I just reread your story because my annual exam is next week. My current exam consists of the usual questions, listening to my heart, checking my glands, renewing my one med, a generic statin. Years ago, my annual exam included a rectal, abdomen and breast exam. If I did not have an OBGYN doctor, she would handle the Pap smear. We also chatted. We do not chat nowadays as she is focused on her laptop screen.

I recently read one reason there are less primary care physicians is the pay they receive compared to the specialists. Their pay structure, although vastly more, sounds similar to how we view the role of teachers. Not that important.