Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
03:22
Microbiological Rapid On-Site Evaluation for Pulmonary Infectious Diseases
Published on: March 1, 2024
Executive physicals: what's the ROI?
1Harvard Medical School, USA. komaroff@hms.harvard.edu
Harvard Business Review
|September 10, 2009
Summary
Comprehensive physical exams with full-body CT scans for executives are costly. While imaging technology advances, screening healthy individuals is not yet justified by benefits versus risks.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Preventive Medicine
- Health Economics
Background:
- Companies increasingly invest in executive health screenings for early disease detection.
- Full-body computed tomography (CT) scans are utilized in some comprehensive physical exams.
- The cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit profile of screening asymptomatic individuals require careful evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the current value of comprehensive physical exams including full-body CT scans for executive health.
- To discuss the future potential of advanced imaging in preventive health strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of current practices in executive health screening.
- Analysis of the capabilities and limitations of full-body CT scan technology.
- Consideration of the cost-benefit and risk-benefit analyses for widespread screening of healthy populations.
Main Results:
- Current executive physicals with full-body CT scans represent a significant financial investment.
- The diagnostic yield and clinical utility for asymptomatic individuals remain under scrutiny.
- Technological advancements are improving imaging safety and efficacy but have not yet reached a universal benefit threshold.
Conclusions:
- While preventive health is a goal, the current application of full-body CT scans in routine executive physicals may not be cost-effective or risk-beneficial.
- Further advancements in imaging technology and evidence generation are needed to support widespread screening of healthy individuals.
- The decision to utilize such screenings should weigh current technological limitations against potential future benefits.
More Related Videos
06:16Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
09:40Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle
Published on: January 19, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:15Receiver Operating Characteristic Plot
A ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) plot is a graphical tool used to assess the performance of a binary classification model by illustrating the trade-off between sensitivity (true positive rate) and specificity (false positive rate). By plotting sensitivity against 1 - specificity across various threshold settings, the ROC curve shows how well the model distinguishes between classes, with a curve closer to the top-left corner indicating a more accurate model. The area under the ROC curve...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
01:26Exercise Stress Test
Introduction
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
01:24Chest Physiotherapy
Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) is a therapeutic technique used in respiratory care to improve ventilation, clear bronchial secretions, and enhance the efficiency of respiratory muscles. This therapy includes three primary procedures: postural drainage, percussion, and vibration. It can be performed on spontaneously breathing patients and those who are intubated and mechanically ventilated.
Purpose
CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...
Purpose
CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...