By Carolyn Spence Cagle Ph.D., RNC-E
Most of us rely on a strong doctor-patient relationship to meet our overall health needs that may increase with aging. The current complexity of health care supports our need and patient right for a doctor who advocates for us, shows clinical competency, and shows good communication skills with us and health care team members. Overall, we want a doctor who effectively partners with us to manage our care experience and earns our trust to manage that care.
How do we know when it is time to find a new doctor? Here are some ‘hints” to answer that question:
- You feel “unheard:” A good doctor listens to our personal experience of illness to work with us to define responsive actions to that experience. Computerized charting, implemented to better assess quality of care, diverts some doctors to “the machine” and not you. Good doctors use the computer as a tool, along with listening skills to understand your illness experience, to deliver effective patient care.
- You find it difficult to be honest with your doctor: Openness with your doctor and health care team is essential to develop a plan for your health care needs.
- Your doctor’s recommendations have not helped you: Good doctors will not be threatened by your seeking another doctor’s advice (a second opinion) on an issue but will work toward coordinating your care with others. Remember, just because a doctor wears a white coat, does not guarantee he/she understands your needs, illness or health experience, or has information relevant for a referral to another health care practitioner.
- Your doctor does not have time for you or does not communicate with you in a timely manner: Lengthy waits to get an appointment or return of clinic phone calls/emails or limited provider information addressing your questions all minimize the quality of health care. In my rural community, I often wait some time to see my doctor (PCP), but recent hiring of a nurse practitioner who provides patient “walk-in” care during a 10-hour day has been a “gold gem” to me! Of course, I try to see my PCP, when available, to insure my continuity of health care.
- You and your doctors have different values or approaches to managing your care: These foundational factors affect needed trust between you and your doctor to influence the quality of your care. You also deserve a caring and competent doctor who “connects with you” and knows your name during each health visit.
- Your doctor is too aggressive: If your doctor proposes care that seems too extreme, you do not understand, or shows an unwillingness to consider other approaches, you may want to change doctors. In this case, the doctor does not know “what is best.”
- Your doctor does not communicate with specialists managing your care: Quality health care means all your health care providers work as a team focused on your welfare.
References:
Schwartz, E. (2015). Don’t let your doctor kill you: How to beat physician arrogance, corporate greed, and a broken system. New York: Post Hill Press.
Thompson, H. (2018, June 19). 9 signs you should fire your doctor. Nextavenue.org/fire-your-doctor.