Forget the Annual Physical?

So much for that annual physical, it seems. Researchers at the Arizona Health Sciences Center say that while it's "good business," for HMOs, there's no proof of physical benefits from such a routine.

Writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the physicians say "periodic" exams, tied to individual needs would be more appropriate, save time and eliminate more than 11 million unnecessary doctor visits yearly.

Established medical organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the American College of Physicians no longer urge annual physical examinations for healthy individuals. "Accompanying this official lack of enthusiasm for annual examinations is an absence of proof of any physical benefit from them," the researchers say.

They say that since "managed care organizations are businesses," such groups naturally have a vested interested in urging annual physicals. But the researchers claim periodic examinations "could be performed in less time" and free physicians for more necessary work.

Medical directors and administrative executives of managed care organizations need to be convinced "the literature does not support an annual complete physical examination in an otherwise healthy, asymptomatic individual," the researchers say.