Preventative Medicine Achievement

One of my favorite PC games to play on my off time is Team Fortress 2 (TF2).  Yes, despite being a medical doctor, I do enjoy playing games!  You can choose to play different classes of characters, each having their strengths and weaknesses.  I usually play either the Pyro or the Heavy.  Recently, I started playing the Medic - someone that heals and supports other characters in the game.  Much like in real life, the strategy is to keep a fellow player alive by healing them and preventing any serious threat from killing them.   

In the primary care setting, preventative medicine is key.  Unlike TF2, there is no respawn option if your Medic fails you.  As a primary care physician (PCP), I always have to review the preventative medicine strategies for patients based on age, sex, complaints and medical history.  Diabetics, for example, have a variety of recommendations such as annual foot and eye exams, testing HgA1c every 3 months for a goal of <7 and being on an ACE-I for kidney protection.  A colonoscopy is recommended for everyone starting at the age of 50 to detect colon cancer.  Women should have annual mammograms starting at the age of 40 to detect breast cancer.  Following screening and treatment guidelines such as these, has been shown to decrease the morbidity and mortality of patients.

Attaining the preventative medicine achievement as a Medic is a proud reminder of the achievements I continue to make with every patient I see.