![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Doctors: How to Spot a Good One
As the administrator of the MSF forums, I've heard a lot of 'bad doctor' horror stories over the years. People get frustrated with the way they're treated, but often feel like they don't have a choice or feel like it's the same everywhere. But (for most of us, anyway) there is a choice, and we at the MSF always urge people to keep looking until they find a doctor they're comfortable with and trust.
Half a dozen of us at the MSF were lucky enough to have one of those doctors - the kind who make you comfortable and inspire trust - but that doctor passed away this week. These are the things we loved about him, and the things we'll be looking for in a new healthcare provider.
A good doctor...
1. Treats patients with respect: at the beginning and end of each visit, our doctor always shook hands - a reminder that a professional interaction was taking place in which both parties are equally important.
2. Listens carefully: not just once, but three times - (1) to your reasons for visiting, (2) to your answers to his diagnostic questions, (3) to your concerns about the diagnosis and treatment you are given.
3. Cares about his patients' feelings: and shows it by taking your concerns seriously, explaining his reasoning and conclusions about your care, and involving you in the decision-making process about your treatment.
4. Helps you be proactive: by making specific suggestions about wellness options - for example, not just saying "watch your diet," but telling you specifically what foods should be added to your diet and what foods should be limited for your specific health concerns.
5. Stays current with the latest medical information: offering new and better treatment options to patients as they become available, and advising patients of new study results on wellness techniques that they can do for themselves.
and as a bonus, if you can find it...
6. Is warm, friendly, and kind.
These are the things I hope each of you will find when choosing a doctor, and I hope you won't settle for less. I know I won't - I've been spoiled.
Half a dozen of us at the MSF were lucky enough to have one of those doctors - the kind who make you comfortable and inspire trust - but that doctor passed away this week. These are the things we loved about him, and the things we'll be looking for in a new healthcare provider.
A good doctor...
1. Treats patients with respect: at the beginning and end of each visit, our doctor always shook hands - a reminder that a professional interaction was taking place in which both parties are equally important.
2. Listens carefully: not just once, but three times - (1) to your reasons for visiting, (2) to your answers to his diagnostic questions, (3) to your concerns about the diagnosis and treatment you are given.
3. Cares about his patients' feelings: and shows it by taking your concerns seriously, explaining his reasoning and conclusions about your care, and involving you in the decision-making process about your treatment.
4. Helps you be proactive: by making specific suggestions about wellness options - for example, not just saying "watch your diet," but telling you specifically what foods should be added to your diet and what foods should be limited for your specific health concerns.
5. Stays current with the latest medical information: offering new and better treatment options to patients as they become available, and advising patients of new study results on wellness techniques that they can do for themselves.
and as a bonus, if you can find it...
6. Is warm, friendly, and kind.
These are the things I hope each of you will find when choosing a doctor, and I hope you won't settle for less. I know I won't - I've been spoiled.
Condolences
My condolences on the loss of such a wonderful physician.
Re: Condolences
I think you're right - they are harder to find, in this age of managed care where the doctors are as rushed as they make their patients feel. But there are still great doctors out there, and I should've added that for as many horror stories as I hear about doctors, I hear as many stories of people who've been lucky enough to find wonderful, caring doctors who've finally given them some answers!