As a mother, I have countless panic attacks whenever any of my children is sick. Even a slightest fever or occurrence of an allergy can cause a parent to worry. Because of this, I had several experiences of going to the doctor. I have lost count already of how many pediatricians and dermatologists I met for my daughter who has skin asthma. However, I am proud to say that I have found a good rheumatologist and endocrinologist for my illnesses.
No one is spared from being sick. That is why it is very important to seek a very good doctor. Note that the suggestions below are just from my personal experience.
1. Researching
Because of not-so-good experiences from other doctors, searching for a doctor via internet has become my habit. I had the mistake of going to a doctor whose aim is to just sell her medicines. What I do is to read on forums about a particular illness and referrals of doctor. I also look if there is any negative article about a particular doctor. These way, I minimize the chances of going to the wrong one. I also read about the hospitals where their clinics are located. I do this to check if the staff or the services of the hospital are good. So far, this has produced good results because I found my Ob-gyne and pedia-allergologist online.
2. Contacting
One good sign of a good doctor is when he/she gives you his/her contact details. That way, you can easily contact him/her in cases of emergency or when you have some doubt about a medicine. A doctor who can be easily reached is a helpful one. It means that he/she goes beyond his/her call of duty. I appreciates doctors who replies to texts and calls immediately.
3. Accomodating Staff
A good doctor has a friendly staff. As an assistant, his responsibility is not confined to helping only the doctor, but also being ready in answering queries from patients. Some patients may have too many questions. But a good and accommodating staff knows how and when to assist patients as well.
4. Being inquisitive and ready to answer
One of the most important traits of a good doctor is asking many questions about a patient. I appreciate that more than the quiet one. That means he wants to understand what may seem wrong about you. This way, he can make a proper diagnosis of your illness. I once had the experience of going to a pediatrician who was very quiet and just handed me the prescription after. I swore never to go back to her again. Patients pay consultation fees to know what sickness they may have. It would be better to ask as many questions as you can because that is the best chance for you to understand what you're going through.
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