves time and paints a clearer picture. A growing diagnostic trend relies more on technology than hands-on care. If you go for a physical examination, your doctor may touch less and test more. While physicians debate the impact of this trend, patients still expect physician contact from a physical examination. It all comes down to trust; what matters is whether you believe your doctor knows what he or she is doing, however they're doing it. Though your doctor conducts the examination, you're in charge. You can refuse any part of the exam, tests, or treatments ordered. Just be sure you fully understand the consequences of such a decision. Expect politeness, but respect the doctor's need to control the examination. Take notes, and have questions prepared in advance. A physical examination can save your life and is often the only way you or your doctor become aware of a problem. What the doctor learns from the exam helps determine the best treatment options. Yet the doctor is only part of the team. Take charge of your future by staying active, eating right, and being proactive about your health. What are some of the things you would consider before beginning a physical examination?Before doing a physical examination of your body or that of your child, the doctor needs to get your consent. That means you agree for them to do the examination.. why the examination is needed.. what parts of your body need to be examined.. what will happen during the examination.. What are the three important factors of a physical examination?In general, the standard physical exam typically includes: Vital signs: blood pressure, breathing rate, pulse rate, temperature, height, and weight. Vision acuity: testing the sharpness or clarity of vision from a distance. Head, eyes, ears, nose and throat exam: inspection, palpation, and testing, as appropriate.
What technique should you observe if a patient comes in for physical examination?WHEN YOU PERFORM a physical assessment, you'll use four techniques: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Use them in sequence—unless you're performing an abdominal assessment. Palpation and percussion can alter bowel sounds, so you'd inspect, auscultate, percuss, then palpate an abdomen.
What things should the nurse consider before beginning the physical exam?Prior to conducting a physical examination of a patient, the nurse should obtain and check needed equipment, identify how to maintain patient privacy during the examination, and wash hands before beginning the examination.
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What are the things that we need to consider in performing physical examination?
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