Do you know
how to identify an ideal doctor to ensure the best healthcare?
Television's fictional characters Dr. Marcus Welby and Doogie
Howser may have set the bar in the type of support patient's
expect from their physicians. But with the cost of medical care
going up and more Americans being financially responsible for
visits to their physician's office, finding the right doctor
is a growing concern. Despite, President Bush's focus to reduce
malpractice suits, what actions can you take to ensure quality
assurance?
It
all starts in your doctor selection. In an effort to identify
the "perfect physician" Mayo Clinic conducted a study
to find seven effective behaviors of the ideal physician. Overall
the findings recommended that medical care requires a patient-centered
approach. From 2001 and 2002, Mayo Clinic's study involved telephone
interviews with more than 190 patients. The participants were
interviewed from visits of 14 medical specialties of Mayo Clinic
including medical facilities in Rochester, Minnesota and Scottsdale,
Arizona.
The
study was devised to determine a comprehensive set of ideal
doctor behaviors. The interviews were compiled from both satisfied
and discontent patients. Seven distinctive characteristics were
highlighted in the study with Mayo Clinic physicians:
•
Confident
• Empathetic
• Humane
• Personal
• Forthright
• Respectful
• Thorough
The
findings of the study depicted patients who experienced the
worst doctor experience focused on traits that were quite different
from the physician behaviors. Particularly, insensitivity and
disrespectful behavior were perceived more prevalently as negative
characteristics. Emotional reactions, behavioral and medical
outcomes (recovery and compliance) were found to be impacted
by the quality of a patient's relationship with their doctor.
The
conclusion of the study suggests that training both new and
practicing physicians how to engage interpersonal skills could
serve as effective care for patients. |
