What qualities make a good doctor
Responses (continued)
November 27, 2009
to keep an open mind and listen more.
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November 27, 2009
The qualities of a good doctor are genuine care and concern for the patient, taking the time to really listen to the patient and address what is wrong with them, and above all, a committment to finding answers. Kindness and patience are also great qualities, along with a willingness to refer the patient to a specialist if necessary. No one wants to feel like they are "just a number" and personalizing a visit can make a huge impact on the patient's outlook and wellbeing. Taking the time to listen and to explain things in a simple, straight-forward manner goes a long way as well. No one wants to be "talked down to" by their health care professional nor to they want to be made to feel ignorant if they do not understand the terminology being used. People go to the doctor because they are looking for answers and/or help and they should not leave the doctor's office without receiving both.
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November 27, 2009
I've had the experience of having small-town family docs, ones here in "big" HRM, ones in hospital, etc. so I'd say I've had my fair share of different folks. The doctors I've really enjoyed (including my current family doctor) do not rush through an appointment - my current doc schedules enough time so you don't feel rushed (usually 15 minutes) and she is always on time within 5 minutes. She's relatively young as well and if she doesn't quite know the answer to something, she's not afraid to look it up. I think we can't expect doctors to know everything so a willingness to be sure and find the correct information is a lot more reassuring than someone who thinks they are too intelligent to show they don't know or don't remember something and make a possibly incorrect guess.
I'm not unrealistic enough to expect that my doctor will remember everything about me but she knows who I am and who my family members are and that recognition is enough for me. She also has been very prompt sending referrals or other paperwork and with following up regarding tests, etc. Another trait I like is that she takes me seriously - if I'm experiencing something that I would like tested, she will send me for a test unless she can diagnose it herself. She's also not wishy-washy - if there is bad news, she doesn't put a positive spin on it - it is what it is.
My bad experiences include a physician who had no personality at all - I know that shouldn't matter but if you can't relate to your doctor, you're a lot less likely to go to him/her. This particular doctor also didn't follow up regarding tests to determine a miscarriage of twins, despite the fact that she said it was urgent and I would know that day - her office team (with 10 minutes left in the day) responded when I called to say they were closing. This total lack of care and respect and professionalism led me to never return and to switch doctors immediately. Unacceptable.
Doctors need to have a combo of intelligence, personality, commitment, and a love of what they do and a love of learning and professional development. A combo of these things will normally lead to someone who has great listening skills, empathy, understanding, and the bedside manner that most people are looking for. They also need to take themselves down to the level of the patient and not be arrogant because of their level of education and status within the community. They need to be taught to deal with people as people, not just people as patients that are a problem to be solved.
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November 27, 2009
Administration of medication or surgery are not always the first solution to a medical problem. It concerns me that some physicians seem to be disconnected from the natural (wholistic) or practical (diet and lifestyle changes) alternatives. I think future generations will look for more of these alternatives. Does our medical program teach doctors about these options, especially when it pertains to other cultures? Our physicians should not treat patients from within such a narrow scope of possibilities.
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November 27, 2009
Of course having a physician pay attention to the patient is important, but I want a physician who is well trained in the sciences that underpin our understanding of the body and disease, who has learned as much as possible about science-based medical practice, and who is therefore capable of thinking about what symptoms mean, and who knows as much as possible about possible therapies. I'd rather have a physician who may seem "remote" because she is thinking about my case in relation to the latest science, than one who is "nice" but who doesn't know very much. Yes, the patient must be in the loop, but I go to a physician because I no NOT know about how to cure myself.
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November 27, 2009
One thing my family physician does that I truly appreciate, is taking the time to explain symptoms of any medical condition I may be facing and how I can alleviate them or adjust lifestyle/diet etc. to accommodate - but best of all he does this in plain language, often using a diagram, flowchart, or point form notes for me to take home - and all within a 10 minute office visit.
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November 27, 2009
I have been battling kidney disease for the past 2.5 years and as a result, I have spent many hours with doctors and specialists. The qualities I have come to value most in a physician are compassion (my experience is that doctors have this, but specialists don't), the ability to really listen, patience, mentoring skills (to help guide me through this disease - I am new at being sick), competence (are they up to date on the latest research), experience (have they seen a number of patients with this disease or are they medicating/treating me just as their textbook says they should?), knowledge of alternative medical practices, time to allow me to ask questions, time to answer those questions, good communication skills, and a genuine interest in my well-being. I think future doctors will need to be much more aware and open to integrating alternative medical practices into the treatment plan of their patients. My dream is to have my family doctor (who sees me more regularly), my nephrologist, my naturopath, and my osteopath all sit down together with me and design a treatment plan that is wholistic in nature. My alternative doctors currently work together and my family doctor is supportive of these measures. I am fortunate. The truth about health and wellness is that it varies for each individual and that a well-balanced, healthy diet plays a huge role in recovery. Our medical system is eons behind in acknowledging this simple fact and supporting their patients in their quest to wellness. I think these wholisitic and integrative procedures take a lot of time, and our future doctors and future medical system will need to make room for doctors to be able to spend more time with each patient.
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November 26, 2009
Ability and willingness to listen. Good with people - look at the whole person when assessing health. From diverse backgrounds (culturally, academically, interest-wise etc.) Adaptability.
Make sure applicants really want to do MEDICINE, not just really want to have a good job or really want to have an important job. People who feel strongly about helping people really go the extra mile. With our health care system being stretched to it's limits in the near future this will be very important. |
November 17, 2009
I think it important that a programme of nutrition and dietetics be woven into the new curriculum. Diet has become so important in public health and in the effort to achieve healthy nutrition. Our graduates must be equipped to give patients advice. This is lacking with many in practice at this time. |
November 22, 2009
In addition to all the things most people would expect from a doctor - empathy, compassion, current knowledge of medical science and social changes . . . I think a doctor should also be an "advocate" for his or her patients: explaining how "the system" really works, providing information that helps a person "find their way around" in an unfamiiar situation such as seeing a specialist, having surgery or facing more difficult treatments.
I consider myself a reasonably informed, health-conscious and pro-active person, a person who is confident about asking appropriate questions, but also respectful of the doctor's time . . .
. . . but I was not aware until recently of what the official "length" of a standard appointment really is (5 minutes, not 15) or that "the list" method that got drilled into our heads as children is not the right way to use appointment time after all.
These are just two small examples that took me by surprise, and I thought I knew better. I shudder to think how a person with educational or language difficulties copes with serious medical issues if they have limited understanding of how things work and why. |
November 20, 2009
The most important non-medical quality my family doc has is remembering my situation. I've been lucky enough to stay out of the hospital most of my life, just the odd visit to my family doc for antibiotics. Yet every visit he remembers my family and what is going on in my life, this could be from his memory or from copious notes, either way it makes me more comfortable with a doc that is willing to put the effort into even the little things.
As for my experience as a family member rather then the patient I believe aside from my family doc nearly every doc i've been in contact with has trouble communicating with the family members. We seem to be kept in the dark with what is happening with our families. It would be nice if the doc had a better ability to explain what is happening to our families loved ones. |
November 19, 2009
To me, the qualities I like in my GP are the fact that he does not jump right to a prescription. He knows I like to manage my health with diet, ecercise, and self management. If I do require tests he does order them and then takes the time to explain and review them with me. I also feel comfortable going in with 'internet' or 'my understanding' of what is wrong with me and he does not dismiss it as trying to know more than him. He also readily admits when he requires other information or does not know something and will get the advice of specialists. I feel he takes the time and does not ruch me.
I also have been to one specialist who had a fancy office and stated I needed a procedure and could do it soon. He did not even look at my nose (which was the issue) but based his decisions on my referral notes. I was not comfortable with his approach and asked my GP to refer me to another specialist as I felt this guy was only in it for the money. When I went to the second guy he had a basic office, immediately put me in an examining chair and did a thorough assessment. He also made recommendations but insisted I go for 24 hours and think about the options and then call to see what I wanted to do. A much better approach and I felt more confident in him, even though both may have been the same qualified surgeons.
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November 19, 2009
As a young person I have not spent too much time so far in doctors' offices or in the hospital. I don't have any personal *bad* doctor experiences but I have a few ideas in mind for my ideal physician.
First of all I would have to feel comfortable enough to raise any concerns. I think I could feel this way with a male or a female physician so long as I am getting the impression that they are listening and that they are striving to put me at ease. Many people do not bring up problems because they think they're not important or because they're embarrassed. We could probably have fewer people in the hospital if we improved communication between patients and physicians. We patients need to speak up and be honest but we need to be encouraged to do so.
Future physicians are going to need management and technology skills. These should be taught and evaluated throughout medical school. We should be moving toward one patient, one record. Physicians will need to learn how to work interprofessionally with one well-managed, accessible electronic medical record. |
November 19, 2009
What I value most in my family physician is his listening, empathy, knowledge, patience, and lack of hesitance to refer to a specialist if needed, and that he treats me like a person and not just a patient (asks me about school, sports, etc).
I think you are already doing a great job in teaching new graduates to be less paternalistic and how to work as a team with various other health care professionals to achieve a common goal - getting the patient better, or at least feeling better. |
November 18, 2009
Most importantly life experience, Grades, MCAT scores and other various "standardized tests" do nothing to evaluate the proficency of a doctor. I think that we need to look for more mature students who already have a grounded understanding of what they want from medicine and are willing to do what it takes to improve our fragmented health care system and not just fit into the everyday mold that we see far too often.
With technology at our fingertips today we don't need brilliant doctors, we need those that are compassionate, caring, and those that will LISTEN to patients. |
November 17, 2009
In a doctor, I most value empathy, patience and an open mind. I've come across doctors who think there is only one right answer, and who refuse to discuss alternatives. This attitude only serves to make the person they're treating feel cornered and helpless. One of the skills I think should definitely be taught to new doctors is the art of listening and the habit of giving a patient their full attention for the duration of the appointment. If a doctor has their head in the chart the whole time, or keeps checking their watch, it makes the patient feel unimportant and rushed. |
November 17, 2009
My favourite doctors have been friendly, concerned, matter-of-fact, tactful, clear, able to explain things (conditions, procedures, along with any side effects, possible issues or problems involved, etc.) clearly but without dumbing it down too much, took my concerns seriously. My favorite doctors listened to my questions and concerns, respected my privacy but was interested in me and what was going on in my life that might be affecting my health, asked questions to clarify things, and was quick without making me feel rushed. They had a sense of humour and a sense of community. And being able to show they're human is important - My specialist told me last week that she has a similar fear/dislike of needles, which made me feel a lot better about my anxiety and got me through the needle I needed to get done.
The worst doctors I've encountered complained to me as a patient that they had to pay for health benefits and alternative health care (eg massage therapy) out of their own pocket and cried poor when I was a student; rushed me; dismissed my concerns and tried to medicate things rather than finding out the cause of the problem; was cool and distant during my appointment; and talked more about their experiences or another patient's experience when I asked about an issue I was concerned about rather than dealing with my own concerns.
Like someone else said, I don't know that these are things that can be specifically taught in a class, but are skills that need to develop through first-hand experience, by watching doctors who have these skills and seeing how they benefit the patient and their practice. These may be less tangible, but in the end will benefit our new doctors who come out of Dal, and their patients. It really is important for patients to feel less like a number and more like a true patient. |
November 17, 2009
What I value in my family physician is a collaborative approach to my family's health care; in other words, s/he ought to be open to my questions and observations and be willing to keep an open mind to alternative approaches. I'd rather be involved in the treatment than simply "be treated." Consideration for the patient as a whole person, both physically and emotionally, is key. |
November 17, 2009
Here are the qualities I most value in a doctor:
Compassion, open-mindedness, approachability, humility, the ability to listen, the ability to connect with others, respect for my experience and knowledge of myself, a holistic view (focused on causeof symptoms rather than the symptoms alone, and n the connection between body, mind, spirit) |
November 17, 2009
The ability to listen. Empathy. Open-mindedness.
The best, most memorable doctors I ever met were those who took a moment to touch my mother in a caring way. To understand her pain. To show their own human-ness.
The worst were those who rushed in, made assumptions, leapt to conclusions, and failed to hear what was actually happening. |
November 17, 2009
Empathy, patience and an appreciation for providing more than just medical care. We all know there are few things worse than being treated like a disease or illness when you have one. When a doc can sit there with you, and talk about life -sports, the near future, things that are happening now- all of a sudden, we feel we are getting better service. Medicine is only one component. I think you should search for new doctors by looking at those individuals that seem to care about life - not just medicine. They're easy to find.
There's just an authentic honesty about them . . . so energetic and opinionated, but so willing to gently discuss anything. And then just teach them (and your current students) holism. Not only will patients feel better served, but your success rates and compliance will dramatically increase - we know this, and the research backs it up.
Take a step back from the focussed view of medical techniques required to be a competent doctor -you're ambitious students will learn these things no doubt - and yes, these things MUST be learned. But teach them what the books cannot. Teach them to give their patients their time for small discussions. It accomplishes more than we can even begin to understand. |
November 16, 2009
I think that what makes a good doctor is their ability to make connections with someone in a short period of time. Doctors have to be able to put themselves in another persons shoes and offer suggestions that are what they would like in a medical situation. I think many people can put the effort in to become a doctor. There will always be that one who becomes the best because they can do a surgery with their eyes closed, but attitude says a lot.
I doubt you could offer a class on "perfecting your attitude" but you can teach those perfect medical skills to the ones with a great attitude. |
November 13, 2009
Intelligence, empathy, motivation, humility, social conscience, and caring. |
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