What is the quality of a good doctor and how can a medical student assess his medical science and skills regularly and comparing to the international medical students?
There is a Chinese proverb which, I think, is entirely relevant to this question in these days of pill-pushing for all:
The superior doctor prevents sickness
The mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness
The inferior doctor treats actual sickness
We all have our own way to judge good doctor and different areas have different scales. Some doctors were evaluated as best doctors for straight several year in one medical school (top 40 in USA) but was then evaluated as a not so good doctor after going to another medical school (not in the USA top 50). So how to judge?
I hope you will be knowing the qualities of a good author for a good scientific publication.I have already uploaded a short communication about this content.. Shamim T. Author’s qualities essential for a good scientific publication. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. 2010 Oct-Dec; 22(4): 224. (Short communication) Indexed in scopus
http://www.ayubmed.edu.pk/JAMC/PAST/22-4/Shamim.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22455305
ARMIN,
There are several qualities and characteristics of a good doctor. A good doctor listens to his patients. He is knowledgeable, proficient in his field, he always keeps the patients first, He is also sympathetic, empathetic, caring, understanding, acts in the best interests of the patient, has good bed side manners, has good communication skills, stays current and up to date with latest scientific information, one who is a leader, respectful of others, gives importance to undergraduate teaching, goes out of the way to help patients. One who treats the patient as a whole, taking care of his physical, emtional and spiritual health. Ofcourse one who is down to earth, intelligent, diligent and honest. The list of the qualities of a good doctor may go on and on.
Your other question is how a medical student can assess his medical science and skills regularly and comparing to other international medical students. A medical student can assess his knowledge and skills perhaps by taking tests and quizzes which are geared towards assessing the knowledge and skills. Similarly he can compare his knowledge and skills to international medical students again by taking standardized qualifying tests for international medical schools, thereby comparing their own scores with international medical students. A medical student can gain knowledge and skills equivalent to that of international medical students by reading the books and journals which the international medical students and physicians read. There are several good medical journals, such as New England Journal of Medicine, Archives of Internal medicine and JAMA etc.
Your teachers are always your role models. Shadow your teachers which means follow your teachers, listen to them, ask them questions, talk to other junior and senior medical students and discuss your doubts with them. Keep up with the latest medical literature available. Hard work surely pays. I hope I have stimulated you enough to be a good medical student and a good doctor. I am quite sute that if you follow these rules of the game, you will one day be a very good medical student with equivalent knowledge and skills of an international medical student. I hope that eventually you will be a very good doctor with knowledge and skills equivalent or even more than the most of the international physicians. Good Luck.
It's a matter of gauge. Emphasis in scientific knowledge or interpersonal relationship? Skilled in performing procedures or in sharp clinical reasoning? Driven by an ethical and social responsible practice or by the annual gross income? People are more prone to variation than diseases, thus you question cannot be fully answered without knowledge on your background & aims.
Not quite sure but patients role are giving much percentage in this question. So as patient maybe we love to meet a positively-suggesting doctor. Just as we come in to the room, we meet the doctors and some pain gone. A very fundamental attitude of doctors needed
Best quality any health care professional must have is a passion for quality in delivery ,be it knowledge or care and treatment.To perceive patient as " Whole Human Being" at the point of care,best guides could be Nurses.It is the foundation of nursing science and their years of experience at the bed side makes them good guides to any one who seeks to hone their skills.Shadowing nurses and practicing good communication skills should be an "Never to Miss Rule" to be a good student.
First quality of a good doctor is to be a good profesionalist, second to know how to talk with the patient and to listen him to understand the problem and when hi knows diagnosis and the right way for treatment all will finish well.
according to GMC UK, definition of Good Doctor is;
Patients need good doctors. Good doctors make the care of their patients their first concern: they are competent, keep their knowledge and skills up to date, establish and maintain good relationships with patients and colleagues*, are honest and trustworthy, and act with integrity.
hope this help
good luck
I am writing a paper concerning personal attitudes of those sugeons who had to go through major operations and then returned to surgical practice after recovery. From 42 surgeons who answered a survey, 27 informed that their complains helped them to change and consequently to be more human, capable of understanding more accurately their patients anxieties and symptoms. Nevertheless, I think that doctors don´t need to be sick to improve their attitudes. Role modelling during the cleckships of the carrer and in residencies after graduation, in addition to learning ethics, values and oral communication, are the clues for an efficiet medical education. In spite of this, I think that it is impossible to assure optimal results, as well as you can teach theology and rituals but you are not able to induce neither belives nor faith.
The attributes of a good doctor evidenced by one who recognizes the privilege bestowed upon him/her by the trust the patient places in them. The patient who is vulnerable and anxious needs a doctor who recognizes his job as the patients advocate. He takes seriously the acquisition of broad based scientific knowledge and clinical skills accompanied by trustworthiness, compassion and humility.
I answer this not as a medical professional but as the mother of a chronically ill child. Over the last 4 years I have met doctors who I rate as fantastic and others I will never go to again except to explain what was so awful about seeing them the first time.
When we go to a doctor, pediatrician or specialist, we first and foremost assume that they have good training and work hard to stay up on their skills and remain up to date and as knowledgeable as possible. Those doctors don't mind when you bring in a scholarly article relating to the care. They are appreciative as no one can read everything relating to their field with the current deluge of information. They now have relevant information relating to a patient and no time was wasted.
Next they listen and ask good questions without making the patient feel attacked. No one yet knows what causes some of our sons issues. A few things have been nailed down and are be treated, others are a mystery. I understand that a doctor needs to ask good and sometimes hard questions. Is the patients symptoms physiological in nature or psychological. Given the years of symptoms physiological could now give way to psychological. The project of untangling the symptoms is not easy. Indicating that you believe there is an issue and a reason for the patient to be in your office and spending time with you is important. The reality is that you may have no practical information or treatment to offer the person seeing you. Humble compassion that they are still left without answers is huge. Just saying, "Isn't it great you don't have this! You can go home happy." Please balance that with, "I'm sorry we don't have a solid answer for you today. It is a relief you don't have this awful condition but you also go home without a clear answer of what is causing these symptoms. Do you have a plan of where to go from here?"
Believe there is an issue, listen, be humble, be honest - if you don't know or have concerns about what doesn't line up then say so! If you don't believe the patients level of concern is warranted find out why they are so concerned and teach them so they can be more relaxed or provide you with the information of why this is of such concern to them or their family. Being able to have a genuine conversation makes so much difference.
Don't lecture your patient without having listened first. Don't ask them in a snide or sarcastic voice, "Why are you here?" Its a valid question but must be asked correctly. If your patient is a child make sure you try to connect with them. If you only talk with the parents and then just talk to the child while you examine them you will have missed so much. They then feel like they don't matter as a person. It is okay to ask them how they feel about being there, why have they come, etc. They may be really shy and not open up, but if you make a paper airplane or quick draw a picture on the paper of the exam bed with them or little things like that you will be amazed at how bringing normalcy into the sterility of an exam room will warm up the child. Remember they are a person too and you will be surprised at what information they can give you even though they don't yet know how to express as much as an older child or adult.
Believe, Listen, Compassion, Humility, Help make a plan, Go the extra mile to figure out the hard cases.
It will take you a long way with your patient.
Best wishes in your career.
One of the most important qualities of a good doctor is doing all that he or she can for a patient regarless of their financial situation. My younger sister was in the hospital for 5 months. Each day I called and visit her in the I.C.U. One morninig the attending and about 10 more residents were rounding. Half way into the report, the attending said "Does she have insurance"? If not we can send her to a nursing home! This was said because my sister needed chemo. She's 24 and was about to written off. Luckly she had insurance, but what happens when a person doesn't? Clearly this doctor didn't know that I was less than two feet away from my sister! Saving a persons LIFE shouldn't be based on how much insurance you have! Oh yea, it also doesn't hurt to have good beside manner because it could be "YOU" lying in that same bed one day!
I haven't found one yet. I've seen 13 doctors for pain in my r hip/groin area. All gave me a different diagnoses and said here take this pill or we will do this surgery to make you feel better. Still the problem exists. Someday.....
A good doctor should know exactly what he knows.He/she should not not be trained by a personal trainer to demonstrate empathic gestures, but he/she should be empathic to patients with his/her sound knowledge. It is a terrible vision to me seeing doctors taking the hand of their patients, talking like a mother to her child with them and having a real lack of knowledge.
Another bad scenario is losing the distance. As a doctor you will not be able to help your patients, if you lose some kind of distance. I do a lot of cancer surgery and I see a lot of patients from their diagnosis to their end of life. But if you don't have a small distance, you will make bad decisions. Being empathic and having sound knowledge about the disease and the treatment will help you to find your right way in these situations.
A good doctor is not almighty and he/she does not know everything, but he/she knows this and is able to cope with situations knowing not everything. He/she is honest and tries a lot to acquire the lacking knowledge and then contacts the patient again. He/she refers the patients to other colleagues, if the treatment of the disease is beyond their personal or their department/hospitals limit.
There are lots of other things, that define a good doctor in daily life. But I think, that these are the most important.
A good doctor is a person who cares for humans, who feel the touch of someone
suffering a terrible disease or someone who is close to death, a good doctor
is a person who feels the pain and strogle of that human being that is fighting
a disease that could fatal someday.
I good doctor is a person who love whitout a reward.
A good doctor is who turn the knowledge into practice to deliver the best healthcare.
Good doctors should have a well balanced sense between humanity, clinical experience, and evidence-based medicine and are able to explain clearly the clinical situation to the patient. He/she should also have the ability to best release patients` suffering at the lowest possible cost to the patient, to their families and to the health care system. Good doctors generally can understand well the patients` needs and work to provide cure when possible, improved quality of life as much as possible , and best comfort at death always.
A good doctor - a rare breed these days when they have one eye on the clock and the other on the computer screen. A good doctor is one who is there because he well and truly cares about you and will go to any length to make sure that you have the currect diagnosis and get the appropriate treatment that is available.
A good doctor is one who will start his/her observations right from the moment you step into his office and greet him. who will pay 100% attention to you and you alone. listening and observing with empathy.
A good doctor is one who inspires confidence in his patients and will always be the first port of call no matter what the problem is because his patient knows that he will make the right decisions for him.
A good doctor is one who is honest with you and will always have your best interests at heart. And like someone mentioned above re insurance will have the knowledge of available resources for his patient without being insensitive.
A good doctor is one who will treat you as he expects to be treated by his own doctor.
I can confidently say that I have a very good doctor who I visit regularly even though she no longer practices in my neighborhood.
And I can very confidently say with a hand on my heart that in my practicing days I have endeavored to maintain those high standards and given my best to my patients.
A good doctor is a good human. He mixes science with art and compassion.
A good Doctor should be sympathetic, but not condescending; analytical but not critical; detached but not indifferent; inquiring but not inquisitive; knowledgeable but not dogmatic; human but not emotional. Lastly, a good doctor should be a good philosopher who wonders at the beauty of human life, accept the limitations of human endeavor.
A good Doctor should be hardworking, caring, self-motivated and innovative
Qualities of a good psychotherapist:
A good psychotherapist is sensitive and respectfully humble in face of having the privilege to be admitted to the patient's most private realm. The doctor's role is not to "create a person after his/her own image", nor after a statistically recommendable one. Instead, he/she strives to work with the patient to find hints to the patient's unconscious self through dreams, drawings, associations etc. A "proof" (indication) that the doctor's suggested interpretation of the latter has been meaningful to the patients is his/her resonance to the interpretation. If not, alternative interpretations, at times using additional unconscious products, are sought. Further, if an interpretations had provided an important aspect of a new insight, the following dreams etc are likely to pick up that interpretation , elaborating on it within the process of evolving toward the patient as an individuum that might have remained hidden by various defense mechanism, e.g. by a "transference" in the patient's interrelation with the doctor.
A good physician is one who realizes medicine is not an exact science, but rather healing is an art and that a good physician skillfully utilizes medicine as a tool to help the patient to cope to their best .
An oft overlooked quality of a good physician is the ability and skill to search for and find to underlying causes and not be distracted by the more popular, but superficial symptoms. Today's medicine has been so dominated by the commercial propensity to overmedicalize symptoms that it requires extraordinary skill to look past that unfortunate trend and realize that there are only a handful of causes of all chronic disease (i.e., chronic dehydration, lack of restorative sleep, nutritional deficiencies, heavy metal toxicities, substance abuse (including the popular ones like caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol), untreated infections/disease, acidosis (cellular pH under 7.2), unhealed injuries, unresolve emotional distress/trauma). If these were the objects of our investigations, instead of the more obvious ones (pain, inflammation, secondary infections, etc.) the term "healing" instead of merely "managing" could once again come into the nomenclature of medicine, and patients would get well and enjoy higher quality of life.
I have not seen your take on the pharmacuetical scene, Sydney, but I can tell you that we are off on a terribly wrong track on a number of fronts, particularly because of overmedicalizing symptoms and ignoring the more important underlying causes, and partially because of the wrong models (i.e., the amyloid plaque model for Alzheimer's, etc.) are used in too many areas of medicine. I train physicians to investigate underlying causes, not be distracted by the superficial ones, and to have healing as the goal, instead of managing. Chronic disease can be conquered so easily when true healing is truly the aim, but being treated as if it is acute chronic conditions become acute.
A good medical doctor is one who always listens and keeps up with the literature. To provide quality medical care, a doctor needs interview patients concerning their health behaviors in all areas including diet and physical activity. Recommending patients to other professionals, such as dietitians and physical therapists is also the function of a good MD. A good MD's treatment plans should include a TEAM of other professionals for all patients.
There is a Chinese proverb which, I think, is entirely relevant to this question in these days of pill-pushing for all:
The superior doctor prevents sickness
The mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness
The inferior doctor treats actual sickness
Excellent proverb, Barry. We see the inferior doctor in action in droves in the current mainstream system, and the superior lined up after my seminars asking me how they can make a living doing that for which there are no reimbursement codes in the current system. At the present money and defensive medicine are driving the US medical care system, overmedicalization of symptoms and the needed counseling and case history taking that reverses aversive pathways nearly absent. Consequently, my friends who have historically operated robust private practices are either closing to take jobs with the instituions or trying to sell their practice so they can find a more palatable situation. I think the key to the whole situation is to educate the public, the politicians, and particularly incoming physicians of the need to return to a more considered approach to healthcare that searches for and addresses underlying causes before they become acute crises. Great comment!
..and, above all, "heal" the patient rather than settle for "managing" symptoms.
As professionals, physicians are expected to act in a courteous, dignified and civil manner towards their patients, their colleagues (i.e., all those who work with the physician, whether members of a health regulatory college or not) and others involved in the provision of health care.
Read about what is Professionalism in Medicine?
http://www.med.uottawa.ca/students/md/professionalism/eng/what_is_professionalism.html
A "good" doctor will try to find out the cause of pain rather than send you to yet another one. 13 doctors later you STILL have NO answer.
Exactly, Sharon, my point precisely. Thank you. In medicine, we are researchers first--then, we will know what to do. But first we must rid ourselves of the notion that blood tests, MRIs, and the like are the totality of such research, lest idiopathy remain the #1 diagnosis.
A good doctor is one who does timely introspection of self in relation to the knowledge of his field.
Keeps himself updated always,
Maintains dignity and professionalism,
Remembers his oath throughout,
Is Approachable in all his temperaments AND
Not the one who sways away with the lure of money mending like corporates in this competitive world Coz he still has place next to GOD
A good nurse must know the medical science.
A good doctor needs to know the nursing science.
Our patients will benefit.
Excellent insights, Nicola and Delphina. In my nearly 4 decades in healthcare I can honestly say nursing science is often at the cutting edge before other disciplines. We can all learn from them.
The first and foremost quality of a doctor is he/she should treat his/her patient as his own family member.
Thanks Max. I understand from your words that you're a good doctor. In this case nursing more than a cutting edge is an occasion to remember that medicine was originally patient centered. The transition from philosophical to scientific medicine, reductionism and the biomedical model at the basis of Western medicine, especially in the last two centuries has pushed medicine more and more to become technological and specialized (also nursing...). The doctor-patient relationship underlying Hippocratic medicine has become increasingly loose. The holistic view of the patient is at the base of meta-paradigm nursing and detectable in all nursing theories. At the beginning of my career more than twenty-two years ago, I thought that attention to relational aspects were only nursing matters, but I soon realized that must belong to all health care professionals. For nurses is a central aspect, but it is important for everyone. For some years in my university, medical students from the third year of their training, for three years undergo 36 hours of “nursing training”. They not only learn practical skills, but also interpersonal skills. A good doctor diagnoses and treats diseases and a good nurse diagnoses and treats human responses to health problems/vital processes. For both “the person” must be at the center.
I could write an answer based on contemporary knowledge, but medicine is as old as the first humans started helping their fellow sufferers. So I quote Plato who defined a doctor more than 2.000 years ago: "A citizen doctor prevents and treat diseases, deepening fully in all aspects from the beginning, in a scientific way, and is the confidant of the patient and his family. So he learns from sufferers. Gives no prescription until he has won the support of the patient and when he obtains it he seeks stably to produce the complete restoration of health, persuading the sufferer to accept.
Sydney, I just noticed that your retinopathy approach, which utilizes the markers of the eyes, closely resembles (with different terminology) our video otoscopy biomarker method which involves the ears. Amazing. I have a dentist friend who went to Case Western Reserve University, the top dental research school in my opinion, who uses a similar (though far less elaborate) set of markers. It appears that the future in medical diagnosis is going to be biomarker assessment rather the disjointed and expensive batteries of tests we now see so dominantly in the field. I know this comment appears at first blush off-topic, but in reality it is exactly on-topic, as I would hope that physicians who find themselves locked into reimbursement code-guided medicine and all the conforming protocols it requires will start breaking away and actually examining patient biomarkers through whatever assessment format that is accurate, low cost, and revealing as to underlying issues, and then demanding that reimbursement codes (now set by bureacrats and insurers) allow innovation, efficiencies, and healing qualities found in complementary/alternative methodologies. Then, we will healthcare costs plummet as unnecessary surgeries and polypharmaceutical scripts go to the wayside and patients realize not management of disease (I call it the renting model) but healing (which I call "owning your health" model). Thank you for sharing your approach with us.
Dear Armin,
I will try to answer your question accurately. I must say first of all that I am a nurse and not a doctor. I hope that my particular point of view is useful for you. You ask “What is the quality of a good doctor?” Know your code of medical ethics! There you will find the "core" of medical profession, as well as your medical community has determined. Compare it with other codes of conduct. You'll find that paraphrasing SR Mousavi, "Western bioethics does not profoundly different from Islamic bioethics." (Usage Ethics in Medical Education in Islamic Countries. Iranian Journal of Medical Ethics 2012:1 (2) :34-39). And that "the code of ethics provides a set of principles which doctors can use as guidelines in the varying situations, in line with their Judgment, Experience, Knowledge and Skills." Then ask to us "how can a medical student assess his medical science and skills?" I hope that your teachers should strive to do so. I’m confident. I read that your university is ranked as one of Iran's top research universities. You'll know recognize teachers who love their students and who put all their knowledge to favour the students. When you recognize them, involve yourself to learning as much as you can from them! Know, however, that you can decide which doctor you want to be! “Care” the most of the skills and knowledge you are taught. And remember that you will become doctors with “D”capital letter only the day after you retire. We must be humble and continue studying until the last day of practice. Good luck!
1.Should give equal Respect to Paramedics, Patients
2. Doctor should always Be an adviser for patients.
3. Bussiness mind is worthless,
4. When a patient get cured, He gave ah great wish to us, we need that only.
5. In Physician Life, Getting Bad name is so easy, But getting Name and Boom is so hard to get. Once you get , U cant Leave that.
I agree, Sydney that the connotation "CAM" is off-putting in the context in which it has been used in recent years, but in truth CAM is technically everything out there, from which the best tools can be used to benefit patients. I'd like to think whenever we can put science behind it that it should be an acceptable tool in mainstream medicine. The science does not have to be the sophiticated, billion $ bias-designed projects we see that impresses investors and dazzles the public. So much science is found and documented in uncountable case histories--how the vast majority of science was put behind some of the most successful treatments in history--and where patients have responded markedly and consistently better...without having to resort to dangerous drug classes that only weaken the body and lead to worsened disease. I would think in all that commenters have said on this topic--and there are many excellent and insightful--that we can all agree that a mark of a good physician, in learning of less invasive and more revealing diagnostic methodologies, and likewise better and safer treatments than are currently used, but utilize those instead of what they know is less precise and more harmful for the patient...even if it means bucking the reimbursement codes and politics of medicine. One can at least hope.
The good doctor needs to listen the patient, examine with they own hands and finally to prescribe an exam,not necessarily the most expensive
Wao! Excellent question............. This is a question which need to be empathetically viewed. You should see what the end users require....... In my view point following qualities will be helpful for users.
1. Excellent counseling skill: Most of the diseases are in mind than in real. So, an excellent councelling that too by a expert is the best medicine than others. It requires handsome quantum of time too.
2. Excellent updated knowledge: Now-a-days the patients have also became quite aware of the knowledge through googling. So, for having the better convincing ability, a doctor should have a thorough and sound updated knowledge database.
3. Mix of treatment: The treatment should not always be conventional with medicines or surgery, but it may have mix of all which may be most appropriate like herbals, exercises, meditation, daily routine, etc and many more.
4. Cost of treatment should always be considered with view of patient.
5. Suffering of patient should always be considered.
In one line, I should say that if a doctor is EMPATHETIC TOWARDS HIS/HER PATIENTS, HE/SHE WILL BE A GOOD DOCTOR.
Double Wao!!! Hear about empathy by a doctor is fantastic. I have always been confident that the medicine would not forget his noble origins and teachings of the great masters have left to posterity. The technology will be more and more developed, as well as advanced therapies, but the relationship with patient and relatives will always be the most important task for doctors, nurses and health care professionals. Good comments, Pankaj. Thank you!
To me a good doctor should have these vital characterstics:
1-s(h)e must havea good fundamental and basic science
2-must have a vast medical knowledge
3-must monitor carefully the recent literature.to do that well enough,must try to diminish in his/her field of work(e.g:breast surgery instead of general surgery..)
4-must have a strict connection with the authorities in his/her field(it deos not need it directly)
5-must discuss and ask helping from his/her expert collagues for his/her scientific problems
6-when practicing medicine,must not forget that every patient is unique and the greatest teacher of medicine is the patient himself/herself.
First of all must be a diplomatic in its communication with the patients, psychologically patient need to increase his spirit by giving him your analysis of the disease in a way he will not be panic of. advice gradually in a manner of being so optimistic even the fate is poor.
Dear Armin, I modestlIy believe as a professional health care, that we have too much to learn from the nurses: learn to listen to the patient and, in opportune times to establish a frank, open dialogue with him, in the patient's level of intellect. Communication is definitely the safest way for a proper diagnosis, treatment, and perhaps a good prognosis.
I believe that the ability to "listen" is not innate, but must be taught stubbornly, well learned and daily used, regardless of gender, health discipline or professional field of practice. Regards.
I believe the ability to listen and match medical expertise with the experience/symptoms of the patient are key.
Most essentially a good doctor doesn't refer to google for everything (an increasing trend in some GP practices), but rather experience and expertise prevail.
Too many people are misdiagnosed or have a delayed diagnosis due to the lack of listening and inadequate expertise.
In my opinion, a doctor who takes the time to spend with the patient is the best of all doctors. I recently had a brain tumor. The doctors spent hours just talking to me and making assessments based on the conversation. The ability to communicate with the patient is one of the least taught areas of the medical profession.
Good comment, Eric. Of course, with today's high professional liability insurance costs (ranging in premiums from $100,000 to $500,000 or higher) and the other very high costs of medical practice, little time is afforded the physician who has been scheduled to see 20 patients an hour. Defensive medicine, documentation, and untenable costs have driven medicine to the point that we are lucky to even see a physician during a routine or emergency examination and treatment. I mention this, because it is about to get worse, making it virtually impossible to take the time it really requires to get to know a given patient and the best course of treatment for them. Institutional and assembly line medicine, hedged by defensive medicine, has completely changed the scenario from former times. It is hoped that we will someday get away from this paradigm and allow patient and physician to once more get back to finding best treatments and modalities for the patient rather than what are dictated by reimbursement codes and popular trends in medicine. Then, healing may come back into the nomenclature of medicine and wellness become the outcome, always.
Dear Jizhi Guo I work in health care for 22 years and I know how difficult it is to listen to our patients when we are tired physically and psychologically, I also know that the ability to listen is also favored by personal predisposition. But a good doctor as well as a good nurse knows how to leave behind the tired, the temperament. We conduct a professional help and we must know how to manage our emotions and temperaments in any clinical setting. Sincerely, Nicola
This is a true story of a good doctor. Patients young and old are willing to come from far places and waited patiently to see him. I decided to find out why by registering to be his patient. First he(smartly dressed) greeted me with a charming and caring smile. Then he puts me at ease by asking general questions like whether I had a nice breakfast that day. Then after some time he ask what can he do to help me. He then patiently gave his ears to every word that I said. He then asked many questions on my family history as well. He took great care in examining me with a professional nursing assistant. Finally when he decided to prescribed some medication, he will describe the actions of each drug carefully even the side-effects to be aware of. In the end I noticed that he spent not less than 30 minutes for each patient that came to see him. He even asked the patient to give feedback as soon as possible. So actually everyone is satisfied with his passion, professionalism and caring attitude.
Exellent example, Kamarudden. I wish it were possible to find a physician in the US of such priceless caring and wisdom, and not fettered with having to pay $100-000-$500,000 (US) a year out of pocket for professional liability and required by his institution to see 20-30 patients per hour. How we yearn for a simpler, less litigious time!
I agree with Kamaruddin Mohd Yusoff that a 'good doctor' needs to discuss and evaluate the actions of each drug carefully and the side-effects. Drug-drug and food-drug interactions need to be considered carefully in deciding on the appropriate medications. Taking a holistic approach is another indicator of a good doctor. That is, treating the whole person rather just addressing a serious of medical concerns.
Excellent observation, Joan. The whole person is truly the entity that needs to be addressed in any exam.
dear friends
I think the most important thing is the art of creating a good comunication between the doctor and his/her patient. then he must listen carefully to the patient and try to explain questions in an easy way to the patient.
In fact good comunication is the most important part of treatment.
So many answers and discussions on quality of good doctor... But can these qualities like good communicative skills, empathy, counselling and others be induced in a person studying Medicine ???? Why not these skills be taken into consideration before admitting a student to study medicine ???
Jasmine makes a good point about preparedness before the study of medicine. Realizing it is different in each country, my feeling is that the cultural aspects surrounding medicine need to be changed so that empathy, interviewing skills, and case history from a patient-centered approach should be an important part of both early and advanced curriculum. Many healthcare disciplines now require these skills--why not medicine?
Excellent consideration Max. Seems to me that there is a common thread that unites all interventions: many aspects of medicine may be culturally mediated, but the uniqueness of the human being requires a holistic and patient-centered approach. Empathy and non-technical skills are fundamental for a good doctor, nurse and health professionals.
Dear Armin:
I think this article is interesting: Good Physicians from the perspective of their patients.
Ami Schattner, Dan Rudin and Navah Jellin.
BMC Health Services Research 2004, 4:26
The conclusions of this study were: Patients studied want their physicians to be highly professional and expert clinicians and show humaneness and support, but their first priority is for the physician to respect their autonomy.
Sincerely.
Diana Rodríguez Hurtado M.D F.A.C.P
A good doctor never practice that he does not know and the medical student can asses his/her knowledge and skill regularly by asking oneself why he/she could not solve the problem or handle the situation.
Though I am not having medical background but from the patient point of view a doctor which rightly diagnose the disease, give right priscription, charge less and care a patient with sympathy and love is called a good doctor.
Every doctor knows that medicine are chemicals that could hurt people in the long term. Therefore, patient's health first not pharmaceutical companies interests. .
Hi,
Theoretically a good doctor should be valued primarily for his professional skills. In practice, studies show that clients see great importance in social aspects and accessibility aspects and in many cases ignore the professional aspect (especially when choosing a family doctor). In my view, this increases the distortion in the medical services industry and increases the problem of information in this field.
Best wishes,
Yaakov
Everybody is correct within limits of controversy and acceptability. The issue is very confusing, delicate and fluctuating! Because, a "good Doctor" and "always a good Doctor " are the expected role for the same Doctor. But it is impossible for any doctor who is a human being. But it expected and is definitely possible , "Doctor" is considered as a community.
The qualities of a good doctor, are easy to learn, but difficult to apply, first, listen to your patient, be a professional ethical, integrant, responsible and committed to society, study until the end of their days, and indispensably, be an excellent Researcher
Dr. Ivan David, your good doctor definition is very nice and comprehensive; in deed "Excellent doctor".
My teacher said the good doctor have to have tree " H": Hand (skill), Head (knowlege), Heart (loving patient).
I think a good doctor should be competent and ethical, must have knowledge, skills and attitudes.
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