types of PHYSICALS
Routine Physical Medical Checkup
What is a Routine Physical?
A routine physical, often referred to as an annual wellness visit, is a comprehensive preventive
exam meant for checking a patient's general health status. The goal is to prevent future health
issues by identifying risk factors or early signs of diseases, ensuring that vaccines are up to date,
and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Major insurances in the United States typically cover routine physicals or annual wellness visits
as part of preventive care benefits, recognizing the importance of preventive care in maintaining
health and reducing the risk of serious health conditions. This coverage often comes without
any copayment, coinsurance, or deductible being required, as long as the service is provided by
an in-network provider and fits the insurer's criteria for preventive care.
It's important for patients to understand that while the routine physical itself is covered,
additional services performed during the visit (such as evaluation of new problems,
management of chronic problems, performing specific tests or procedures that may be
recommended based on findings during the examination) might not be covered under the
preventive care benefit. These additional services may be billed separately and could be subject
to copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
- Medical History Review: The healthcare provider will review your medical history, including any chronic illnesses, hospitalizations, surgeries, allergies, and your family’s medical history. They will also ask about lifestyle behaviors like diet, exercise, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, as well as sexual health, mental health, and any current medications or supplements.
- Vital Signs Check: This includes measuring blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and temperature. It may also involve assessing pain levels and oxygen saturation.
- Visual Exam: The provider will visually inspect your body for signs of potential conditions. This involves examining the skin for abnormalities, the eyes, the movement and condition of joints, muscles, and your overall appearance.
- Physical Exam: This is a hands-on examination where the provider will touch (palpate) parts of your body to feel for abnormalities, listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope, and possibly examine your ears, nose, throat, and the abdominal area.
- Neurological Exam: Reflexes, muscle strength, muscle tone, sense of touch, and sight and hearing capabilities are checked.
- Height and Weight Measurements: These are taken to calculate your body mass index (BMI), which helps in assessing your general health status.
- Laboratory Tests: Depending on your age, risk factors, and family history, blood tests may be ordered to check for conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and thyroid disease. Urinalysis can help detect kidney and bladder diseases or urinary tract infections.
- Screening Tests: Depending on age, sex, and medical and family history, additional screening tests might be recommended. For women, this might include mammograms and Pap smears; for men, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests; and for both, screenings for colorectal cancer, skin checks, or bone density scans.
Pre-Employment Physicals:
What is Pre-Employment Physicals?
Before starting a new job, the employee must hand in a pre-employment exam as a part of the process. The test may include a drug test and/or a physical exam. The primary goal of this exam is to determine whether or not you have an undetected condition which can cause problems to your health by working in the job.
What Tests are Conducted for a Pre-Employment Physical?
This physical may include:
- A Chest X-Ray
- Urinalysis
- Fecalysis
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- A Complete Physical Exam
- A Drug Test
School/College Physicals
What is a School Physical?
Also known as fitness testing, most schools hold regular physical examinations to evaluate and assess the students abilities in a number of sports. These exams also help students to learn how healthy they are and set goals to improve their fitness.
The 5 Physical Fitness Tests:
- Muscular Strength:
- Muscular Endurance:
- Cardiovascular Endurance:
- Flexibility:
- Body Fat Composition:
Disability Physicals
Why are Disability Physicals Conducted?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires thorough information about anyone who has applied for disability and its benefits, as sometimes there isn’t enough information provided to them to grant the person with disability benefits.
How to Prepare for Them?
- Make sure that you need a Disability Exam
- Make a list of important questions that could be asked during the exam
- Gather all of your previous documents and medical records
- Practice your verbal explanation
- Get along with your doctor
- Take notes during the exam
Get In Touch
For further inquiries or to find out about our doctor’s availability, call us at 630-931-2929.