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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. |
