In Search of Dr. Right? Look for These Qualities

Long gone are the days when one doctor handled your medical needs for most of your life. Today, health care often requires a collaborative approach, with multiple doctors sharing patients and working together in large practices. It's not unusual for four or more doctors to care for the same patient.

Trust and Truth Telling
According to Anita Varkey, MD, an internist at Loyola University Health System in Chicago, finding the right doctor—or group of doctors—affects the health care you receive. And trust is a key component in a successful doctor/patient relationship. "It's the doctor's responsibility to forge a trusting relationship, and it's the patient's job to share personal or sensitive information when necessary," Varkey explains, noting that a lack of disclosure can be hazardous to your health: "Doctors need the whole story in order to make the proper diagnosis. If a patient's liver isn't functioning properly, but she doesn't reveal that she has a drinking problem, the doctor could treat the wrong culprit and make the situation worse."

Finding Your MD Match
So, what's the best way to choose the right doctor for you? In addition to meeting basic criteria such as participating in your insurance plan and having board-certification and a connection with a respected hospital, Robert Hasty, DO, FACOI, says many people take into account a physician's gender, age (some like older, experienced doctors who have seen it all; others prefer younger physicians, feeling they're more up on current treatments), ethnic background, bedside manner, and intelligence, as well as references. "These are all legitimate ways to go about making a selection, but given today's technology I'm shocked by how few people actually do a simple Google search on their physician," he says. "Patients should research their doctor as least as much as they research their car mechanic or plumber."

Personal rapport with your doctor also matters, and fortunately, "We've gotten really sophisticated about how we teach future docs to interact with patients," says Hasty, who trains students at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Florida. "People size you up in minutes, so physicians need to be cognizant of how they enter a room and connect with a patient through body language and eye contact."

It's not just that patients form impressions quickly, Varkey says. "In today's environment, where productivity is emphasized in many practices, doctors and patients have to build relationships in a very short time."

Due Diligence
When evaluating a practice, both experts suggest making a list of what's important to you in the patient/doctor relationship, and considering the following questions:

  • Does the physician spend enough time listening to your concerns?
  • Can you understand what the doctor is telling you? (Does he speak in plain English or medicalese?)
  • Is the staff helpful?
  • If registered nurses, physician's assistants, and nurse practitioners are part of the team, what exactly is their role?
  • Are appointments easy to obtain?
  • Was the encounter professional?

Knowing a little about yourself will also help lead you find your Dr. Right. Often opposites attract: Hasty says he's seen many cases of nervous patients (worriers) seeking out laid-back (reassuring) physicians, and vice versa. Varkey agrees: "Some want a hand-holding type of physician who will take his time and discuss all your concerns with you. Other patients are sticklers for punctuality and care only about the doctor's diagnostic ability," she explains. Additionally, "Think about how comfortable you will be seeing another doctor in the practice if yours isn't available. And ask about the likelihood of this scenario, which is the norm these days."

Finally, a word about alternative medicine: "If you're a strong believer in alternative medicine, be sure to find a physician who is open to less traditional treatments and interventions," Hasty advises. "Ask if they've had anything published in the field (again, a Google search might bring this up) or have experience working with patients who have successfully combined traditional and alternative medical treatments."

Think About the Long-Term
Since the turn of the last century, advances in medicine and public health have increased life expectancy, from 45 to about 80 years in the U.S. As a result, today's internists are managing many more chronic diseases, like diabetes and high blood pressure, in addition to seasonal and more acute illnesses, such as flu, ear infections, and strep throat. It's possible that a partnership with your doctor will last for years. "This is one of your most important relationships, so take it seriously," says Varkey. "Your doctor really is the person who will be there in sickness and in health."

 

Sources:

Interviews with:

Robert Hasty, DO, FACOI, program director, Palmetto General Hospital Internal Medicine Residency, and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tampa.

Anita Varkey, MD, internist. Loyola University Health System, Maywood, Illinois.