The Family Caregiver Forum
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Welcome to the NFCA's Family Caregiver Forum - a place where all family caregivers can post questions, receive support and communicate with others.
carecoach
Posts: 16
Joined: Mar 2010
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Friday July 30, 2010 5:52 PM
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In my last post, I talked about when its necessary to find a new doctor for your loved one.
Some of the reasons people decide to change have to do with whos going to have control over the medical decisionsthe patient and family on one hand, or the medical team on the other.
But there are other reasons for changing doctors, such as lack of a bedside manner. I was not at all fond of my dads and sisters oncologist. I found him abrupt and inattentive to them during office visits when I came along as the second set of ears. He rarely talked to them, but instead seemed to bark out orders like a drill sergeant.
However, he was a very highly regarded physician with an impressive success rate. So they stayed with him in spite of his poor communication and patient-care skills. You and your loved one may not want to put up with that kind of behavior.
If youre going to make a change, here are some questions to considerand askto decide if theres a good match between patient and medical team:
" Whats the physicians background? This includes education, board certifications and professional history. Dont be shy about checking for disciplinary actions and patient reviews. The Internet is a great source for these.
" Whats the office routine? How many patients are booked in an hour? Whats the call-back policy during and after office hours? What are the office hours? What are the billing procedures and which insurance policies do they take?
" Whats the doctors philosophy of healthcare? Will he or she work with you as a healthcare consumer, taking time to answer all of your questions? Things to discuss include alternative/complementary medical practices, whether or not the practice offers multiple treatment options and how minimal/maximal are the treatments they offer. Ask about inclusion of information about the patients emotional state as part of the examination process. Also ask how involved the doctor is willing to let the caregiver be.
" Most important is that subjective way you and the patient feel about this doctor. Do you like him or her? Do you feel like you are being listened to? Are you comfortable with him or her?
Finally, you need to ask yourself if this new medical practice fits the familys practical needs. This can include considerations such as office hours and your ability to get the patient to appointments during your work hours, location, and accessibility in terms of things like public transportation and parking.
When you leave the first doctor, be sure to get copies of as much of your patients file as that practice will release. Certainly youll want copies of test results, scans, and diagnoses. Do not assume that your next physician will be able to get those items from the one youre leaving.
Finding the new doctor may take some time and perseverance, but it will be worth it because of the improved level of communication and care.
Blessings, Joanne
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