Physicals Necessary prior to Matriculation

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I'd imagine most do. They range from the "average" to the more "in-depth." I needed to get antibody counts done for several different disease on top of the regular physical.
 
Bacchus said:
I'd imagine most do. They range from the "average" to the more "in-depth." I needed to get antibody counts done for several different disease on top of the regular physical.
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same here... almost all of them have asked for a blood test, physical, or some form that needs to be signed by a doctor, etc... I haven't sent in any of the health paperwork till I decide where I am going.
 
I think they all require an antibody titer to prove immunity to certain diseases (MMR, chicken pox, hep B I believe). My hospital volunteering experience required that I get certain vaccines, so my guess is that the antibody tests are for liability reasons. I would assume that all require a basic physical as well.
 
I had a really basic physical, but honestly it was nothing more than "Breathing? Heart beating? Ok."

If you have any concerns that a physical might reveal severe physical limitations, I would urge you to attend to that before enrolling in medical school. Once you take on the med school debt, it's very difficult if you have to walk away for any reason.
 
Depakote said:
I think most schools require physicals prior to matriculation. They'll probably want some documentation of vaccinations and the basics. It wasn't anything too crazy.
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Agreed -- a lot of schools will send you a form after acceptance, to be completed by your PCP, which requires a listing of all vaccines or titers, and a very basic physical. Not a bad idea to have a physical anyhow because you don't really want to find out in the middle of a 30 hour shift that you have a health issue.
 
So I have an appointment late next week on the 18th with my doctor, and I need to get the Immunization form and titers labwork in by July 1st, and I think titers take three days...so I'm thinking I should be able to make it?

Also lets say somehow I dont have the immunity to certain diseases, then I have to get vaccinated again, then I have to wait 6 weeks to get the titer, and I need to makre sure I am vaccinated before matriculation, and Aug 1st is orientation...and I'm not sure if I will have enough time to complete all that?? What is anyone think? Should I contact my physician and say its urgent and get the appointment moved up to this week?
 
glam88 said:
So I have an appointment late next week on the 18th with my doctor, and I need to get the Immunization form and titers labwork in by July 1st, and I think titers take three days...so I'm thinking I should be able to make it?

Also lets say somehow I dont have the immunity to certain diseases, then I have to get vaccinated again, then I have to wait 6 weeks to get the titer, and I need to makre sure I am vaccinated before matriculation, and Aug 1st is orientation...and I'm not sure if I will have enough time to complete all that?? What is anyone think? Should I contact my physician and say its urgent and get the appointment moved up to this week?
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I don't think they care enough to make you suffer for it. I had to get a follow up on a titer at Student Health the first week of school and other then having to shell out ridiculous fee for the lab work (like 100 bucks) I was none the worse for wear academically/registrar wise.
 
glam88 said:
So I have an appointment late next week on the 18th with my doctor, and I need to get the Immunization form and titers labwork in by July 1st, and I think titers take three days...so I'm thinking I should be able to make it?

Also lets say somehow I dont have the immunity to certain diseases, then I have to get vaccinated again, then I have to wait 6 weeks to get the titer, and I need to makre sure I am vaccinated before matriculation, and Aug 1st is orientation...and I'm not sure if I will have enough time to complete all that?? What is anyone think? Should I contact my physician and say its urgent and get the appointment moved up to this week?
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I think most med schools will accept proof of vaccine as well as titers. However for your own peace of mind you probably still want to get the titer (what good is being vaccinated if it didn't take). So if you have to get vaccinated again, I doubt that will hold things up. I think a lot of people end up getting the latter two hep B vaccines once med school starts, because they have to be spaced apart and a lot of us never got those prior to med school matriculation. When you get the titer results vaccine records back, save them in your file cabinet because your residency program is going to ask for them down the road.
 
Law2Doc said:
I think most med schools will accept proof of vaccine as well as titers. However for your own peace of mind you probably still want to get the titer (what good is being vaccinated if it didn't take). So if you have to get vaccinated again, I doubt that will hold things up. I think a lot of people end up getting the latter two hep B vaccines once med school starts, because they have to be spaced apart and a lot of us never got those prior to med school matriculation. When you get the titer results vaccine records back, save them in your file cabinet because your residency program is going to ask for them down the road.
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The school asks us to get titers...This is what they written...

All students must have [FONT=Garamond,Garamond]quantitative .titer levels that indicate immunity to a disease even if they have had the disease or have been immunized against that disease. Some childhood immunizations do not confer lifetime immunity to a disease, so the titer level may indicate that re-immunization against the disease is necessary. When arranging for drawing of your blood titers, please refer to the Immunization Requirements form for the specific titers needed, as there are many variations of the same titer. If you have not been properly immunized against a disease, or have not had that disease, it would not be appropriate to have a titer drawn, as the blood test would indicate no immunity. In this situation, you must be properly vaccinated prior to having the titer drawn. After vaccination, there is a [FONT=Garamond,Garamond]6-week .waiting period that must be observed prior to drawing the titers[FONT=Garamond,Garamond]. In order to complete your titer requirements prior to matriculation, we strongly urge you to begin the process immediately. .
[FONT=Garamond,Garamond].
[FONT=Garamond,Garamond].Please fill out the "Immunization Requirements" Form and return it to the Office of Student Services [FONT=Garamond,Garamond]no later than July 1, 2009.. We ask for this information in advance of the first day of classes so that we can inform you of any deficiencies prior to the start of school. [FONT=Garamond,Garamond]Failure to provide titers and other required information before orientation may delay the start of your academic program. .
 
glam88 said:
The school asks us to get titers...This is what they written...

All students must have [FONT=Garamond,Garamond]quantitative .titer levels that indicate immunity to a disease even if they have had the disease or have been immunized against that disease. Some childhood immunizations do not confer lifetime immunity to a disease, so the titer level may indicate that re-immunization against the disease is necessary. When arranging for drawing of your blood titers, please refer to the Immunization Requirements form for the specific titers needed, as there are many variations of the same titer. If you have not been properly immunized against a disease, or have not had that disease, it would not be appropriate to have a titer drawn, as the blood test would indicate no immunity. In this situation, you must be properly vaccinated prior to having the titer drawn. After vaccination, there is a [FONT=Garamond,Garamond]6-week .waiting period that must be observed prior to drawing the titers[FONT=Garamond,Garamond]. In order to complete your titer requirements prior to matriculation, we strongly urge you to begin the process immediately. .
[FONT=Garamond,Garamond].
[FONT=Garamond,Garamond].Please fill out the "Immunization Requirements" Form and return it to the Office of Student Services [FONT=Garamond,Garamond]no later than July 1, 2009.. We ask for this information in advance of the first day of classes so that we can inform you of any deficiencies prior to the start of school. [FONT=Garamond,Garamond]Failure to provide titers and other required information before orientation may delay the start of your academic program. .
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I think they are blowing smoke up your &^% in the last sentence. Yes they want you to move on this. But no, I kind of doubt they will not let you matriculate if you are a month late on this. I don't know what kind of clinical exposure you get as a first year at the school you are going to be attending, but I cannot recall being exposed to a seriously ill person in the first couple of months of med school. In your clinical course you will start out learning how to take a good history, first on each other, and later in the hospital to relatively benign patients who are happy for the visitors. By second year, when you are actually doing physical examination, they work in people with more significant findings, which may theoretically include contagious diseases. By third year you had better be immune though, because you will be working with very ill patients (and patients who have yet to be diagnosed) and thus will have potential exposures.
 
Law2Doc said:
I think they are blowing smoke up your &^% in the last sentence. Yes they want you to move on this. But no, I kind of doubt they will not let you matriculate if you are a month late on this. I don't know what kind of clinical exposure you get as a first year at the school you are going to be attending, but I cannot recall being exposed to a seriously ill person in the first couple of months of med school. In your clinical course you will start out learning how to take a good history, first on each other, and later in the hospital to relatively benign patients who are happy for the visitors. By second year, when you are actually doing physical examination, they work in people with more significant findings, which may theoretically include contagious diseases. By third year you had better be immune though, because you will be working with very ill patients (and patients who have yet to be diagnosed) and thus will have potential exposures.
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Ok thanks...bc it was making me nervous that if somehow I'm not vaccinated, they wont let me matriculate..
 
All medical schools and affiliated hospitals are going to require physical exam and proof of immunization/titers. You can't see patients especially potentially pregnant patients with out titers to rubella. Having you tetanus up to date isn't a bad thing to get done at this time too. Most hospitals will require that your school submit the results of your PE or will force you to undergo an additional PE in their employee health center before you rotate. It's like the criminal background checks (a sign of the times). Just fill out the forms and get them in ASAP.

It's not that big of a deal if you provide documentation that you have either titer or have been immunized. For example, I underwent the Hep B immunization long before medical school but after titers were drawn, I found out that I wasn't immunized. I underwent another round of Hep B immunization which protected me more than any potential patients.
 
It seems that Hep B is the big one that needs a "booster." I was immunized for grade school and lost immunity. The same happened to my PCP, and the same happened to njbmd. OP, I'd be worry about Hep B more than the others. If you had the 3-shot series then I believe you'll only need a booster if the titer is low. On my PE form we documented booster immunization and the school hasn't said anything yet. They just wanted proof of reimmunization.
 
The tests that are necessary for health requirements don't need a doctor's appointment. Titers, immunizations, TB skin tests, TB chest x-rays, and physicals can be done through a walk-in clinic, your local university health service dept, a local blood lab, or even some things at Walgreens ($30 physical - I'll have to check if the person giving the physical is an M.D., N.P. or P.A.). I got an MMR titer at a local lab for $100, which being the lowest cost, matters because I don't have health insurance.
 
biteMeAdCom said:
The tests that are necessary for health requirements don't need a doctor's appointment. Titers, immunizations, TB skin tests, TB chest x-rays, and physicals can be done through a walk-in clinic, your local university health service dept, a local blood lab, or even some things at Walgreens ($30 physical - I'll have to check if the person giving the physical is an M.D., N.P. or P.A.). I got an MMR titer at a local lab for $100, which being the lowest cost, matters because I don't have health insurance.
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Interesting... all my paperwork specifically says that it needs to be signed by a "licensed physician". I guess it varies from school to school.

Also, I didn't know that physicians are now also working at retail/drug stores (e.g. walgreens)...
 
phospho said:
Interesting... all my paperwork specifically says that it needs to be signed by a "licensed physician". I guess it varies from school to school.

Also, I didn't know that physicians are now also working at retail/drug stores (e.g. walgreens)...
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My paperwork says it needs an MD, DO, NP, RN, or PA.
 
Just got my immunizations and titers. Anyone else's not covered by insurance? EXPENSIVE. I am submitting for reimbursement though... I hope they cover something, at least.

And, just got my titer results back. Turns out I'm no longer immune to rubella. I guess I'm in for just one more day of sore arm and empty wallet syndrome.
 
MadEvans said:
Just got my immunizations and titers. Anyone else's not covered by insurance? EXPENSIVE. I am submitting for reimbursement though... I hope they cover something, at least.

And, just got my titer results back. Turns out I'm no longer immune to rubella. I guess I'm in for just one more day of sore arm and empty wallet syndrome.
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I agree its expensive. I had MMR, Hep B, and Varicella titers done along with a blood panel and cholesterol report (the last two optional, but wanted to make sure everything was alright) and it came out to the tune of $700. Fortunately, I didn't have to file for reimbursement, but my insurance company still asked for $100 of the $700. Which, to be honest, wasn't as much as I was expecting to pay.

The actual physical came out to $220 with everything thrown in (vaccines, venipuncture, etc) but that was fully covered.
 
phospho said:
Interesting... all my paperwork specifically says that it needs to be signed by a "licensed physician". I guess it varies from school to school.

Also, I didn't know that physicians are now also working at retail/drug stores (e.g. walgreens)...
Click to expand...

I have been getting my vaccines done at CVS Pharmacy in 'The Minute Clinic'. It is about half the price as going to a doctor's office. It is staffed with two nurse practitioners and offer limited services.
 
Law2Doc said:
Just bear in mind that although your school might be happy without new titers, you personally probably shouldn't be. Proof of immunization is meaningless when you actually catch Hep B because the booster didn't take.
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And I give you the +1. I called student wellness today and guess what... I'm going for a blood draw the first week of July, haha.
 
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) for sure.
 
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