Choosing a good doctor can be a challenge at times. You need recommendations from friends and family in order to go to a doctor. Doctors are said to be life savers, so you cannot just go to any doctor and get yourself treated. As he treats you physically, you need validation from someone who has been to the doctor before. Insurance can give you good assurance in this regard. The insurance plan has rules for visiting the doctor. Check whether it will cover the doctor’s visit or not.
Depending on your condition or complaint, you will also need to decide what type of doctor you’re looking for. A visit to s specialist is needed or a general physician is fine, is to be decided. A good doctor is a sign when he diagnoses, according to the complaints or symptoms you’re conveying to him/her. This is an experienced and good doctor who by only listening to the patient’s symptoms and complaints, gives the result which is often verified via the tests that are needed to do.
Here Are 6 Things You Should Consider While Choosing a Good Doctor:
1. Recommendations work best:
In the case of choosing a good doctor, do not rely on internet reviews. Seek validation from people who’ve been there due to some reason. Enquire about their experience, did they think of any issues with the treatment given by the doctor, or did they doubt the doctor’s capabilities in any form, are the things you need to ask. A good doctor will always have a positive image in the patient’s eyes as they are able to see the difference in their health.
2. Do cold calling or pay a visit:
Call the hospital where the doctor works and enquire about any empty slots for you. Say you want to drop in, in regard to some health issue, and listen o the response you receive. If you receive a normal and polite response, then the hospital and the doctor are fine to visit. If a bit of a problem is sensed, still go and visit for once to check the vibe around there. Trust your gut instinct. In the search for a good doctor, if you sense anything fishy, get out of there as soon as possible.
3. Keep doubts in mind:
Be known of the doubts you want to ask the doctor. As every person’s health is different, each person has different doubts that need to be addressed. A good doctor will be calm enough to hear you out and respond accordingly. If you sense ignorance or rudeness, think twice before visiting there again. But, at times, due to work stress and listening to patients the whole day, doctors can be stressed out too. Judge the situation wisely.
4. Make a list of relevant questions:
At times, as he/she is recognized as a good doctor, the hospital can be crowded. Meaning, the doctor can be in a rush. So, due to that rush, you may not ask what you wanted to and end up confused and not asking what you had doubts about. So, to avoid that, make a proper list of questions and ask them. The doctor will be more than happy as you’re asking him the right questions and not even wasting his/her time.
5. Ensure good listening skills:
A good doctor is one who has exceptional listening skills. See to it that he is listening to you and solving your doubts. Half-way listening and giving the treatment is a sign of over-confidence and excessive trust in self. This shows some attitude issues with the doctor and does not take any treatment given by him. A good doctor will hear you out patiently, give you the right treatment, and not rush to extract money out of your pockets.
6. Use the internet only for addresses:
As mentioned before, to find a good doctor, do not depend too much on the Internet, except for finding the locations and contact details. Do not rely on the posted reviews as most of them do not mean anything and can be fake. Ads on the internet compel us to opt for the doctor or the hospital whose ad is being shown. Also, the received recommendations for a good doctor can be dicey as everyone has a different experience. So, it is best to go and visit yourself.
Benefits of a good doctor:
1. Good doctor-patient relationship:
A relationship between a doctor and a patient must be harmonious and open. A patient should not hide anything related to the issues he is going through. As you are a frequent visitor, your case is well-remembered by the doctor who will give you treatment accordingly.
2. Less stress and anxiety:
As mentioned above if you’re a frequent visitor, and the doctor knows your case history, you as a patient are less anxious and much calmer. Being less stressed during the doctor’s visit is a good sign of trust in the doctor and their capabilities.
3. Enhanced dialog:
Communication is open when a good doctor-patient relationship exists. You are more comfortable in front of the doctor and talk about the issues openly. This ensures proper treatment and no helter-skelter business, or mistakes in the treatment.
4. Personal attention:
According to the Hippocratic oath, a doctor attends well to each and every patient he treats, but, when you’re a frequent visitor, it becomes more special. He gives much more attention and listens and solves your problems in a much better manner.
Conclusion:
A doctor is a person who is a life-saver. Laymen see him/her as a God’s gift. Due to the rigorous studies and medical practice, they go through, doctors are generally intelligent and need no validations. But, at times, you may need to consider some things due to past experiences of friends and families. It isn’t the case every time, but safety comes first always. So be wise when choosing a doctor and be safe.
Also Read: 5 Tips to Make the Most of Your Doctor’s Appointment
