How to find the right Doctor?
As someone who has been working in the medical field since 1975, I have seen my share of excellent providers and atrocious health care providers.Yes, we now use terms like health care providers. There are three main clinicians that diagnose, write prescriptions and do surgery. They are physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Many other sub-specialty doctors are rapidly getting prescription privileges like optometrists and psychologists. A chiropractic physician does not prescribe and solely focuses on neck and back ailments. It is important to note here that chiropractors have an awesome, helpful niche, however some are doing their colleagues a gross disservice by venturing into treating ear infections, colds and other ailments with the belief of spinal alignment and nerve transmission flow to increase the immune systems reaction and believe this will be beneficial. This leads us to one of the main points in trying to find a good clinician. You want someone that “knows what they do not know, and are comfortable with that.” A good clinician will be humble, admit their shortcomings and find you the right person to see for your ailment. Money, that driving force that is causing more and more clinicians to expand into areas they are not proficient at, as well as risk damage by going beyond their comfort level. You, as the consumer MUST ask questions, check the state depatment of regulations for infractions and see if you are comfortable with his or her personality. There is a dance we all do with people, and we usually know within the first minute or two if we “fit” if we are comfortable with someone’s personality. Anatole Broyard (1920-1990) stated when looking for a good doctor, “I want someone to not only grope my prostate but my soul as well.” It seems we have as a whole, lost this “soul groping ” ability. Clinicians are rushed, too many focused on money, and have lost the holistic approach of the human being.
Consumers, the patients are frustrated, angry and disappointed. Yes there are good clinicians, so how do you find one? Trial and error. Finding a good clinician is like finding a trustworthy friend. It takes time, and a few failures. Unfortunately we do not like changing medical records over and meeting new people. It is a pain in the butt. The pay off for one doing their research, as well as realizing there will be failures in this process, is good health care and a clinician you can trust. You want someone with your best interest in mind. Granted there are some that want a clinician just to diagnose, treat and say their good byes. There are many though that want the inquiry about the family, and questions about any stress going on in their life. Not the, sit down coffee and cookie scenario but just plain, genuine interest in their life and family. In fact isn’t our health dependent on all those factors? Home, work, school, family dysfunction, stress, and physical ailments.
Whatever personality in a clinician you are looking for you need to do your due diligence, spend the time and seek one out. When you find a clinician you really like ask about his or her plans of staying around. Do they have a five year plan, a ten year plan on staying in the area? If it is a resident they usually do not stick around. These are very important issues before you bond with your clinician.
Finding a good clinician takes time, and in some areas unfortunately longer than others. We have not addressed the insurance dilemma which factors in. Many insurance providers dictate which clinician you can see. they will give you a list of providers to pick from. The only advice here is to consult with peers, find others who may have been patients and start at the top and work your way down. Good clinicians exist. It is sad to say that the good clinicians rarely get the press and rumors. The human condition these days seems to lean towards the passion and anger of disappointing episodes. Yes we need to complain but we must recognize the good clinicians also.