What is the biggest mistake patients make when picking a primary-care doctor?
HELEN DARLING: The biggest mistake is to rely only on family and friends for information and a recommendation. That is what most people do when picking a physician and, while it is very helpful to learn about the personalities and “affects” of doctors, the most important facts about doctors are: medical education, residency training, any fellowships, board certification in their relevant field (internal medicine, family physician, etc), at what hospitals they have admitting privileges, how many years in practice.
When asking about their interpersonal style and practice style, it then makes sense to ask the following questions: Does he or she ask good, probing questions and listen to patients? Does the doctor take the time to explain what the condition may mean and why a particular treatment is being recommended or make certain that another health professional on the team is addressing those issues and providing education so the patient is fully informed? Is the physician quick to order tests and treatments when they may not be essential and watchful waiting might be the more conservative approach? Does the doctor give the patient the range of choices so the patient can decide with full understanding of the benefits, risks and harms?
As a woman, I have found that I prefer to have a female physician. This didn’t used to be true and I think it comes from many years with many doctors. A number (though certainly not all) of the women seem more engaged and actually interested in the patient. I have also found that if I find the doctor distant and kind of cold, that I should try to find someone else, not assume that it gets better… another lifetime of experience.
Helen Darling is president and CEO of the National Business Group on Health, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit consisting of more than 360 of the nation’s largest employers.
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