How do you know if the doctor you are seeing is right for you? Checking to make sure that there are actually papers hanging on the wall stating that the practitioner graduated from medical school and is certified in the field that they practice is a good start, but only a start.
Evaluating the Doctor:
Patients don’t have the tools they need to evaluate physicians. Referrals from friends, neighbors and other health care providers can be helpful, but they don’t tell the entire story either. Common sense should also play a role. This reader reacted viscerally to a suggestion we made to extend self-care. She said instead you should fire your doctor:
Should You Fire Your Doctor?
Q. I disagree with your response to the person whose doctor said he could tell just by looking at the patient that his cholesterol and blood sugar levels were okay. I would immediately change doctors!
In my opinion, this is the stupidest answer any healthcare professional could come up with. My husband looks healthy but he had sky-high cholesterol even though he was at the correct weight. No one can determine these numbers just by looking.
If the doctor is not doing his job well, find someone who will do a better job.
Building a Healthcare Partnership:
A. We too were flabbergasted that a doctor would say he could tell at a glance that a patient did not need any blood tests for diabetes or cholesterol. Even someone who is fit and slender could have high blood sugar or high cholesterol.
It isn’t always practical to change doctors on a dime, though. If this were the only misstep this physician made, a patient might want to address it differently. You’ll find some suggestions in the book Managing Your Doctor: The Smart Patient’s Guide to Getting Effective, Affordable Healthcare by Patrick Neustatter, MD. It describes when and how to fire your doctor as well as how to maintain good relations with a doctor worth keeping. We always look for a doctor who can act as a trusted and trustworthy partner.
Should you use home test kits if you are curious about your cholesterol or your blood sugar? Certainly. But then share the results with your primary care provider. He or she should be willing to explain what they mean and how to address any abnormalities.
You need to have a trusting relationship with your health care provider to be able to work in partnership to achieve good health. If you don’t, then it is time to fire your doctor and find someone who can work with you.
