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Related SitesHow Would You Rate Your Doctor?About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Kate Grossman, MD
Are you satisfied with your doctor? Do you feel satisfied with your treatment?
How Would You Rate Your Doctor?An article came across my desk awhile back which provoked me to think about how patients feel about their doctors. How do they rate? It's really a big question. Think about it. Choosing a doctor is one of the most critical decisions we make. Our lives may even depend on it. People often choose a doctor initially through several means such as: There are many factors you should consider when choosing a doctor. Two Common ScenariosPeople typically go to the doctor when they are most vulnerable, feeling sick and weak. The patient goes to the doctor with a medical problem, turns that problem over to the doctor, and has an expectation that the doctor will help solve it. Or, the patient visits the doctor, not with an immediate problem, but with the expectation that the doctor can help maintain their good health, by utilizing routine screenings and wellness programs. Either way, as time goes on, a patient-physician relationship is built. Is Your Doctor Meeting Your Needs?Since the working relationship between a doctor and patient is so important, it is imperative that patients feel that their needs are being met. Or, are they sticking with a particular doctor because they have considered no alternative, sought no other medical opinion, and feel somehow stuck in a proverbial rut? Building The Doctor-Patient RelationshipConsider this true story as you think of your own situation: I know two patients who were in the same room in a medical facility. Both patients had long stays in the facility, and coincidentally, they had the same physician.What was the difference? Two patients. Same setting. Same doctor. One was very satisfied. The other was equally dissatisfied. One might conclude that it is not just the doctor, nor just the patient that defines a patient-physician relationship. It is the relationship that is built between the doctor and the patient. More Related ResourcesDoctors and other professionals play an essential role in the treatment of arthritis. Resources about building your team of arthritis doctors and other health care professionals. A rheumatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in arthritis and related diseases. When preparing for the first appointment with a rheumatologist, there are several things for the patient to consider. How should you prepare? What should you expect? What should you bring? What questions should you ask? Patient education should enhance the doctor-patient relationship. Patients are often encouraged to learn all they can about their disease, to become informed, and take a positive approach to managing their condition. Is it possible though for a patient to know too much? Is it possible that a patient can believe they are more knowledgeable than they actually are? Positive attitude can be part of an effective treatment plan. High moments and low moments speckle the life of someone living with arthritis. Life with arthritis is a continuum of peaks and troughs. To survive in the troughs, you must harbor positive attributes. A person who must deal with chronic arthritis faces many life-altering challenges. These eight (-ate) actions can help a person deal with the challenges and maintain a positive attitude at the same time. It can be a traumatic experience if a parent isn't prepared. Parents feel helpless if their child has persistent pain or unresolved health problems. How can you prepare for your child's doctor visit, and more importantly, how can you prepare your child? Updated: May 29, 2006 |
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