Medicare Wellness Exam - Page 10

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Pook wrote:
All that money could be used to really help medically. I call them flunky or lazy nurses that are used cause it is easy work!!!

@Pook @Jaynah

Flunky or lazy nurses? Wow. You've obviously never worked in healthcare! Nurses are among the most overworked people in healthcare.

I think some are missing one of the key points with Wellness Exams ... and that's to notice SUBTLE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR.

Older people can get very defensive, and some even lie about changes, pretending everything is "fine". .

IMO, differences can be warning flags for the beginning of something that could be quite serious ... or something is getting "worse".

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@kaydee50 wrote:
Did it once years ago, haven't done it again. Try to stay away from the medical profession and only go to a doctor when I have a specific problem.

@kaydee50

Your parents must have been the same way. The whole point is to monitor your health and catch things early.

Many people die because they wait for a "specific problem" to get even routine tests.

How many people go to their doc only to find out they have stage 4 pancreatic cancer ... or something that could have been dealt with a lot sooner if they had gotten routine exams.

But hey, your body, your decision.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Jaynah wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
@UpNorthGorgy. Be careful with that Hydrochlorothiazide. I had a terrible time trying to eat enough potassium to compensate for what it depleted. At times it was "critically" low. I finally got a different medication that is just as effective with no potassium problems.

Kchina624, what did they give you instead? I'm on Indapamide 1.25 mg. Nobody even mentioned a potassium depletion to me!

@Jaynah

"Nobody mentioned" sounds like you aren't doing your homework. Some side effects are uncommon, like one in 500,000, so they wouldn't list any problem that has ever happened to anyone, ever.

Of course, there's also your pharmacist who's happy to tell you about what you're taking.

It might be a good idea to look up any new drugs you are on for possible side effects. Some are subtle, but how else would you know if you don't research what you're taking?

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

@on the bay wrote:
@AngelPuppy1 wrote:
I think it's dumb and a waste of time. For all the more that they check - it's pointless! I have one coming up in a couple of weeks and it just wastes a bunch of my valuable time, especially at this time of the year. Also, it's so cold and then I have to sit in an office and be exposed to a bunch of people.
@AngelPuppy1,
You don't have to have a Wellness Visit. Just decline it.
I always remember-any appointments I decide to have are for myself that I am doing for me. If I don't think they are necessary or would help me, I don't do them.
If you don't want to have one, don't.

@on the bay

I thought it was mandatory! Anyways, my PC Dr. makes me come in to get my scripts renewed at the same time so......

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

Liverbird1 · ‎07-12-2011

I had the exam last visit .She asked me to put the time on the clock .She said 1 40 and gave me the clock , to put the time on , I was thrown , As being from uk we say 20 to 2 so was thinking about it and totally forgot the words to remember ,I only got 1 word correct .

When I checked online my result the dr had put a ? next to the score .

Maybe next time I will improve ,

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@kaydee50 wrote:
Did it once years ago, haven't done it again. Try to stay away from the medical profession and only go to a doctor when I have a specific problem.

@kaydee50

Your parents must have been the same way. The whole point is to monitor your health and catch things early.

Many people die because they wait for a "specific problem" to get even routine tests.

How many people go to their doc only to find out they have stage 4 pancreatic cancer ... or something that could have been dealt with a lot sooner if they had gotten routine exams.

But hey, your body, your decision.

Routine physical exams ARE NOT covered by Medicare. IMO, they would do more good if they were covered than the dumb Wellness exam.

Routine blood work is also not covered at the Medicare Wellness exam.

Pook · ‎03-20-2010

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
@Pook wrote:
All that money could be used to really help medically. I call them flunky or lazy nurses that are used cause it is easy work!!!

@Pook @Jaynah

Flunky or lazy nurses? Wow. You've obviously never worked in healthcare! Nurses are among the most overworked people in healthcare.

I think some are missing one of the key points with Wellness Exams ... and that's to notice SUBTLE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR.

Older people can get very defensive, and some even lie about changes, pretending everything is "fine". .

IMO, differences can be warning flags for the beginning of something that could be quite serious ... or something is getting "worse".

My sister in law was an RN. She said that many nurses get such jobs because they are far easier than direct patient care hospital nursing and many are ones that got poor ratings and yes displayed their laziness so my view was not wrong!! Many were the nurses who conveniently were not around when the nurse bell rings! My dad and many that I know use that because they are lonely and love their visits for that reason only! When my husband was in the hospital for 3 months and I was there every day - all day and saw the ones who saw the bells go off and even though right there just quickly ran the other direction while the dedicated nursing staff always got right in there with the aids to help with everything!

geezerette · ‎03-16-2010

@Liverbird1 wrote:
I had the exam last visit .She asked me to put the time on the clock .She said 1 40 and gave me the clock , to put the time on , I was thrown , As being from uk we say 20 to 2 so was thinking about it and totally forgot the words to remember ,I only got 1 word correct .
When I checked online my result the dr had put a ? next to the score .
Maybe next time I will improve ,

@Liverbird1

I was born and raised here, and I've always said "20 to 2" also! So you're not alone.

I think "1:40" has become more widespread since the advent of digital time pieces. I'm old school and prefer analog clocks and watches. Even with my phone, I'll still think "20 to 2" when I see "1:40".

I think since they're testing seniors, they should take that into consideration and perhaps phrase the request both ways.

shoesnbags · ‎03-10-2010

@Icegoddess wrote:
@Carmie I wonder what they would do if I drew a square and put 11:10 in it. That's what my fitbit looks like.

I know with the analog clock, they're looking to see if someone can actually draw the clock itself. Sometimes someone might bunch the numbers up all together or something like that. It's not specifically about getting the hands in the correct position.

@Icegoddess (and everyone who mentioned the clock)

About that clock. The first time I saw this as part of the Wellness visit, it seemed ridiculous. But then my dear husband developed Lewey Body dementia and I watched his ability to draw the clock decline with each visit until he couldn't draw anything resembling a clock face. So it is definitely measuring mental decline. It was sad, but amazing to see. I wonder at what point they're going to finally abandon this since so few are exposed to analog clocks nowadays?

"Breathe in, breathe out, move on." Jimmy Buffett

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I do the wellness visit and have no issues with it. I alerted my mothers provider to do this type of visit, to verify my feelings of dementia. She failed drawing the clock and remembering orange, banana, and umbrella. She had slow response to every question or instruction, so the exam was very important in her situation.

There are many people in and out of medical offices every day with early to mid stages of undiagnosed dementia. I am sensitive to signs in others that were my red flags with mom. The confusion and fumbling when checking out in stores is a biggie. I saw major comprehension issues with veterans at the VA trying to check in for appointments at the wrong clinic; they had a reminder for an appointment that day, but no idea where they were supposed to be.

I have been brought to tears many times seeing these people out alone. Once my family knew moms diagnosis, one of us took her everywhere she needed to go, and were at her side the entire time. I followed, witnessed, my mom driving perfectly for 6+ miles, but that did not mean she should've been driving, as her mindset was that she was the only vehicle on the road. She saw no one and remembered nothing about driving home; never once looked in her rear view mirror to see my SUV behind her.

I am totally for any conversation or test to identify mental changes as early as possible!