South Oakville Medical Group Patients:

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--Annual physical examinations are no longer part of family medicine and were eliminated in 2013

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Several research reviews have demonstrated that head-to-toe examinations were not reliable or effective in preventing serious disease outcomes such as heart disease or cancer. Instead, physicians now focus on symptoms should they arise, as well as following guidelines for cancer screening. 

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The "Annual Physical" has been replaced by the new "Periodic Health Visit." It is defined as "a service performed on a patient who presents and reveals no apparent physical or mental illness and includes an intermediate assessment focusing on age and gender specific risk factors, risks associated with past, family and social histories, physical examination, health screening and relevant counselling."

 

  This Periodic Health Visit does not need to occur every year. Rather, it is performed based on your individual patient risk factors, such as family history, past medical issues, or screening tests such as Paps, mammograms or colon cancer screening. For example, a patient with a strong family history of diabetes may get an annual screening for diabetes, high cholesterol and hight blood pressure. If you are due for screening tests or blood work, we will arrange these tests for you. 

 

The Periodic Health Exam is NOT a visit to discuss a list of medical issues with your physician. This is limited to screening tests, lifestyle discussion and relevant physical examination.

We will continue to see you for individual medical concerns in separate visits.

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For more information:

canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/periodic-preventive-health-visits/

 

EMERGENCIES ARE STILL EMERGENCIES

Emergency departments are safe and available

Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room if you require urgent attention