What do you look for in a doctor?

[David]

I'm curious what everyone here looks for in a doctor. Examples:

Good bedside manner
Knowledgeable
Open to alternative treatments
Ease of accessibility

What else?

Thanks

 

[Gems867]

Blunt, honest, knowledgeable, good bedside manor, allows plenty of time to discuss anything (I don't want to feel rushed and like I am just a number)

 

[lookame]

...honestly someone who just takes my insurance. It's so hard to find a doctor which takes government aided insurance it sucks. A lot of them are quacks too.

My GI for instance isn't the best with bedside manner and he's unapproachable(when it comes to calling) but he does seem to want the best for me. Which is good and when I am there for an appoinment he's not that hard to talk to...*shrugs*

My primary is rather bad. His bedside manner is horrendous and it takes forever to make an appointment with him. When I told him I orginally made an appointment because I had bad bloody diarreah but I wound up in the hospital before then and told him I was diagnosed with crohns he LAUGHED and told me how I'll have crohns the rest of my life and be on medicine the rest of my life...wow what a jerk.

My ob/gyn I haven't met with yet but of coarse the ones in my area which accept my insurance are few and they all get booked rather quickly. Hopefuly their decent

My dentist overbooks appointments and they have the TINIEST office. The appointment went very fast(because they way overbooked) so it was basically a cleaning, x-ray and the dentist looked in my mouth no poking each tooth the check for a cavity or anything...

*sigh* The kind of doctor I prefer is someone who makes me feel comfortable easy to talk to and decently easy to get ahold of. It's ok if their blunt when it's needed but I'd like them to get back to me when results are in. Someone who tells me my test results in a timely manner(even send me a letter with my results) and let me know what is going on in my body(so I'm not left clueless you know) unfortunatly I haven;t had those kinds of doctors since I was a teen so...that sucks

 

[Gems867]

...honestly someone who just takes my insurance. It's so hard to find a doctor which takes government aided insurance it sucks. A lot of them are quacks too.

Do you have Medicaid or something different?

 

[Emily]

My GI doc has Crohn's which is awesome cause it makes him extremely understanding and caring. Also, he will give you all the time in the world. I dont care that he's always an hour late seeing me because i know he's gives each patient the time they need and patience is definitely important since i usually have a thousand questions

 

[lookame]

Do you have Medicaid or something different?

Well I have a "plan" but essentially it's medicaid. Hopefully soon I'll get off it...I'd like to get some new doctors but I'm in a rough spot financially right now. :/

 

[Gems867]

That's a bummer that the insurance sucks. I don't think my GI takes Medicaid. I think I might have given you my doctors name before but if not Dr John Ward http://www.ohiogastro.com/ he is great if by some chance he would accept your insurance. I have a decent family doctor Susan Lake Gahana Family Practice. I have a great dentist Dr Timothy Niebert West side of Columbus. Just started seeing a new OBGYN she seems nice but only met her once Dr Diaz in Dublin. So those are my suggestions.

 

[carolhew]

I have a wonderful GI and Internist. They don't rush appointments, very easy to talk to, explain diagnoses and treatment thoroughly. Both also give me copies of all labs and tests results.

 

[sunflower]

The doctor must listen to ME. He can be smart and all that stuff, but he must listen. No stories about his own insurance concerns, his practice costs, etc. No telling me I have something I don't, or something I might, or don't have something I could, just because he doesn't want to test for it.

He can be blunt, but must care. I also really like a smart, efficient nurse. I hate calling and getting no where with a nurse. One that acts like questions are not a part of her job. I am dealing with this with my current GI.

My first doctor was the best I ever had. When I would call with a question, he would return my call personally later in the day. A couple of times he even called me over holiday weekends because he was worried. You just don't find docs like this!!!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

My # 1 requirement is that a doctor take me seriously. Being undiagnosed, if a doctor tells me it's IBS or just shrugs and says he doesn't know what's wrong with me, that to me is a bad doctor! My current team of docs haven't yet been able to diagnose me, but my GP, GI, and even my physical therapist all believe I most likely have some form of IBD and they generally treat me as such. Bedside manner doesn't matter to me, as long as the doc takes me seriously that's all I really need!

 

[braveheart]

I avoid doctors who have the dollar sign blinking in their eyes. Somethimes going for a "well known" doctor is not a good idea. I like the ones with low profile.

Then I like the ones who take advantage of having me and do research, and study my case with interest. Remember we are five in a million, as a doctor you cannot miss such opportunity.

As already said, doctor have to listen carefully and be understanding.

And last thing, and this rule does not only apply for doctors, I avoid people who speak fast, if you pay enough attention they will contradict themselves because they do not think what they are saying.

 

[LindaS]

I like my current GI, but I have to admit it is odd to see a doctor younger than I am (only by a few years, but still). It is the first time in a long time I've gone to a male doctor. He specializes in IBD. He takes a lot of time to answer questions, and calls me occasionally at home if I'm not doing well or after a procedure or hospital stay. I like the practice, as it is quite large and all GI docs. They have access to my primary doctor's clinic records, which helps a lot to coordinate things with my primary and avoid duplicate tests.

But the first thing I look for is doctors that take my insurance. I want a doc I can get in with sooner, especially if I'm not doing well. And a doctor with hospital privileges where my primary doc also has privileges.

 

[MADiMarc]

Someone that actually listens to what I am saying. Also, don't tell me I must be doing well because I look great; that is just very lucky DNA! I would love to find a good doc younger than me...that way I wouldn't have to find another one when retirement hits!

 

[FDK80]

Smart, sensitave and carefull.

which is almost impossible nowadays ! most of the doctors now are just about business !

 

[pancakemaker]

I look for someone that is knowledgeable, respectful, caring and friendly.

I was referred to my GI doctor by my OBGYN who I love. She is so nice. Her referral was right on. My GI doctor is great.

 

[Astra]

Mine has to be over 6 feet tall
have a six pack
blond hair
a face like Josh Holloway

oooo soz, wrong forum!

I just want them to listen to me, not too much to ask is it?

 

[Crohn's 35]

Mine has to be over 6 feet tall
have a six pack
blond hair
a face like Josh Holloway

oooo soz, wrong forum!

I just want them to listen to me, not too much to ask is it?

:ywow:You are such a piece of work, I am tellin Mark :heart:

 

[Astra]

What you doing there Pen, you're in retirement!
Ya tell tale tit!
ha ha ha
xxxx

 

[Terriernut]

I'd settle for one who Thinks!

But like Joan, if they were hot stuff, I might forget about the brain bit!

 

[Grumbletum]

Yep. Listens, tells it like it is, involves me in decisions about my treatment and won't give up til they've found what is causing symptoms.

 

[SarahAnne]

I don't want some hot GI looking at my bum.

Someone who LISTENS, is patient (I hate waiting then feeling rushed out!), and explains everything carefully. I hate when doctors just assume I know why they are scheduling some test or changing my meds. I'm also tired of being misdiagnosed because two words out of my mouth and the GI thinks he knows whats wrong. I'd like to finish a sentence for once. *sigh*