This article is part of a patient education series that I previously published elsewhere. Explanation is here. If you have already read this article, please accept my apologies.
I’m sick of the fighting
Healthcare doesn’t have to be oppositional. In fact, a doctor and patient should be acting as partners to reach a common goal. Although I am sure it will be unpopular, I have to say some of this is about patients behaving like a customer.
Some doctors have issues with patients who stand up for themselves, demand to be understood, or who ask lots of questions. However, your health is more important than any consumer product you might buy. If you would jump up and down to get your entitlements when your iPod breaks, you should be doing it about your health. But a better analogy is your prized vintage car. You choose a trusted mechanic, and you make sure you understand what is going on. You take control. If you feel in control of your health, your relationship with your doctor will benefit.
It’s all about the relationship
Problems in healthcare occur when the patient or doctor (or both) don’t understand what is going on.
Being a patient is sometimes difficult, humbling and embarrassing. However, dealing with doctors can be easier, if you are a smart consumer. You can improve your healthcare, and get more out of your experience, by using smart strategies.
There is a lot of information available on the internet on “How to Be a Good Patient”. The articles seem eerily similar – health-care providers giving patient’s tips on how to behave in an appropriate manner. This advice seems, to me, more about the provider than the patient, “Behave like this and I will find you easier to deal with and therefore have more energy to sort out your problem.”
But the answer is more simple. Create a relationship with your health. Work to understand what is going on. Find a useful doctor, who you can trust. Even when you are healthy, this can help smooth out the bumps of illness. For example, if you lost a prescription, you’re working uphill to get it replaced by a doctor on holiday, but it is much easier with someone who has met you before.
What about the doctors?
In my experience, doctors sabotage healthcare relationships, too. Usually, it is not intentional, but tiredness, unrelated stress, frustrating patients and staff conflict can make us into poor communicators. A short consultation seems even shorter, and less satisfying with a grumpy doc. It’s a trite comparison, but I behave this way with my kids when I am stressed and tired, as well. I know what I should be doing and saying, but I just can’t manage it.
What’s the solution?
I am no expert on this. I don’t have great answers. But I think part of the process is recognising the difference between the doctors/patients we should and want to be, and the way we actually are. Once we find real relationships in healthcare, then it becomes easier to cut through the daily static. Once we make connections, we can approach success.
It seems you had a very good experience with you.By sharing those with us we got many information.Very informative things.Thanks for sharing!
thank you for this article…
i went to a clinic today, left in tears, cried all the way home and have only just settled down…
im very in tune with my health and body and have a background in biological science. because of this i take an interest, do a lot of reading and have a reasonable understanding on the health matters that are part of my life…
after reading this i felt as though it wasn’t my fault that this consult today went so badly. this doctor shut me down because he didn’t like seeing someone who had their own brain and didn’t like the patient having some idea what was going on…its a very old school attitude…
i wont be going back to this clinic – i have had a bad experience there before (dr made out a script incorrectly and the chemist refused to fill it, twice) – but its very hard to get an appointment with my primary GP as she is always booked out…
@Lisa: Sounds like an awful experience. It is tough to find a doctor that can fit you in and be worth the effort. It is worth trying, though. Good luck, and I hope you feel better.
Thank you Cris – my regular Dr is amazing – but hard to get an appointment with (for that very reason!!!)
after that experience i really just needed to vent 🙂