Are you a busy entrepreneur or professional?
Then our new Executive and Concierge Wellness Services are for you
I recently realized we needed to offer an executive level of services, and specifically an executive physical, at the practice. If you are interested in these services, you can book a call here.
I have thought a great deal about what I like and dislike about executive medical services, and executive physicals specifically.
Most executive physicals are being offered by people who have no understanding of functional, integrative, natural, or holistic medicine. Yes, they may know how to examine you, but they do not know how to put together a plan based on that examination that delivers results. In addition, the physical itself rarely reveals anything of new. And this is why our executive physical isn’t just a physical - it combines a physical with comprehensive labwork.
There is another problem with the physical exam in general. Patients have the impression that the more thorough the exam, the better their outcome. That isn’t necessarily the case. Often exams that turn up minor abnormalities wind up getting the patient worse outcomes than if they had had no exam at all. The digital rectal exam is a great example. The digital rectal exam used to be the standard screening for prostate cancer. Men everywhere dreaded the humiliating exam. In the final analysis, however, doctors realized that this exam actually didn’t save any lives. Between user error, benign prostate lumps or growth, and the lack of effective treatments for prostate cancer, the digital rectal exam doesn’t deserve to be inflicted upon men anymore.
My experience is that most executive physicals are overly-intrusive, which impresses patients, but doesn’t actually improve their health. So I don’t perform digital rectal exams or pelvic exams. I rely on the proper imaging and lab testing, which are more reliable and less embarrassing.
Labs make my executive physical different. I’ve spent most of my professional career at this point learning how to get more out of your labs than most of my colleagues. Labs have always fascinated me since I started studying chemistry in high school.
Most executive physicals do not offer lab testing of much value. They order routine labs and even these are largely useless. Worse, many physicians will interpret them based upon the opinions of "thought leaders" who are truly just mouth-pieces for the pharmaceutical industry. In the end, I doubt the average executive physical is worth the money that executives are paying for them, let alone the time they spend obtaining them.
I decided to create an executive physical that would combine the best of both worlds.
It is more than just a physical - it is a history, physical, and lab review. It includes time for me to take an extensive history, make recommendations for specific lab testing, see you in person to review your labs and perform a physical exam, and a follow up appointment within one to two months of the exam and lab review. The program includes supplement recommendations, prescriptions, and allows you to remain a patient of record at the practice for one calendar year from the date of your in-person appointment.
More than that, these programs include time to review fitness tracker data, vital signs, and other at-home measures of health that are essential, and that most executive physicals ignore.
You will also have an in-person assessment with both myself and Jim Laird. Jim and I will look at your biomechanics and make recommendations for future physical training. One of the benefits of an evaluation with Jim is that he has a breadth of experience that allows him to anticipate problems before they arise. Most orthopedic problems that people develop are entirely preventable. Jim can help people spot those problems, before they need a joint replacement or other major surgery.
I'm excited to offer these physicals. I found that, when I was working one-on-one, many people wanted a combination of labs and time with me. I think these programs will meet that need.
If you would like to learn more about our executive physicals, you can book a call here to find out more.
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman