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What makes a good doctor?
At school I come into contact with a lot of crazy premed students, most of whom are very smart. While working with these students, I realized that while most of them are very intelligent and do very well in class, many of those students who do the best I would be wary of letting within a ten foot radius of me with a stethoscope. This all got me to thinking, what makes a good doctor?
Knowledge is important, but I feel that its not the most important part. Really smart doctors will make really good researchers, but that doesn't necesarily make them good at treating patients. For me, the most important quality for a doctor is to be someone who is a good communicator. I don't think of this as the same thing as having a good bedside manner--a doctor who is comforting and has a reassuring presence, though that is important. Rather, it is someone you feel comfortable talking with, whom you feel you can share your concerns with. A good doctor is not patronizing, but takes the time to explain what's going on, leaving you empowered to take control of your own health. All of my favorite doctors are people with whom I spend the first couple minutes of my appointment chatting about the Yankees or school or whatnot. I think it's really important for a doctor to know the patient outside of simply what's going on medically, in order to put any medical advice in any sort of context. Sometimes I'm afraid the human element of medicine is getting lost.
(Actually, all of this is just to make me feel better because last term organic chemistry was a beast that devoured me whole)
Answer:
What makes a good doctor?
I think you'll have many different opinions regarding this topic. So heres mine. For the most part I think Dr.'s really do a good job medically. You have the ones who you wonder about did they finish school, but for the most part they are all knowledgeable. The really bright, I mean so bright they think of nothing eles and savor all things medical every thought, should be researchers and many are.The main thing for me to feel comfortable with a Dr. is experience in what ever field he may have chosen. Does he stay up to date and acquire extra courses yearly other then just enough to stay current. Is he board certified? Even if he had much experience I think its important for learning to be on going. After all they have devoted their entire lives to being Dr.'s, but the ones that persue knowledge above and beyond I admire and it shows in their work.
As far as a Dr.'s personality that is a whole other world. For me I don't really need a Dr. with a wonderful bedside manner, infact some of the Dr.s I have had , had the personality of a stone but were tops in their field. The best you could get from them is a Hi or very general greetings, but the questions asked were answered and they were committed to the treating for the cure.
Very new Dr.s are amazing to me because they are the ones who will find something like a heart murmur that was missed etc. because they are often over zealous which is a good thing most of the time but not all the time. Some Dr.s have managed to balance their personality with their practice of medicine and most of these are middle aged or say in their 40's or so. I like a Dr. thats been around the block and very capable medically, but open to discussion. I interview them and test them in what is important to me. I think of this Dr. treating me for a long while and I want to know his credentials and also his personal attitude in all aspects of care whether it be acute, chronic, or terminal and his thinking in pain control. If he can discuss these things with me and I feel comfortable I'll continue to see him. :smile:
Answer:
What makes a good doctor?
Well said Purple Lady. YankeeBeckham you remind me of myself in medical school.. and you also make an important point: Research shows that patient satisfaction is dependent on their opinion of the doctor's manners and people skills and not on the doctor's medical competence. A friendly, empathic doctor who doesn't necessarily give the right treatment is considered giving better care than the blunt or quiet doctor who makes a perfect diagnosis and treats the patient according to the current guidelines. We can definitely learn from this: a perfect doctor would provide both state-of-the-art medical care and a great bedside manner - and although we aren't perfect any more than the next guy, we should work towards both goals.
Answer:
What makes a good doctor?
Did organic chemistry eat you too?
Answer:
What makes a good doctor?
I agree with the above posts :)
Here are a few of my experiences...
I had one specialist who was good medically but also had great bedside manners; empathetic and caring. Due to physical/emotional trauma ,I had trouble communicating with this doctor. My physical prloblems never hampered me from talking, just the emotional part that did it to me. I mentioned to this doctor a few times that normally I am a better patient as in I try to communicate, but I am going through rough times. He understood and somehow we worked through my medical problems. He was very patient with me and even lent a listening ear. Overall I feel this doctor saved my life and made the trauma more bearable.
I also experienced a few other doctors who were good medically, but their bedside manners, communication was not good. I was blamed and judged due to my situation and it made me feel rather uncomfortable.
So while I believe that medical knowledge is important, feeling comfortable and being able to communicate is also very important between a doctor and a patient.
Overall I believe that doctors do try their best to help patients.