08
Nov
Longer physical exams can increase health
The typical physical exam at a doctor's office may take as little as a half an hour these days, but some doctors feel that's not enough time to adequately treat a patient.
"When patients come to our practice, we have the luxury of giving them extra time," Dr. Audrey Cheung-O'Carroll, MD, selected as a Chicago Top Doctor by TopTierMD as a top rated family medicine practitioner in Chicago, says. "We allot almost up to an hour per patient. We take this time out of our schedule to get to know our patients better and find out what we can do to help them."
This extra time, Dr. Cheung-O'Carroll says, allows her to cover all aspects of a patient's help, from simple lifestyle changes to important tests.
"When we finish their exam, we talk about what we can do preventatively to help them. For adult patients, we cover things like colon cancer screenings, vitamin supplements, nutrition, tobacco cessation, moderation of alcohol intake or watching caffeine intake. We also go over what kind of exercises they like doing. For people who are interested in holistic medicine, we inform them of what vitamins to take, what is safe and what is not safe, and what is practical.
"We got a little more in-depth than a typical doctor. Other doctors might see you and tell you to lose weight, whereas we'll go over strategies on how to lose weight.
"The nice thing about being a primary care doctor is that you can see us for 90-plus percent of your problems and not have to see a specialist. We can provide a continuity of care and you'll see the same doctor each time, not a bunch of different doctors. Because of that, we know your medical condition much more intimately, which means that things don't get dropped or forgotten and we can re-address your issues to make you well overall. Our overall goal is your wellness."
In addition to increased time spent with patients, Dr. Cheung-O'Carroll says that providing education to patients can increase overall health.
"We cover prevention and wellness during a patient's physical exam," Dr. Cheung-O'Carroll. "We do a very comprehensive physical exam and look into the social aspects of a patient's life and their mental health as well as their physical health. Because of that comprehensive exam, patients don't have to see the doctor as often and generally feel better overall."
Dr. Cheung-O'Carroll says that many simple steps can be taken to increase overall health. Stopping alcohol consumption and cutting coffee intake, she says, are simple changes that can provide a boost in health.
Dr. Audrey Cheung-O'Carroll, MD, was selected by TopTierMD as a Chicago Top Doctor and is considered Best in Family Medicine in Chicago. She specializes in Preventative Health and Wellness and Sports Medicine.
