As traditional healthcare services continue to fall behind, many turn to executive physicals as a solution. Unlike reactive “sick-care”, executive health exams offer those looking for more control of their wellness detailed insight into their minds and bodies.
However, with so many executive physicals to choose from, it can become overwhelming to navigate through all the different kinds of advanced care. This ultimate guide will walk you through everything there is to know about executive health and why prioritizing your wellness is a worthy investment.
What Is an Executive Physical?
Executive physicals allow patients to receive a much higher level of care than the traditional health systems offer. Designed for CEOs, professional athletes, and senior executives, these exams provide an incredible level of understanding of your overall health and wellness.
Most conventional check-ups only last a few minutes in total. What this means, then, is that most patients leave their annual appointments without really knowing what their risks are (if any) and what they could be doing to improve their health.
Executive health exams fill this gap by providing patients with the most advanced and innovative health screenings available. The rapid increase in technological development over the last decade has allowed patients to gain a comprehensive understanding of their minds and bodies like never before.
Overall, there are a few key things that set executive physicals apart from traditional health exams: they are data-driven, preventive, and personalized.
Data-driven: Peace of Mind With Comprehensive Insight
Legendary management consultant Peter Drucker once famously coined: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”
Drucker’s philosophy doesn’t just apply to the business world; it’s extremely relevant to the health industry as well.
Most executive physicals rely on a data-driven approach to wellness. Doctors collect thousands of individual biomarkers for their patients so that they can understand the current status of their health, uncover their risks, and provide actionable steps for increasing their longevity and performance.
No longer do patients have to wonder whether their health is actually improving or not. They can access the data to back up (or disprove) their assumptions. Additionally, this strategy helps patients gain peace of mind when it comes to their wellness. They don’t have to worry about what’s going on inside of their bodies; the data reveals the status of their health in deep detail.
Preventive: Catching Diseases Before It’s Too Late
Another key feature of executive physicals is their focus on preventive care. Seven out of ten deaths each year in the U.S. are the result of chronic disease. The most common of these diseases are:
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Chronic Lung Disease
- Alzheimer’s Disease
In an effort to minimize the risk of developing these illnesses, executive health exams prioritize primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies.
Unlike the traditional health system which tends to only focus on tertiary prevention, executive physicals combine all three. Together, these approaches give patients the best chance at both avoiding disease and, if necessary, treating it at its onset.
Personalized: Tailored Care to Your Unique Body
Finally, executive health exams provide personalized care based on a patient’s unique health needs. When it comes to the most advanced health care, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, doctors spend time with their patients going over their individual health results to come up with a personalized action plan.
Many executive physicals include diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations tailored to a patient’s specific health history, risks, and goals. Even advanced pharmacogenomic analysis can help patients determine what type and what dosage of medication is ideal for them.
What Kinds of Testing Do They Include?
While no two executive health exams are the same, each of them offer various kinds of testing. Below is a list of some of the most advanced types you could expect from an executive physical.
Full Genome Sequencing: this comprehensive testing decodes all six billion DNA base pairs to help patients uncover disease/risks for disease before symptoms begin.
Early-Detection Cancer Blood Tests: these revolutionary tests screen for over 50 different kinds of cancer at once with just a blood sample.
Full-Body MRIs: these preventive scans help detect “silent killers” (such as brain tumors, lung cancer, fatty liver disease, etc.) before they become terminal.
Sleep Analysis: these clinically-approved sleep tests help diagnose sleep apnea, a condition that frequently goes untreated and affects your physical health, mental wellbeing, and cognitive functioning.
Micronutrient Testing: this testing helps those who suffer from chronic fatigue, low immunity, or brain fog to determine what, if any, micronutrients they are deficient/insufficient in.
Epigenetic Analysis: this testing allows patients to determine their biological age and how their current lifestyle is impacting their genes (and the things they could be doing to reverse the clock).
Mental Health Screening: often overlooked by traditional health systems, many executive health programs include mental health screening in their exams, allowing patients to prioritize their minds and their bodies simultaneously.
Who Provides Executive Physicals? 
There are dozens of executive health programs out there, each offering different levels of care. Below we’ve compiled a list of the leading executive physicals available and where they are located.
EDISON BIO
EDISON BIO recognizes that most people worry about their health. That’s why they’ve developed an advanced, comprehensive, and convenient health screening that uncovers hidden disease and health challenges early. They help their Members be confident about their health and primed to perform at their highest potential.
Unlike other executive health programs, EDISON BIO has no physical location—the testing comes to you. EDISON BIO helps the highest-achieving people on the planet take control of their health by providing them with detailed insight into their minds and bodies.
EDISON BIO answers three key questions for its Members:
- What is the quantifiable state of my health right now?
- It’s not enough to simply capture your basic lab numbers. EDISON BIO uses the most advanced technology to help Members determine the true baseline for their mental and physical health. No more time-crunched annuals with elementary approaches to care.
- What am I and my family at risk for?
- There’s no need to wait for a disease to become life-threatening for you or your family to finally address it. You can continually monitor changes in your body to prepare for and prevent health risks.
- How do I increase my longevity and performance?
- EDISON BIO helps Members expand their health potential with personalized diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations.
Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic offers a traditional executive health program that includes one-on-one consultations with physicians and specialists. All of the testing is dependent upon the patient’s age and risk factors. Their exams are available at their campuses in Florida, Arizona, Minnesota, and the UK.
Cooper Clinic
For over 50 years, the Cooper Clinic has provided preventive health care at their headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Their traditional executive health exam focuses on comprehensive testing and offers patients same-day results. Like the Mayo Clinic, their executive physicals are customized based on the patient’s medical history and needs.
Health Nucleus
Located in San Diego, California, Health Nucleus is on a mission to help people live longer, healthier lives. Their proprietary 100+ health program helps patients prevent disease through comprehensive insight into their health.
Princeton Longevity Center
The Princeton Longevity Comprehensive Exam consists of 6-7 hours of testing onsite in Princeton, New Jersey. This traditional executive health exam focuses on personal and preventive care.
How To Choose the Best Executive Health Exam 
In another one of our blog posts, we’ve broken down the pros and cons of the most advanced executive health exams in the United States. In addition to weighing the positives and negatives of each, these guiding questions should help you determine which exam will provide the highest level of care.
When considering signing up for an executive health exam program, ask yourself:
- Will they use the most innovative technologies to help me know my risks?
- How comprehensive are their screenings?
- Will they save me time and hassle with convenient care?
- Will they provide me with a personalized action plan?
The answers to these questions should help reveal which exams offer the highest level of care and will deliver on their promises.
Executive Physicals: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do executive health exams cost?
Executive health exams can cost anywhere from $2500 to upwards of $100,000. When comparing prices, it’s important to note what sorts of technologies, screenings, access to specialists, etc. are included in each program.
What is the return on investment for corporate wellness programs?
Executive physicals are a great way for businesses to invest in their leadership. They allow corporations to attract and retain top talent, breed a culture of performance, and ensure the wellbeing of their senior executives.
What happens if my executive physical reveals something bad?
There’s no need to panic if something concerning comes up during your exam. Your executive health team will guide you through the next steps. EDISON BIO, for example, connects Members to the best specialists across the world within days for whatever particular issues arise.
Is an executive physical really worth it?
For most people, their health is their biggest asset. Executive physicals provide peace of mind by allowing patients to invest in their future wellness. You can be confident that you are doing everything you can to prevent disease and increase your longevity.
Wrapping Up: The Ultimate Guide to Executive Physicals
As technology continues to advance, so will our ability to optimize our minds and bodies. Executive physicals provide a solution for those wanting more than what the traditional health system has to offer. Investing in data-driven, preventive, and personalized care can help you take control of your wellness and live a longer and healthier life.
About EDISON BIO
Most of us worry about our health. EDISON BIO advanced, comprehensive, and convenient health screening uncovers hidden disease and health challenges early. You’ll be confident about your health and primed to perform at your highest potential.