...there is a disconnect between the way doctors and patients view medicine. Doctors are trained to diagnose disease and treat it, he said, while “patients are interested in being tended to and being listened to and being well.”Keep in mind that EVERYTHING revolves around the communication between a patient and physician; need for lab tests and procedures, need for prescription medication, referral to specialists who then may refer out to more specialists, the odds of the doc getting sued, chances for the copay to get waived, whether the insurer finds reason to deny treatment, what your stress level will be that day (and maybe for a long time afterwards).
The reasons for all this frustration are complex. Doctors, facing declining reimbursements and higher costs, have only minutes to spend with each patient. News reports about medical errors and drug industry influence have increased patients’ distrust. And the rise of direct-to-consumer drug advertising and medical Web sites have taught patients to research their own medical issues and made them more skeptical and inquisitive.
Going to the doctor has one of the highest potentials for changing your life (what else is there? job interview, meeting the parents, going to court). It all boils down to interaction, so its worth your while to make sure you find a doc that suits your personality, understands your lifestyle, and listens(!!). The article also gives a few more pointers.
Patients who don’t trust their doctor should look for a new one, but they may be able to improve existing relationships by being more open and communicative.
Go to a doctor’s visit with written questions so you don’t forget to ask what’s important to you. If a doctor starts to rush out of the room, stop him or her by saying, “Doctor, I still have some questions.” Patients who are open with their doctors about their feelings and fears will often get the same level of openness in return.