Have you prepared your clients for their insurance medical exam?

Posted by Nickelle Leist on Thu, Nov 1, 2007 @ 03:55 PM

4. Alcohol Consumption. Clients should avoid all alcohol consumption for at least 48 hours prior to the examination. Alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure and adversely affect certain elements of the blood study.

5. Caffeine Consumption. Clients should limit caffeine consumption 48 hours before the examination. They should have NO caffeine the morning of the examination. Caffeine increases blood pressure and pulse rate. It is important to advise clients of the various sources of caffeine in the diet aside from coffee and tea (I.e. diet soft drinks, cold preparations, pain medications, etc.).

6. Medications. Clients taking prescription medications should be taking the medications as directed by their physician. Clients who are not taking their prescription medication correctly (I.e. forgot to get a refill, taking the medications only occasionally) should not be examined until they return to the proper medication schedule. Have the clients take with them all of their current medications in their original prescription bottles. If this isn’t possible, have them make a list of all medications with their name,

7. strength (dosage), and instructions on how they are taken. Failure to verify compliance with prescription medications may lead to adverse findings on the medical examination.

8. Food and Drink. Clients who are undergoing blood and urine testing should not eat or drink twelve (12) hours before the medical examination. Clients who are NOT undergoing such testing should not eat or drink four (4) hours before the medical examination. A small amount of water is permissible during this fasting period. Limit the amount of high cholesterol and high salt foods for twenty-four (24) hours prior to the exam. Make sure clients do not have any medical condition that would make fasting inadvisable.

9. Exercise. Clients should not exercise before they have their medical examination – preferably for at least twenty-four (24) hours. Exercise, especially cardiovascular workouts, can cause inaccurate elevations of cholesterol levels.

10. Blood Pressure. It is normal for clients to become anxious about having their blood pressure taken. It is helpful if clients are offered a few minutes to relax before their blood pressure is recorded. Elevated blood pressure readings need to be rechecked later in the examination to ensure that the examiner documents more than one reading.

11. Treadmill Testing. Clients who are undergoing exercise treadmill testing should not eat or drink four (4) hours prior to the test (twelve hours prior to the test if there will be lab work). Clients should always have their blood sample drawn before they undergo an exercise treadmill test.

12. Pulmonary Function Testing. Clients who are undergoing pulmonary function testing should realize that the quality of the test is determined by the effort (I.e. how much air is taken in the lungs and how hard and how long it is expelled) and the tightness of the seal on the mouth piece.

13. Be Prepared. Have clients write down all of their significant illnesses, dates, names/addresses of physicians, and treatments. In addition, have them document any history in their parents and/or siblings of: cancer, heart attack, angina, bypass surgery, stroke, emphysema/chronic bronchitis, diabetes, and any genetic information. Have them take all of this information to the exam.