Everyone has in mind what their Mr/Ms Right would be like but have you ever considered what would your Dr. Right be like. We all have certain things that makes one doctor more appealing than the next. Just recently I saw a new doctor for the first time and my whole opinion changed after my visit. What made me originally think I would automatically connect with him was his first name Edwin...which happened to be my late and only brother's name. Well...he was African American...which I had a good guess he would be because of where his office was located...a few blocks from my home, within walking distance, which is always a plus...but the name and the location were the only positive things I can comment on. He was a little older than I like my doctor to be. I figure if I have to establish a relationship with a doctor I want him to be in practice for another twenty or so years. Probably by that time I would be looking at a doctor who specializes in geriatric care. From my guess he was close to his late sixties...so even if he was in practice for another twenty years...I wouldn't be seeing him. Reminds me of my mother's recent hospitalization, she is 81, and the doctor that was treating her while she was in the hospital was 88. Now I am all for people working as long as they would like but I was none to comfortable with my mother's care being provided by someone seven years her senior. OK...back to the question at hand...so what are some other things that makes for finding Dr. Right. What they call that bedside manner...do they greet you when they come into the room, do you feel that the doctor is empathetic...do they seem to be concerned about you or are you just another number rushing through their door for the day and after you leave he/she would not recollect anything about you on your next visit...which is only two weeks away? Another big one is how modern is the office? Do they have relatively new technology in the office? They don't have to have a MRI machine but a good computerized office system, EKG machine, and preferably the equipment for basic lab work is a good start. Gender is another area of preference for some people. I don't mind either for my primary care but for woman's issues...I must have a woman. I don't care how much a man wants to try to say they understand PMS, cramps, hot flashes, etc., if they haven't experienced it they don't understand. Does the doctor appear to be healthy themselves...again I am reminded of a personal experience. I go into the doctors office and he is telling me about needing to lose weight when he looks likes like the pillsbury doughboy himself. The last thing that comes to mind is how the doctor dresses...this one for me doesn't matter but I know for some people this is a big consideration (the shirt/tie, lab coat thing).
Today with the age of technology...you can do some pre-screening of some of these things via the internet. One thing that is for sure...if you visit for the first time and find there is something missing...trust your first impression. Remember first impressions are lasting impression. Some things will not change...if seeing a certain doctor is like the feeling of having on two left shoes...that should be enough for you...if you opened up a box and there were two left shoes in there...what would you do? Do I need to say more?
Posted By: Belinda Anderson
Friday, November 21st 2008 at 10:36PM
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