Does your doctor have good manners?

From the Community…

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  Posted by Rowdygirl Fri Jan 9, 2009 9:04am PST

  I have the best medical doctor in the country ! My personal opinion, of course :) He's caring, warm and always interested in what's best for his patients. He remembers conversations from previous visits, and always asks questions and shows real concern for your medical and emotional well being.

  Aside from being a great doctor to his own patients, he also volunteers with the local homeless shelter and The United Way to provide free medical care to the homeless in my town. He's a big believer in being involved in the community and helping those that are less fortunate. He's in a family medicine practice at the local teaching hospital and his caseload is huge. But he still finds time to help the community. It takes a lot longer now to get an appointment with him than it used to, but that's ok. He's worth the wait !

  I can only say that I wish everyone had the blessings of having a great doctor like I do.

  Dr. David Deci... a true saint on earth :)

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  Posted by opiniononly Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:11am PST

  Surprisingly, the 'bad doctor' stories I and my friends have all have one thing in common...a female doctor! I have always attempted to support women in all professions and try to stay aware of the double standard of perfection that working women/moms still struggle to overcome, but I have had multiple situations of poor professional conduct by woman doctors, which I've not seen with male doctors. I can't find an explanation that makes sense to me, so prefer to recognize that there are ill-mannered people who are doctors and not attribute it to gender.

  On the other hand, I was treated by a cardiologist for 3 years and once asked him why he was so nice to me but such a d***head to his nurses. It led to an interesting conversation about the 'doctor is God' mythology, the egotism that can overtake compassionate response, the rules and regs and restrictions of insurance compliance, the unrealistic, often brutal standards of perfection doctors place on themselves and the fear/stress of failing to provide effective care to patients. According to him, there is no room for error and so, the basic courtesies of human interactions are often lost in the "business" vs. the "practice" of medicine. While these can be legitimate reasons to explain abrupt behavior, they are still excuses for acting that way.

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  Posted by Chrystani Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:28am PST

  I hate my doctor. I'm changing her asap. She never solves my issues. She assigns me the wrong medicine and she doesn't no basic things I tink a doctor should know.

  Once I didnt get my period for 3 months. She didn't know anything assumed I was pregnant and told me I shouldn't be with a man who "makes me" not use a condomn.... WTF?

  Turns out after going to another doctor I had a ovarian cyst. Dumb broad.

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  Posted by Beth Fri Jan 9, 2009 6:06pm PST

  Doctors with good bedside manners are hard to find. I much prefer nurse practitioners, they are just as knowledgable and 100% nicer.

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  Posted by Tinzley Sat Jan 10, 2009 5:52pm PST

  My doctor is great, she is a people person and she looks me straight in the eye when we are discussing health issues. It doesn't matter to her how long the visit takes, she seems to care more that her patients leave the office feeling like their doctor cares. I will always go to her, i even told her that if she ever decides to go into her own private practice, please don't forget about me.

  I had this specialist once who just came off as rude and not interested in his patients. He didn't look at me and he seemed to be rushing as if my concern was not his.Something of importance that I asked him went un-answered even though he said he'd check on it. I know doctors are busy, but they must be patient and show concern and loyalty to us, their patients.

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  Posted by jmpmaher Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:53pm PST

  I have a great doctor. I've had to change doctors a few times because of health insurance changes. However, if I see a doctor who I feel is not competent or socially inept, I just don't return. It's as simple as that. You wouldn't go back to a hair stylist that did a crummy job, so why would you put your health in the hands of someone you don't particularly care for?

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  Posted by Karen Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:13am PST

  My husband and I had to change doctors. We didn't want to at first as when we began with this doctor he was caring and took the time to really listen to you and we were happy with the health care we were receiving. The first really shocking change was the fact that the doctor's wife began to berate employees in the presence of a waiting room full of patients. Additionally, many appointments were cancelled the day of the appointment by the doctor's office (never once was a work number called but you'd drive all the way there to be told the appointment was cancelled and either the message would be left on your home phone or there would be no mesage left at all). When you were sitting in the waiting room (which at the time we left could be up to an hour and a half after the time you were actually scheduled) you were bombarded with requests to buy the doctor's new book that he had written. The doctor's wife then branched out into running a day spa above the doctor's office and every time you went for an appointment you were heartily encouraged to have treatments upstairs. I was made to wait for 15 extra minutes in the middle of my appointment in the exam room while the doctor excused himself to go and sign for a shipment of botox for his wife's spa. The doctor began to get thinner and more unhealthy looking and growing his graying hair long and flowing and it was scary. I expected him to pull a Howard Hughes anytime and come shuffling in with tissue boxes on his feet! Near the end, when we were discussing my fluctuating weight problem he stated that maybe we should through a party because I was finally under ___ pounds! The doctor we have now is wonderful. He follows through on everything. His office staff is polite and on the ball and we feel we are getting great health care now.

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  Posted by LA Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:27am PST

  I have the best doctor ever. She is not only courteous, and respectful, but hygienic (washes her hands without me having to ask), and intelligent. She takes the time to listen to my concerns, orders the proper testing, and doesn't waste my time. Her philosophy on health is directly in line with mine. She resolved a severe health issue I had struggled with for almost two years in less than five minutes. She did what multiple doctors, specialists, and surgeons could not do. I would highly recommend her to anyone. Thank you Dr. Brown!

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  Posted by Viki Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:27pm PST

  I was thoroughly shocked our female doctor became just short of hysterical when we took our 17 year old son in after witnessing something that seemed like a seizure in his sleep. I descibed what I saw several times and all she kept saying "He can't drive! He can't drive!".

  I asked her if what I described was a seizure and got the same response.She sent us out the door with an appointment at a neurologist in six weeks but not one word about what to do for a seizure. Thank god for the internet. I got the information to help and protect him there. Including the idea to put a baby moniter in his room. Thank god I did. He had several more before we saw the neurologist. It was epilepsy and those were grand mal seizures I witnessed. We never heard from our general doctor after the dignosis. We'll never see her again.

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  Posted by Erin Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:59pm PST

  I am truly blessed, my doctor is very supportive and kind. If I feel that I need more tests, like when I thought I might have broken my ankle, he had one done and was very respectful of my opinion.

  I have had one horror story from a doctor though... I went with my mother to this female doctor and she asked ME to leave the room during MY appointment so that she could speak to my mother. I have never been back to that doctor, and let her know that she had behaved in an unacceptable manner.

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