Sometimes it’s hard to know when you’ve got a good doctor. Afterall, sometimes doctors have to deliver some uncomfortable truths, and getting poked or cut hurts, etc. Looking beyond that, there are signs that you have a doc that you should stick with. Here are a few of my favorite signs.
- The doctor takes time to explain things to you. Time is very valuable to us all. It is a non-renewable resource and once it’s gone, it’s gone. So when a doctor takes the time to explain things in a way that is easily understandable to you, it means he / she really cares about you. Hold on to that.
- They get to know you. Medicine can be very transactional. You do this, then I do that. Medical algorithms, protocols and standards of care help providers to make medical decisions, but true care for the patient is different. Knowing what you do for a living, that you have kids that you need to keep up with or a new grandbaby on the way or that you like to travel abroad with your friends when you get downtime from your very taxing job is actually very important to help doctors provide the best care. Social determinants of health play a big role in how well patients do and even may direct treatment options that are best suited for the patient.
- You trust him / her, even if everything isn’t perfect. Not every treatment plan will work. So, trusting your doctor to take the next step is key. If your back pain didn’t get better with the initial recommended treatment, there are other management options that can be explored, but only if you trusted the doctor enough to return. The fact that you trust the doctor signifies that he / she has done things to build trust in the past, such as spoken with you honestly, shared knowledge, displayed a caring attitude, etc – all signs that the relationship should continue.
- He / she can acknowledge when things aren’t perfect. Maybe the office is running a little behind. It’s possible that the doctor forgot to send the order for your labs. Things happen. But the offer of apologies means that the office / provider respects you and your time. Hopefully these times are few and far between. A little acknowledgement goes a long way.
- He / she told you “no” when appropriate. I had a parent ask my advice once complaining about his pediatrician. He asked me if I treated children because he was looking for a new provider for his son. The parent went on to tell me that his kid had an upper respiratory infection and the pediatrician would not give the child a prescription for antibiotics. The parents left the office furious. Since they were strapped for cash, they were unable to see a different doctor and had to care for their child on their own at home. And do you know what happened? The child recovered in a few days and was just fine “no thanks to the pediatrician”. I told the parent that he needed to run, not walk, back to that pediatrician. Most upper respiratory infections are viral illnesses that will resolve on their own with a little supportive care and time. This pediatrician was willing to risk losing the business from that family to be medically responsible. That needs to be applauded.
- He / she anticipates problems and acts when necessary. Our health care system is more like sick care. When you’re sick, that’s when most doctors act. What about before you get sick? Could we do things to prevent disease or catch things before symptoms appear. If you primary care provider prioritizes wellness, or looks at lab trends to tell you if you heading in the right direction or not, then you will avoid many potential problems if you stick with him / her.
So, is your doctor a keeper? If so, drop him or her a line in the portal or on their social media platform or submit a google review. Electronic praise not your style? Kind words from a greeting card or even scribbled in your heartfelt handwriting will work as well. You don’t know how much it means to get those little patient love notes to let us know we are doing a good job.
Be well.
