Few professional relationships are more important than the one you have with your doctor. After all, your physician not only helps you with preventative care and overall wellness but he or she also works to identify illnesses as early as possible.
According to Harvard Medical School, early diagnosis is critical in combatting many diseases, ranging from Alzheimer’s to cancer. If you are seeing the wrong doctor, though, you may miss out on the benefit of early disease detection. Asking yourself a few questions may help you know whether your doctor is a good fit.
Is your doctor too busy?
It can take some time for patients to feel comfortable with the medical professionals who treat them. This may be true even if you have a long-standing relationship with your physician. Simply put, if your doctor seems too busy to listen to your questions and answer each of them, it may be time to look for a new one.
Can your doctor be condescending?
You should not experience anxiety every time you have to discuss a health concern with your doctor. While one can be an effective physician without having a warm personality, your doctor should never belittle you. He or she also should not brush off your concerns. Remember, you know your body better than anyone.
Has your doctor missed something already?
When you are not feeling well, you expect your doctor to use all available tools to determine the cause of your symptoms. If your physician has missed something in the past, he or she may be willing to overlook your personal well-being. You deserve better.
Ultimately, because of the undeniable importance of having the right doctor, you should never wait to find one that better meets your needs as a patient.