Not everyone receives the same medical care. It’s true, if unfortunate. But what many people don’t realize is that several individuals, seeing the same doctor, with the same insurance coverage, and with the exact same ailments, often receive different qualities of care!
As it turns out, doctors (and other medical professionals) are only human. They have likes and dislikes, good days and bad days. Some doctors are responsible and ethical and try their hardest to treat every patient the same. Others… not so much. All these things can impact your quality of care, for better or for worse. And when your health is on the line, that can be a big problem.
As a patient, it’s important to know what you can do to improve your chances of receiving optimal health care. In this case, it’s all about managing the patient-doctor relationship. Your job is to receive the best possible health care; in order to do that, you should strive to make things as easy on the doctor as possible, while also understanding your rights and how to identify when your doctor is not treating you with the respect and care you deserve.
Today we’re going to talk a little about how to be a good patient. Or rather, let’s talk about how to be a bad patient, and why it results in getting worse health care.
Ditch the Rude ‘tude
Rudeness, aggressive behavior, argumentativeness. We’ve all been there, maybe even with our doctor. Perhaps she ran late. Maybe we’re feeling terrible and we’ve had to sit in the waiting room for an hour and a half. Maybe he seems like he’s glossing over the real problem and we’re getting frustrated.
The problem is that doctors will often respond in kind. They’re busy, behind, dealing with dozens of sick and upset people at the same time, all while managing staff and their own schedules. Even worse, they might simply try to rush you through the exam in order to process them quickly. This is terrible for everyone involved, but especially for you!
Of course it isn’t your job to manage your doctor’s mood or make sure they have a bright day. But if you want to receive the best possible care, it’s worth your while to make the best out of a crummy situation.
Be on Time, and Don’t Miss your Appointments!
This one might seem self-explanatory, but what people don’t realize is that when you run late or have to be re-scheduled during a busy time, the doctor has less time to perform a thorough examination. That means in many cases you’re getting sub-optimal care right out the gate! There are only so many minutes in the day, and if the doctor is rushed, they are simply not going to do as good a job as they could given more time. And they can’t simply push back every other appointment to give you more time (though they are likely going to have to push back their appointments at least a little, anyway).
On top of all this, medical facilities keep detailed records of your appointments and cancellations. If you become known for skipping appointments without notice or showing up late, you may receive sub-optimal care simply because you’ve drawn the ire of the doctor and nurses. You may have trouble getting scheduled in due to your poor record, and many offices will stop accepting you as a result of habitual missed appointments. Avoid this at all costs! If you have to cancel, make sure to give as much notice as possible – and show up on time, every time.
Be Knowledgeable, Be Honest, Be Compliant
This is the simplest rule of all. If you have existing medical conditions, know what they are, what drugs you are currently taking, and any important details about your condition. If you don’t know your own body, your doctor is not going to know how to treat you.
Be honest with your doctor about these conditions, and in answering questions about yourself. If you lie to your doctor or hide information, even information that doesn’t seem important, your doctor is going to reach false conclusions, and may overlook critical parts of your condition or treatment.
Be compliant with treatment instructions. Otherwise your visit is wasted, and you may actually do more harm to your body than good! Follow the exact instructions when taking drugs or undergoing treatments. Don’t stop early because you feel fine, or because it’s too much of a hassle to complete the treatment. You only get one body. Don’t waste it!
Be Clean
Last, but not least, be clean. This might seem like it goes without saying, but ill people especially may come into a clinic with very poor hygiene. It can be tough to tell when your nose is stuffed up or you’re otherwise preoccupied with being sick. But trust me… your nurses and doctors can tell. Take the extra 10 minutes in the morning to make sure you’re clean. You want to make sure your doctor is comfortable spending as much time as possible in close proximity to you to make sure they perform a thorough exam.
In a future post, we’ll talk at length about the red flags that indicate it may be the doctor who is sabotaging the patient-doctor relationship – and what you can do to exercise your rights.