From
the school of hard knocks - how to find a
GOODdoctor
Before you meet the doctor:
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if you live somewhere there is a shortage
of general practitioners, try getting a list of recent med school
graduates, they are most likely to be accepting new patients, and are up
to date (assuming the med school was)
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the receptionist is a good indicator of the
doctor, does he/she
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seem happy to work there?
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treat you with respect?
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friendly?
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appears bright?
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is the waiting room
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soothing?
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supply magazines that cater to all kinds of
people, not just golfers and fashion (personal thing, but the selection
should give you something in common, for me the wider the choice the more
open-minded the doctor)?
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magazines are up to date (I like when the
doctor think enough of his patient to update the reading material)?
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most surroundings give away something of the
owner's personality, horsey people display horsey art, humourous cartoons,
good artwork, bad artwork, if you can relate to the decor you can probably
relate to the doctor
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if the furniture is comfortable, snooty or
stark reflects the same way
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how much information if any was asked from
you before you see the doctor, (the more detailed the questionnaire,
the more concerned with detail the doctor)?
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does the staff wear lab coats? While
it is no doubt policy in institutional settings, in private offices this
is the doctor's preference, personally the more casual the better, (I
have a personal distaste for formality when I'm going to be asked to disrobe,
and I freak out a bit when confronted with lab coats)
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body language, how relaxed is the receptionist,
other patients, is there spontaneous conversation which is pleasant and
relaxed (if they are terrified to see the doctor, chances are I won't
like him/her)?
meeting the doctor
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does he look like he could be a friend (obviously
a hypothetical, but if you could not possibly feel he could be a friend,
you're going to not relay your feelings to him/her very well)?
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is he wearing a lab coat, more formal or too
casual for your liking?
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does he greet you with eye contact?
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take a look around in the doctor's office
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does he have a lot of medical literature around?
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does the literature look well used or is it
more of a decorative statement? (I like to see a doctor with worn medical
journals and books that have obviously been used a lot)
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how current are the books and magazines?
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does he/she respect your physical boundaries
or does he intrude before you have a level of comfort?
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is he/she interested in how comfortable you
are, does he/she notice you are anxious, frightened, intimidated etc.
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I go in with questions written down, some
doctors to exception to it, those doctors were not worth a second visit,
I like to be a participant in my medical treatment
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does the doctor speak directly to you in a
non patronizing way - opposed being patronizing and preferring to answer
your spouse as though you were not in the room - not worth a second visit
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is the doctor Internet friendly?
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is the doctor willing to listen to what you've
found out and discuss merits, pros and cons with you?
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what are the doctors views on pain management
(should be the same as yours)
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if the doctor has no previous experience with
your illness, is he/she at least interested to learn more?
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is the doctor taking a complete, detailed
history, or only interested in the current symptom that brought you in
to see the doctor?
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does the doctor make a follow-up appointment
to get to know you better?
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some doctors are opposed to and suspicious
of patients shopping around for a doctor - it is wise not to publicize
it, that said, you should think of it as an employment interview,
where you are the employer and the doctor is the candidate, if any of these
things raise doubt, keep interviewing, don't commit to further appointments
unless you are absolutely sure, until you decide to continue with a doctor
there is nothing to compel you to sign over your file - this avoids the
paper trail of your shopping around
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be honest, that you are looking for
a doctor but you need one you feel absolutely comfortable with - you do
have that right in most countries and under most insurance plans
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if you find a good GP he is more likely to
refer you to doctors much like himslef/herself, and let him/her know what
makes you comfortable or uncomfortable - that will help both of you,
respect has to be reciprocal
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once you find the doctor you are comfortable
with, stick it out - be understanding that even physicians have truly
lousy days, just as he/she may not know what horrible things have recently
happened in your life, you don't know what happened in his/her life either
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always bee nice to the receptionist(s) they
often have more influence than you think
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my personal preference is for doctors who
like me to write things down, because I am freaked out just generally by
doctors and suffer from office visit amnesia, I fax it 24 hours ahead of
my visit - beats wasting both our times forgetting what I was doing there
in the first place
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bringing a written medical history (Anne's
example above) is an excellent idea, and most doctors (not all) will
appreciate it, especially as we present them with illnesses they have rarely
if ever had experience with
top of page
aletta - if you think
you have something to add, feel free to contribute
note: it took me several
years to find one GP to whom I could relate and I finally started moving
foward a bit in treatment, it was worth the agonies, to get to tis point,
don't give up, as I so often wanted to, if you need a kick in the butt
to keep going, email mee I send you one, I'm glad I had family and friends
to keep me going, now if I could just find a decent medical plan
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