The value of the yearly medical evaluation in a nursing home.

This study evaluates the benefit of the annual medical examination in an academically affiliated Veterans Administration Nursing Home Care Unit. Ninety-six male residents with a mean age of 74.4 yr who were all receiving ongoing medical care underwent annual evaluations including a history, physical examination, chest X-ray and appropriate laboratory testing. All residents have had continual updating of their problem lists and are part of an ongoing geriatric educational program. Findings on the annual evaluation were compared to the most recently formulated problem list. Our evaluation revealed a total of only eight previously unknown abnormalities. Data suggest that ongoing health care as part of an academic geriatric program may obviate the need for annual evaluations.