In health care, what is important?

Question

As a patient and consumer of health care - what is important? What's important about the doctor, the staff, the clinic, etc. What do you hate about seeking health care? What do you like about seeking health care? What things are important? :)

cute knight:

WHAT?!?!?!

btw, I am a dr. Trying out how to better my patients.

Answer 1

I could really care less about the clinical setting - I mean some magazines other than popular mechanics are nice, but really - doesnt matter. I'm not at the doctors to be entertained.
About the Doctor - px do not liked being dx'd before they are heard out. So going through a new patients records and confirming the former doctors diagnosis without listening to the patient will get you zero points. [Also, you just might catch a longstanding misdiagnosis as a perk (happened to me just last week)]


People who have illnesses that are difficult to diagnose spend on avergae 10 years going to doctors and feeling belittled for wasting everyones time - They feel like crap and they are told they have depression, anxiety or someother secondary comorbidity. Shoot, after all that trauma getting told you have something like a neurological or autoimmune disorder is almost a relief.
Treat everyone as if you would a spouse or close relative (that you like) and I promise you, you will percieve your patients differently.

Doctors take an oath to do no harm - the bedside manner of a doctor can do just that - A few weeks ago I was told I had a genetic disease I could suddenly die from, there was nothing that could be done, have a nice day. That sort of thing is cruel - doctors need to educate thier patients about so many things. An educated patient is one that is going to fare better regardless of prognosis.

And never forget that a patient is the sum total of what is between his ears and what he does from the time he gets out of bed until he sleeps - as well as what he does in bed ....Forget that, and you are only treating part of the patient.

Ask questions. Compliance is a huge issue - what problems do you have taking this medication? is a huge dialogue opener that has a lot of power to increase compliance - maybe its the time of day? because they are at work at that time, maybe putting the med by the alarm clock will help. Maybe they get an upset stomach, or they are afraid to have it in the house because of a relatives substance abuse problems. - You would be amazed what pts have to say if you ask them.

Also - patients should never feel judged, or embarassed, or ashamed of what they have to tell you - patients lie all the time because they are trying to avoid these feelings. Give them some safe space to tell you about thier health behaviours. Otherwise you are treating a lie and no one benefits. Be mindful of peoples fears of discussing sexual side-effects. Find a tactful way of bringing this up and you will relieve the anxieties of many clients.

I really love this question - and in having to study health psych for way too long doctor/patient relationships have certainly come into play....but I had surgury yesterday, and I still cant think too straight.
If you would like to write, please do.
Be well - Good Luck in being a partner in good health with those you serve.

Answer 2

OK, I didn't understand cute knight's answer.

What I like about health care is an honestly caring staff, when physician's have too many patients, not enough staff, it can make a patient feel that know one cares. When you feel bad, you want to be "taken care of"

What I hate about health care is a complete lack of customer service in the field today. What happened to people that care? Likewise with almost all other fields. No one cares.

Also the increasing cost of health care and the lack of resources for people that need it. Sure if you don't have health insurance you can go to the free clinic, but most people don't want to, long lines, no time, then they end up worse off in the end.

What as a country are we going to do about the underinsured and unisured people that desperately need it? I don't think that anyone should not have an opportunity to be treated for an illness of any kind just because of their income or lack of it.

Answer 3

It is important to have a doctor that is open to patent suggestions of possible diagnosis and treatment. If the doctor disagrees they must do so in a way that does not insult the patent's intelligence, or make the patient feel that the doctor is always smarter then them.

I also don't like a doctor that act like they are running an assembly line. They should not be trying to push the patient out the door ASAP.

Answer 4

It's important for me to be able to reach the practitioner at all times. It's important that they have reasonable prices, that they can state up-front. It is important that they have a plan in place and are sensitive to the fact that I am uninsured and don't act like it is some strange phenomenon they have never heard of. They need to be as minimally invasive as possible, teaching me to listen to my own body's cues and take more responsibility for keeping MYSELF healthy like a proper diet and exercise.... and use medicine and surgery as a LAST resort. Never found this in ANY traditional doctors setting - my primary care "physcian" is books, my garden, my midwife, and gathering information from real people who have been there and done that. When I do go to the doctor, and whop out $75 for an office visit, I better walk away with at least one perscription for something useful too, not just a "Oh we don't know what it is!!"

Answer 5

Dear Doctor,

Good to see such questions. Apart from your technical knowledge, which we take for granted when you got your degree and got your registration, we look for a humane, understanding approach. We need you to understand and accept the imperfections of human nature and the systems of treatment including modern medicine also called allopathy.

We want you to accept the possibility and probability of your patients consulting simultneously other 'quacks' healers and health professionals of different systems, partly because of their desire to get cured faster, partly because they can't afford the medicines prescribed by you, partly because some of the side effects are unacceptable etc.

We want a doctor who understands these factors and is still willing to work with the patient and the other healers if need be, instead of dismissing the patient as a crank.

We know you will not have enough time to answer all our questions so we want you to guide us by tying up with some good health counsellors who may not be qualified but are generally knowledgeable, so that your patients understand the health problems better.

And not only you but your staff also should have similar patient-friendly approach, without sacrificing quality of the care.

Thanks for reading. Best wishes to you.

Answer 6

why u don't too much question abut health care ? ..... are u thinking become a doctor or something ?

Answer 7

What did she say?