Comments on: What Makes A Good Doctor? - A Patient’s Perspective

By: J.K.

J.K. — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:20:18 +0000

On the other hand…I work with several doc who have great relationship skills, but whom I wouldn’t trust to boil water correctly.

By: J.K.

J.K. — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:18:07 +0000

I had a conversation with a prominent surgeon who told me he could predict post-surgical outcomes by knowing the identity of the referring physician - that the physician’s relationship skills increase or decrease the level of anxiety or comfort of the patient, which, in turn, has physiological manifestations.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:11:23 +0000

[...]Over at Brain Blogger, What Makes A Good Doctor? - A Patient’s Perspective, gives a patient’s point of view[...]

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:41:03 +0000

As a patient, I agree with your list except I would add another.

Treat the patient as a partner in the evaluation/diagnosis/treatment.

Many patients really are knowledgable about themselves and their problems. Most are not stupid, and many are not even ignorant. My best doctors, the ones I respect, partner with me for my healthcare. They listen and are willing to read research, too. Often, my endocrinologist offers research to me to read. He treats me like I have a brain, which I respect.

By: Dr Shock MD PhD

Dr Shock MD PhD — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:08:54 +0000

At first good bedside manners are the most important attributes for a physician. Getting angry at your patients certainly is not good bedside manner. Recently I posted a series on patient doctor relationship and a range of subjects within this series such as the use of empathy, the difference between empathy and sympathy and whether you can teach empathy at med school.
Your welcome to read some of them and please feel free to comment on them.
Regards Dr Shock