Why I Love My Doctor

This is a guest post from a thoughtful patient !

Just like with any romantic couple, a successful doctor-patient relationship heavily revolves around trust and effective communication. Without these two vital components, a doctor-patient relationship is most likely to end up in flames. While most people switch physicians because they are unsatisfied with their doctor's performance, some—like myself—love our doctors. And here are the top reasons why.

My Physician…

Doesn't make me feel inferior. I've heard tons of horror stories where patients said they felt too intimated to ask their doctor's questions because their doctor made them feel dumb when they did. This is totally unacceptable. My doctor has never once belittled me nor may be feel incompetent in any way. I've always felt free to ask my doctor questions regarding my health, medicine or medical procedures without any sort of fear that he would make me feel dumb and neither should yours. Some physicians do have a tendency to talk in medical jargon and his or her patient might not understand. But it's the physician's job to clarify and break the information down to ensure that the patient is aware of their health condition. I love my doctor because even if I might be hesitant to ask questions during examination (I don't want to interrupt him), he always makes sure to ask me if I have any questions.

Doesn't rush me. Some physicians are known to treat their patients like cattle. Rather than taking their time to address their patients' health concerns, some doctors tend to overbook visits and are more focused on getting as many patients in-and-out of their offices as they can. This again, is unacceptable. My doctor has never made me feel rushed or like an object being passed through the assembly line. He gives me ample time to ask questions so that I do not leave confused and gives me time to update and discuss with him in full detail any changes that may have occurred since my last visit, including any new over the counter medications I may be taking.

Is respectful and sensitive. Since the beginning, my doctor has made me feel comfortable around him by continuously being respectful and sensitive to my needs. No health concern is ever too minor to get looked at and he doesn't make me feel foolish if I convince myself it was more serious than it actually is. He has never made any disrespectful comments regarding my body and has always maintained a professional level by using the anatomically correct words for body parts (believe it or not, my friend's doctor used to refer to her breasts as boobs).

Knows my medical history. Some doctors have so many patients that unless they see a particular patient on a regular basis, they tend to forget who everyone is. While it's understandable that doctors deal with tons of new people everyday and might forget a few faces, if they treat their patients as just a number rather than on a more personable level, then patient's lose trust and don't feel comfortable confiding in their doctor. Because my doctor knows my medical history without having to look at it inside of a manila folder, it makes me feel as if he really cares about my well-being. In-turn I also feel confident that he is the most qualified person who will be able to meet my healthcare needs.

One tip for doctors. One easy way of making sure you always know your patient's medical history is by using EMRs ( electronic medical records) !

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Kitty Holman, who writes on the topics of nursing schools. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: [email protected].