What do patients want from their doctor ?

What do patients from their doctors ?

They want doctors to be:

• Available
• Affordable
• Accessible
• Polite
• Respectful
• Competent
• Careful

It seems to be a long list !

What do doctors want from patients ?

• Respect
• Compliance
• Trust
• Understanding  ( when things don’t go well)
• Forgiveness ( when they make errors)
• Payment ( on time, for their hard work)

The list is equally long !

Perhaps this is the reason why there is so much tension between doctors and patients today - because they expect too much from each other  !

Actually, we can simplify matters considerably

Doctors and patients want and need only one thing from each other – Trust

Patients want doctors whom they can trust. They should be able to trust that their doctor will

• Give them the correct medical advise; 
• Be technically competent;
• Not do unnecessary tests or surgery;
• Not overcharge them;
• Not hide the truth from them;
• Refer them to a specialist, if needed;
• Be there to held their hand in their time of need

Similarly, doctors want patients who trust them. They want patients who

• Appreciate them for the hard work and effort they put in
• Follow their advise
• Pay their bills on time
• Do not try to second guess them
• Respect them

The missing ingredient in today’s healthcare system is trust. Patients don’t trust doctors; doctors don’t trust their patients; customers don’t trust health insurers; and no one trusts the healthcare services the government provides !

How can we bring this trust back ?

The good news is that most people still look up to doctors.   They are highly regarded - which is why so many people want their children to become doctors !

The answer is simple – and easy. We need Information Therapy . The right information for the right person at the right time is powerful medicine, and encourages openness and transparency !