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Doctor-Patient Relationships
Doctor-Patient
Relationships-Are We Happy?
We had a huge response to our Doctor-Patient
Relationship survey. Obviously it is as important to most of you as it
is to us. Perhaps
the most important part of a successful disease management program is a
happy doctor-patient relationship. Without it, you are ineffective in
your role as manager of your health care team.
This
week we'll explore those important relationships. We'll start by finding
out if most of you are happy with your current doctor-patient
relationships. We asked: Are you happy with your current doctor-patient
relationships? Why or why not?
And you said:
Very happy -Korleen
I am over the moon with my GP he is in
contact with my Rheumy all the time before changing Meds ect. -Jo
Yes, I currently have two women
doctors; although this is not mandatory, I've found I am a bit more
relaxed speaking of female issues. -Patricia
no. He doesn't seem to have time to
listen to me. He tends to ignore my complaints and do what he wants. My
previous Doctor was so much better, yoo bad insurance companies don't
let you keep the Drs you're happy with -Sylvia Patterson
I am very comfortable. When I first saw him, I almost dreaded our visit.
He was my age. He made me feel very at home in our visit. He talked to
me openly and allowed me the chance to ask any questions I needed to
ask. He never once made me feel like my questions were stupid or
annoying. He also did not rush me out of the office like so many Dr.'s
do. When my insurance changed and he was not on my provider list; I
expressed my desire to stay under his care. My insurance will only cover
50% of his charges. He gives me a 30% discount, plus he doesn't make me
pay at the time of service like most people do. He bills the insurance
co. the full amount, they send me a check, and I send it to him. I still
only have to pay the same as if he were a provider. He jokes with me,
and listens to my constant complaining even though it doesn't ALWAYS
include arthritis. He has a great sense of humor and is always pleasant.
I could go on and on but will stop here. -Vicki
Yes, so far. I only saw the doctors
about two weeks ago. One was good, the other one was so-so. -Barbara
Yes, because I feel like my doctor has
seen me through a lot, and he does not hesitate to give me a referral to
another specialist if he thinks it is necessary. I am a nurse, and he is
willing to listen to my opinion on treatment options, and he will
discuss in depth the rationale behind each treatment. I am also happy
that he persisted in trying to diagnose my rather vague symptoms, even
though I myself thought it was possible it was all in my head, since it
took so long for my doctor, along with several specialists I had been
referred to, in order to come up with a diagnosis. -Jennifer
I am very satisfied with our current
doctor-patient relationship. We have mutual trust and he listens well.
He takes an interest in my personal goals and activities. When I have
problems he squeezes me in for an appointment and I always receive
return phone calls. We work well as a team. -Mary
YES!!!!!!!!! My doctor is funny and
outgoing. He takes the time to listen to me. He answers my questions,
gives me sites to go to on the internet, and he discusses new things
that he has heard about with me. -Megan
Yes, for the most part. I do wish he
would listen and consider my requests/suggestions more often.
However, he is a prominent rheumatologist who I've been driving over 700
miles round trip to see every two or three months, so I must think a lot
of him, huh? lol -JBug
He (the Rheum.) was thorough in the
first visit, but made quite a few assumptions. I'll talk to him about
that at my next visit. If doctors would not discount what patients say
and just listen it would help tremendously. Other than that he did well.
Keyed in on my asthma and that contributing to my fatigue. -Mary J
Yes, he is very supportive and
informative and if ever anything is amiss with blood results immediately
contacts me, even before I have rung in for results. -Gill
Yes, for the most part. I believe I
have a wonderful primary physician and Rheumatologist; they both listen
to me and take the time to answer my questions, and they're simply nice
women. My Ophthalmologist is okay too but I do get the sense that she's
rushed or something, which doesn't feel so good at times. Hmm, my
Neurologist is plain old intimidating and not easy to talk to but I
don't have to see him that often, and although there's no personality
there he is a very good doctor and I trust him. -Anisah
Not particularly. I think she is knowledgeable, but I generally leave her office with more questions than I arrived with. I find that after I get home, and have reflected on information that she given to me, that I have questions that I have had difficulty getting answered.
Her office staff is very spotty. There are several doctors sharing office space, and I think that each one has a "girl" in the office, answering phones and billing. If I don't get my doctor's receptionist, I get pretty rude treatment - "No, I don't know when she will return your phone call, I don't actually work for her" and the like. I called once because I was in pain, and the doctor didn't call me back, she said, since I had an appointment with her the next week, and she REALLY wanted to see me. I told the person who answered the phone that I was in pain. I don't know how much more direct I need to be.
She sometimes asks me questions regarding pregnancy, since I have been pregnant four times, and she is trying to become pregnant, but it is really weird to feel like I know more about something health-wise that she might not. Maybe it's just her way of being friendly.
-Joan
mostly, seem to have battle with doctor
believing that my sympyems are getting worse them what he says they
should be according to my test results,tells me that the problems are
more to do with depression. he doesn't seem to realise most of the
depression is coming from the pain. i do understand that one does offset
the other. -Allison
My current Dr.s (brother and sister in
same office) always in a hurry and do not take the time to absorb and
understand what I am telling them. -Linda
No, not very much,
My Rheumy, does not speak or explain very much, so, I feel uncomfortable
when I go see him. And I am very shy so, it does not help. -Susan
Yes, but he doesnt tell me enough..He
doesnt seem to have the answers Im looking for. Perhaps he just doesnt
know..We all react differently to the meds and excercise etc...but he
just doesst talk enough. -Pat
I am very happy with all my doctors,
especially my PCP. She is wonderfully
supportive and responsive to all my concerns. She has even given me her
personal
home phone number and tells me to call her whenever I need to. I have
taken
many articles from Arthritis Insight with me when I go in for
appointments and she
actually reads them. When something "pops up" in my condition
that she does not
know how to deal with she does not try to "snow ball" me she
says "I will find out
what we need to do" and she does. -Diane
Yes because they treat me like an
intelligent person who can think for herself. They explain what and why
and are sure to ask if I have any questions. Could be because we
currently see the doctors at University Health Services for students at
Harvard and other students, but my husband and I have both been quite
happy with how our doctors talk to and listen to us and involve us in
our treatment. -Nann
Yes, pretty much. I have found some
that work well with me. Not just sit there and tell me what to do and
walk out the door. Doctors that listen, ask questions, ask me what I
would like to do and then we go on from where we mutually agree. Even if
it is to disagree. -Toni
Not really-I feel as though I am being
jerked around!Nothing is showing up in any tests,so he makes me feel
like he is not taking me seriously or its all in my head.Keep getting
bounced around from one to another,but no meds except Vioxx. -Jody
no not completely...my doctor keeps
telling me to exercise--park in the farthest spot from the building as
possible and walk in. What happens when your legs won't allow you to do
that because you have pain shooting down them from your hips? -Jen
YES, VERY! We have a lovely village
doctor who keeps in contact with our specialist at the university
hospital. When needed, she makes housecalls!!!!
The specialist at the university is the head of pediatrics AND a JRA
specialist. She's great. -Patty
Yes. My dr actually listens and lets me
be part of my treatment. She does not dismiss my concerns. Because I do
look younger than my age, most drs tend to treat me as a child. She does
not. She also anticipates my needs at times rather than making me
request certain meds like pain killers. -Wayney
Join us everyday this week as we explore Doctor-Patient Relationships.
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