Taking Stock: What to Look for in Doctors

The importance of choosing the right doctor cannot be stressed enough. The foundation of quality healthcare is a good relationship between doctor and patient.

Communication

The first characteristic a patient should look for in a physician is how that doctor communicates with patients. Finding the right doctor is not always easy, and sometimes a patient must see several physicians before finding someone he or she finds satisfactory. Patients must exercise patience when trying to find the right physician and should not let frustration govern the choice of a doctor to whom they entrust their health.

In addition to trouble-free communication, patients must also base their decision on the doctor's knowledge level, professionalism and overall honesty. If a patient leaves an interview questioning the doctor's competence or the treatment plan laid out, that particular doctor-patient relationship will probably not be effective. The doctor's primary responsibilities are to clearly answer questions and explain the treatment plan thoroughly. These goes hand-in-hand with honesty, however, honesty is a two-way street and the patient must be just as open and honest with the doctor as the doctor should be with that patient. Doctors should, in fact, encourage open communication and honesty. They should stress the importance of the patient telling them anything that might help improve the quality of treatment.

Accessibility

Accessibility is also a key factor that must be incorporated into a patient's doctor search. A patient might find a particular field's most brilliant physician, but that physician will do them little good if he or she is never available. The ability to pick up the phone, send an email or make a visit to the office for one-on-one conversations are invaluable aspects of the doctor/patient relationship. This communication accessibility helps keep the patient's mind at ease and enables more effective healthcare.

The ideal doctor is mindful of the patient's needs, and those needs are not limited to being able to schedule appointments in a timely manner. They often include the ability to speak directly with the doctor in between appointments. Of course, patients must also understand and appreciate the fact that the doctor's time is limited. If the physician spends most of the day responding to emails and speaking to patients by phone, he or she won't have the time to spend with patients who have an appointment.

Insurance Coverage

Finally, the patient must make sure the doctor is covered by the patient's health insurance. The patient can inquire with the doctor's office staff, website or through the health insurance provider's website or telephone directory service. A seemingly simple task, it's certainly not one a patient can afford to neglect.