By: Barbara Bredell-Searle
As I was thinking of a topic for this blog issue, I was sitting in my primary doctor’s office waiting to get my yearly physical. That day, my husband was with me since he had a day off from work. As I continued to sit in the waiting room, I turned to my husband and asked him “When was the last time that you had a physical?” He looked at me and with an expression of uncertainty, he said, “I …think it was last year. Well, since we are so lucky to have the same primary doctor, I went to the desk and asked the medical assistant. When she searched the computer, I was stunned! – It had been 3 years since my husband had his physical. Of course, when he heard that, he tried to explain that his job had given him “sort of a physical” for work purposes. He received the typical: weight check, Tuberculosis test and the once-a-year Flu vaccine. Those are the requirements that his job needs to keep on file for certification verification when the Department of Human Services comes to his employment to conduct their annual inspection.
Well, just like my husband’s job (he works with the older generation), we who are in contact with the very young also need our physicals on file to meet the expectations of: PA Code 55 Chapter 3270.151 (Center) PA Code 55 Chapter 55 3280.151 (Group) Chapter 3290.151 (Family). But wait…I have a question, are you just getting those physicals to meet the requirement for employment or are you getting your physical to stay informed of your health?
