What qualities do you want to find in your doctor?

We have family doctor and he was been a close friend with my mom and dad for nearly 30 years and I can say I was trying to find a doctor that fits the category of being called a family doctor not because he charge less but he cares much with his patient and that I think is important. I have a favorite gyne and ob at medical city also a pedia who looks after for my son health and the qualities I've seen with them that makes me feel comfortable everytime I was in thier clinic is that they show more concern with what you feel and not with how much you can pay, they tend to be a friend rather than the casual doctor patient relationship and that made the patient more at home and more positive that thier doctor is a friendly doctor and thinks of thier health more and do offer a quality service every patient deserve. I think by your gesture ethanmama you are a good optha and you develop a friendly relationship to your patient because the mere fact you asked us thier is a hint that you want to rende a quality service to them. Kudos ethanmama for being a proffesional and a friend to your patient.

The important thing to me is my doctor must learn to listen. I don't know what it is with the doctors in the UK, but it seems the patient is always wrong. I go to my doctor with a real problem, and he won't listen to me. It is my body, I should know if I broke a bone or not. This should not have taken 5 YEARS to get them to believe me. It turns out, that I was right all along. I do not want a doctor to compare me to some stupid sports person. It is my injury, no one elses. I find it very rude for the doctor or surgeon to have an attitude. As if they want to be anywhere else except talking to you. They can't seem to get rid of you fast enough. We also need more than 5 - 10 minutes for an appointment. They need to give us more time. My doctor in the States was great, very helpful, caring, gave me as much time as was necessary for whatever ailment I had. He was polite, didn't keep looking at his watch. In the UK, I only go to the doctors if I can't heal it myself. They don't even give me the results of my blood tests. What a nightmare! I want an answer one way or another. I don't expect them to ignore me.

I want a doctor that doesn't just rush you out so that you forgot all your questions. I realize that it's not always possible to spend much time with each patient though. This one is more about the office than the specific doctor, but I don't have insurance, so I'd like to know what I'll pay ahead of time. Especially on things that have common rates, like exams. It would be nice if that information was posted in the office or on their website if they had one. I know they can't tell me an exact figure, but I never know how much to bring and it's embarassing when you think it will only cost so much and it costs more.

This is a very thoughtful question for us patients. I love doctors who are kind and not nasty. They listen to their patients and as much as possible give natural remedies instead of prescribing medicines for gain.

Based on my experience, I just noted two things.... One, some doctors I have dealt with are not time conscious. Like for instance, they hold their clinic from 1-4pm. But they come in the clinic at around 3pm already. This is no exception, because it happens on a regular basis. Its really quite inconvenient on the part of the patient to wait that long especially when your pregnant or have a child with you. I think they should value their patients time. Its common courtesy and respect as well. Secondly, I noted that some doctors used technical terms to explain the findings or condition to the patient. I find this odd since ordinary people will not understand their medical jargons. I don't think they need to impress their patients that they know this and that. I just think it is right to use layman's terms in explaining things to their patients. Though I think sometimes it comes out naturally but it takes some effort to do this. Just a thought....

Sometimes mismatch or awkward behaviour of doctors irritate people but I like knowlegeable doctor even if he/she doesnot have very sweet speaking habbit. But if the doctor is blessed with kind behaviour and sweet voice then that will be a bonus to me. I had all my doctors very good in behavior and till now I believe they are good in knowledge too.

I want a doctor, of any type, that will listen to me and show concern for my health and well being. They should take the time to listen to what I have to say about how I am feeling, whether it is physically or emotionally. They have to work hard to make sure that I will be okay. I do not want a doctor that tries to rush through the appointment with me and give me any type of medication. I just want a genuine and caring doctor and fortunately I have all the wonderful doctors that I need who fit these descriptions. :-)

i want my doctor to know what he or she is doing and compassionate enough to explain to me what is happpening in my body, or in my eyes.. because theres a lot of doctors out there that gave out prescription without even clearly explaining to me the reason why i have to take those..

I like to see one who respects their nurses and medical assistants and not treat them like they were beneath the doctor (and have I seen many of those!). A doctor who comes out or sends someone out into the waiting room to apologize for the extra time its taking for patients before them. One who doesnt boggle you with medical terms you cant understand as he explains your condition. And one who listens (!) to what worries you instead of acting preoccupied or works on something other than the problem you came in for!

I would want my doctor to be honest with his/her patient. It's important when you guys tell your patients upfront what is indeed wrong with them and the possible complications and the treatments including how much will it cost, so the patient would know what to do. I would also like my doctor to be friendly and approachable so me, as her patient would feel comfortable with her and confide and tell her how i really feel. Good thing I found an OB that is honest and friendly,tho have yet to be comfortable with her..It is much better if you have good relationship with your doctor because I beleive you two have to work as a team so you can get best result. :) It's also obvious that I prefer a lady doctor here..:)

i don't have much complaint against doctors since I or my husband don't have any ailment..yet. my children's pedia, who's actually good with children but the people around them, or the assistant was rude & incompetent so I decided not to go back.

Honestly, a Doctor is not really someone a person likes to go and see, and I've found personally that a lot of them are brusque and abrupt. A little bit of understanding and compassion towards patients, especially if they are upset would go a long way. It's not really asking too much for a Doctor to try and put a patient at ease, and if they do, I think they'll find that a lot more information about their condition would be forthcoming. It's the same with Dentists. I'm TERRIFIED of the dentist, but I had to find one with an emergency appointment after I got a nasty tooth infection and the man could not have been nicer. He was gentle, knowledgeable, and considerate whilst telling me my options. More doctors should be like that.

Qualities I like in a Doctor?? I expect my doctor to take 5 min. to listen to any concerns that I have. I want a doctor that is calm, friendly, and extremely good with children. I like having a younger doctor, because, well, to me, it would seem like he/she would be more likely to keep up on different health issues. I also like a doctor that can "do it all." I hate having to visit 10 different doctors (pediatrition, ob/gyn, urologist, etc.) for each problem or person in our family. One family, one doctor. My motto. LOL! Dentists and ophthalmologists don't really count in this catagory. Finally, I would like a doctor that isn't too quick with his perscription pad. We used to have a doctor that would write a perscription as a final resort. He let me go through a whole pregnancy with a cough/cold without letting me taking anything for it. I was miserable (healthy otherwise!), but grateful, because I had a beautiful and very healthy daughter!! :)

if i have to see my doctor, i would like to have good service..friendly..don't make me feel afraid of the sickness.. i will eat medicine and follow the doctor instruction when i have good relationship with my dctor.=)

Well for me a good doctor is one who will treat me like an adult. I know that sounds weird, but I don't look like I am 25 years old. I look more like I am in my late teens. So, someone who will talk to me and explain things to me just as he would to a patient who is, say, 40 is very important to me. I need a doctor who will not only tell me what's wrong with me, but also the why's and how's about it. Nice is always a plus, but I understand that doctor's put in long hard days at the office and being cheery 24/7 is not easy. I appreciate that you took the time to ask what we all look for in a doctor in order to better yourself.

I don't prefer any specific characteristics on doctors, I think the most important thing is that they do their job. And being a doctor, patients prefer them friendly, easy to approach, caring and has a sense of humor for us patients to feel more at ease. I don't think that doctors should be treated rudely, because I believe that there are more doctors that 'do' care and are more dedicated in doing their jobs..

We want our doctors to listen regarding what's it we feel to be wrong with us. Then they give their side and conduct the necessary tests akin to the health complaint of the patients. They tell the patients the true and real condition per the results of the tests conducted. No hiding about anything. Then aside from the prescription, they must give some advises as to what are the best things to do to hasten recuperation or getting cured. Would it be best to spend some longer time in the green woods? What lifestyle is best, that should include the food, sleeping hours, exercises to undertake...

Ha ha! So, we have a doctor who wants to stand up, eh? It's hard not to hate doctors since my previous experiences with doctors were largely not good. They are obnoxious, callous and uncaring. Snobbish b*st*rds really. I know there are good doctors around but when you've seen more black sheep than white, it's hard to think rationally - if I even want to. Nothing against you personally of course, my friend. :P

last year I would have said smart, open minded, willing to think about alternative medicine, and who is healthy themselves anyway now I have a new doc, she is stunnigly beautiful, this was something I haven't looked for in dac yet, its very pleasant so far, takes my mind off worries of being told I have cancer and all that. I don't anticipate any problems. If she asked me for a date I would say yes though. Long pretty reddish hair, very smart, kinda sad and overworked. I could give her a massage or something. She would like it I bet, conflict of interest maybe.

A sense of humor is key for me. When I'm nervous I tend to be sarcastic or make jokes. But anyway, it took me forever to find a doctor that seems to understand that's just me being nervous, and not give me that have you lost your mind look every two seconds.