Healthcare is all about people. When a doctor and patient have a high quality relationship, better healthcare is a likely outcome. Let’s take a look at what makes for a positive doctor-patient relationship and why it is important.
Better doctor-patient relationships can be forged through open and honest dialogue, having multiple modes of accessibility and communication such as in-office and telemedicine, establishing and maintaining a consistent schedule for visits and check-ins, and allowing for sufficient time at each visit so that any and all concerns can be addressed. This also means seeing the same doctor each visit so that they are already familiar with you the next time you need them. It’s also a good idea to create a checklist of things you would like to discuss with your doctor ahead of your visit so that you don’t forget to ask about something that is important to you.
These high quality doctor-patient relationships allow for doctors to better serve their patients by truly getting to know them, their health history, their risk factors, their daily activities, etc. This allows for the doctor to better tailor their care to the patient’s unique needs. Patients who feel more connected to their doctor are more likely to consult them when health concerns arise, which means potential issues can be detected and addressed earlier. Patients will also feel more confident in their doctor’s treatment plan, resulting in improved patient commitment and likely better health outcomes.
The first step in the doctor-patient relationship is opening the lines of communication, so if you are ready to forge a better relationship with your healthcare provider then it’s time to start the conversation.