CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOCTOR
Gomantak Times – Weekender, 25 July 2010
More often than not, the average person begins searching for a doctor only when illness strikes, which is not the best time to locate one, explains Orlene D’Souza
Sonia had just moved to Goa with her family, and like all people who change their residence, she took great pains in locating the best school for her children, getting house help, meeting the neighbours etc. However, she overlooked one important aspect, and that was to identify a family doctor.
One morning, Sonia woke up with high fever and a splitting headache. The stress of her new job and settling into a new place had made Sonia susceptible to viral infections. She needed to see a doctor, but unfortunately, she didn’t know any doctor.
Like most of us, she too didn’t bother to look for a doctor until she really needed one.
So, she picked up the yellow pages and looked out for doctors in her locality. She shortlisted a couple of names, but she needed more information, so she asked for references from her friends and colleagues. However, this didn’t help much. Her friends and colleagues gave her contradictory feedback, making her decision making process even more difficult.
Asking for recommendations from friends and coworkers is not always the best way to start; after all, we each have our own needs and expectations of our healthcare provider. Choosing a doctor who best fits our needs is a difficult task and is perhaps one of the most important decisions we make. After all, we put our life in the hands of this person.
Here are few factors you would like to consider while choosing your doctor:
DOCTOR DEMOGRAPHY
The age and gender of the doctor sometimes influences our choice. We all have our preference when it comes to age and gender of the doctors. Some women might be more comfortable discussing their health problem with a female doctor than a male doctor. The age of the doctor seems to be important too. An older person might prefer going to an older and more experienced doctor.
DOCTOR CHARACTERISTICS
All doctors have their unique styles of relating to their patients, and as patients we have different expectations of this doctor-patient relationship. Understanding the doctor’s style will help you find your right doctor. Some of us would need a doctor who is an attentive listener, while there would be others who might need some reassuring or others who need comprehensive treatment information.
HOSPITAL AFFILIATION
It is good to know which hospital the doctor is affiliated to. Find out if the hospital has the facilities you are looking. Is the location of the hospital convenient; is the support staff good, does the hospital pricing match your expectations?
DISTANCE FROM HOME
Another factor you would like to consider is how far you would need to travel every time you need to visit the doctor. This is especially true if you do not have proper transportation facility.
WAITING TIME
If time is a constraint for you, it is important to find out the average waiting time for an appointment. You need to find out whether you could get an appointment the same day you call.
CONSULTATION TIMINGS AND PUNCTUALITY
If you are a working family, consultation timings is something you would need to consider. Look out for a doctor who practices after your regular working hours and who is punctual in honouring appointments.
OTHER FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND
The other relevant factors to keep in mind when choosing a good doctor should be proximity to chemists, pathology lab and the presence of courteous and helpful staff. Careful consideration of the above will ensure that your choice of a family doctor is better informed.
[The writer is a faculty at the Marian Institute of Healthcare Management, Panjim, and can be contacted at orlenedsouza@marianinstitute.in]
Tags: Doctor choice, Faculty Articles, MIHM articles, Orlene D'Souza