Notice on doctor's website or new patient information form about exam undressing procedures?

How many of you have doctors who post their exam procedures on their websites or new patient information forms? I saw this information on a website for a Dr in New York. His website says three times that he provides gowns for women but only gives gowns to men upon request. For preoperative clearance, his website says that patients must undress to their underwear but that women get a gown and not men unless requested.

Fasting Office Visit or Fasting Blood Work - If you are asked to fast, you must refrain from eating or drinking for at least 12 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. You may drink water, black coffee, or tea without milk or sugar. Your being well-hydrated makes blood collecting easier. You should also take your usual medications. After checking in with the secretary, and filling out eight items on the top of the progress note, it is returned to the secretary. You will then have your blood collected by the medical assistant, who will escort you to an exam room. Gowns are provided for women and are given to men only upon request. Doctor will then examine you, after which you must check out with both the secretary for future scheduling and also with the medical biller to pay and/or discuss any billing-related questions or problems. If a fasting office visit is scheduled, you may eat after your blood is collected. You may choose to bring a snack with you. If you are scheduled for fasting blood work only, you must check out with the secretary and, if necessary, the biller after your blood has been collected.

Complete Physical Examination - Please arrive for your visit after refraining from eating or drinking at least 12 hours prior to your scheduled appointment time. You may drink water and drink black coffee, tea with no milk or sugar. Your being well-hydrated makes blood collecting easy. Please take your usual medications. After checking in with the secretary, and filling out the eight items on the top of the progress note, it is returned to the secretary. You will then have your blood collected by the medical assistant, who will escort you to an exam room. Gowns are provided for women and are given to men only upon request. Doctor will then examine you after which you will check out with both the secretary to review future scheduling and, if necessary, with the medical biller to pay and/or discuss any billing-related questions or problems.

Preoperative Clearance - The purpose of this visit is to obtain clearance for a surgical procedure. If you have a primary care physician, he or she should perform your preoperative clearance. In the event that the doctor is appointed by your surgeon to clear you for a surgical procedure, there is no fasting involved unless specifically requested by the surgical office staff. All paper work and tests that your surgeon requests must be sent to Dr via fax, phone or e-mail. After checking in with the secretary, your blood will be collected by the medical assistant who will then escort you to an exam room for an EKG and physical examination. You must undress down to your underwear. Gowns are provided for women and are given to men only upon request. Dr will then examine you. You must then check out with the secretary to review future scheduling and, if needed, with the medical biller to pay and/or discuss any billing-related questions or problems.

I found a New York doctor whose male patients undress to underwear with a gown offered for modesty by searching phrases, such as 'Take off everything except your underwear.'

A nurse who gave injections had a sign in her room "pull down your pants and bend over"!

My doctor has a website but it is very basic. He has some information about the practice and himself and you can also request an appointment on it. He has a few forms available to print, mostly insurance related. There are no exam procedures or information about exams on the site.

My doc does not have such information. However, several years ago I found one on a website for an adolescent/young adult practice in Georgia that was unbelievable.

There was a page for "what to expect." As I recall it, it explained that male patients will be directed to disrobe completely and will be given a towel for the exam.

I can't find the link anymore. I wish I had saved a screenshot. I wonder how many fetishes were fed with those exams??

on a website for an adolescent/young adult practice in Georgia that was unbelievable.There was a page for "what to expect." As I recall it, it explained that male patients will be directed to disrobe completely and will be given a towel for the exam. I wonder how many fetishes were fed with those exams??

I wonder what size/type of towel they referred to? It could be a bath towel to wrap around the waist or it could be a small paper square to cover the genitalia. I have never had an exam in which I was stripped naked with a drape like this but I can see the efficiency for which it would allow. No clothing would have to be removed to expose the genitalia perhaps saving a bit of time and awkwardness involved in any amount of disrobing during the exam. Having the patient prepared by stripping naked and provided with an item for minimal preservation of the patient's modesty would also set the young man's expectations for the fact that a full body exam would be happening. This may prevent misunderstandings with teens who are not used to having to expose the genitalia.

None of my doctors do that. I wish they would, so you could know more about their attitude and thoroughness.

I found a website once for a doc who said he specialized in male sexual function disorders. The website was chalked full of very detailed information about various conditions including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and delayed ejaculation. There was an entire page about "What to expect" during your first visit. It said it would last an hour and a half in a non-rushed setting. It specifically said something like it will include a physical exam of the penis and intrascrotal structures including erectile and ejaculatory reflexes. You were requested to fill out about 10 pages of forms before hand that asked all about specifics of your erections, arousal, and ejaculation patterns. There was even an "informed consent" form to allow more diagnostic tests including "vibrotactile stimulation", "erectile axial rigidity" during a functional exam that tests the penile sensitivity and strength of erection. It said he would be testing the "tactile and temperature sensations as well as the vibrosensitivity of the shaft and glans of your penis." Google viberect to see what the device was.

I went to a practice like the one playpt described. I can't remember the physical, except that it was cursory, the point was pushing a device to be worn overnight to detect erections.

Concerning the use of a towel, if someone were male getting a physical back in the early 60's from a male doctor with a military background of some sort, it would not have been surprising to find yourself in underwear, briefs at the time, only, and having the doctor say, 'Remove your underwear and we'll get started,' which at the time would mean height and weight.