The time honored annual 'check-up' is traditionally viewed as sacrosanct in medical practice but what evidence exists to support it?As it turns out, the evidence to support the periodic health examination is far less than robust and these visits are generally not recommended for asymptomatic adult patients. This does not mean that age and gender specific screening such as mammography and colon cancer screening should not be performed, rather, that an an annual 'check-up' is not necessary to achieve these targets.
For a very recent article on the matter, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, click here.
New Perspectives on old paradigms, I love it.
Back on the VCU ID Consult Service tomorrow...
