“It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has.” –William Osler
I’d like to start this post by listing the characteristics of my favorite patient. In the future, I will interview physicians in different specialities so that you can get a better understanding. Understanding of what? you may ask. The understanding that there is no real type of favorite patient. As of January 2016, there are 905,061 professionally active physicians in the US, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation statistics. That means 905,061 different personalities, which means that there is no “one” type of favorite patient.
That means a lot of options, and options are good. You do not have to stick with that doctor that you do not understand or who does not understand you – try another one!
The qualities of my favorite patient include the ability to explain his symptoms. My favorite patient, when asked “how are you?”, answers with how they are, not “you tell me.” He has thought about why he has taken the time to come into my office. Believe it or not, I do see people who, when asked why they have come in, respond with “because my doctor made the appointment for me.”
My favorite patient can listen and speak clearly. Sometimes they say “I don’t understand”. My favorite patient understands that sometimes I don’t understand. I love it when I know where my patient is, what he understands and what he doesn’t. When my patient asks “what does that mean?”, it tells me that he is listening.
I love breaking down what seems like complicated medical stuff and explaining it in a way you, my patient, understands. When a patient tells me they are not a doctor, I say “you don’t have to be to understand what is happening in your body”. I believe that illness can be understood by anyone, from the youngest child to the oldest man or women, assuming that they understand whatever language is being spoken.
My job as your physician is listen to your symptoms and help you to make sense of them. Often, we will come up with a solution together. Sometimes, actually really often, you tell me what will help you and I get to look good and take the credit.
Explain, explain, explain: make sure that I understand, make sure that you understand.
Bottom line, my favorite patient asks questions, works toward understanding, and is involved. My favorite patient is a knowledge seeker. My favorite patient is a lot like you. Thank you for taking the time to visit this site and strive to be a favorite patient. Know that your doctor appreciates your willingness to be involved in your health care.
