As populations grow and the cities we live in become busier, the nature of healthcare services is changing. Have you, for instance, felt frustrated by long wait times to see your physician? Do you feel like your visits are rushed and don’t allow for all of your concerns to be addressed? Is a lack of follow-up causing uncertainty or confusion, or making you feel like your health isn’t a priority? It might be time to take a closer look at your care and make a change.
The following three tips from Dr. Nathan Thakur, Medical Director at Calgary’s Copeman Healthcare Centre (additional locations can be found in Edmonton, Vancouver and West Vancouver), will help put the "care" back into your healthcare!
Work with your physician to grow a trusting relationship. Research shows that the better your relationship with your doctor, the greater the satisfaction with your care. It should be of vital importance, then, to find a physician that you trust. According to Dr. Thakur, a lack of trust and communication can lead to serious problems and building trust is a priority in establishing exceptional care—though he admits that developing a relationship with someone you see only sporadically, and often only briefly, can be tough.
“Trust is something that takes time,” he says. “It needs to be built and earned, and it’s something both parties need to be committed to. As physicians, we need to make sure we put in the effort to not only get to know our patients but allow them to get to know us, too. Personally, I take the time to tell my patients about myself, like where I trained and my practice style, as well as more personal things like my interests or a little bit about my family. Fortunately, the Copeman model of healthcare allows for that extra time and attention.”
On the other hand, Dr. Thakur says patients need to be open, honest and up front with their physician about what all of their issues are. And, he adds, "even though it may not sound like a big deal, we need to make sure we both show up on time. That can really affect trust and how our attitudes toward each other develop.”
Expect and insist upon clear communication. Strong, clear communication with your doctor not only ensures you receive appropriate tests and treatments, it also helps avoid duplication of efforts. Dr. Thakur notes that effective communication is something that all patients should expect—and efforts should be made to ensure that’s the case.
“There are a number of things that are built into the system here at Copeman Healthcare that help to ensure the communication lines are open. Because we work within a team-based methodology, there are at least three or four sets of eyes on every patient so things don’t get missed," he says. “That collaboration isn’t limited to the dietitian, kinesiologist and family health nurse. It also includes the frontline staff who coordinate appointments. We’re all on the same page, working together to ensure there’s a clear understanding throughout a patient’s treatment.
In terms of what patients can do, Dr. Thakur says they need to make sure they get all their concerns across. "Say, ‘I’m worried about this,’ or ask, ‘What else do you think it could be?’ If you feel your doctor hasn’t asked you all the key questions, or answered all of yours sufficiently, say something,” he says.
Demand timely and well-executed follow-up. Your doctor, says Dr. Thakur, should know you well enough that suggested follow-up treatments are practical and achievable for you. After all, expecting someone to change their lifestyle habits overnight isn’t going to work with most people.
“Ideally, doctors should get back to patients about tests promptly regardless of whether the results are positive or negative. The treatment or follow-up plan should occur quickly, not a couple of weeks later—that’s something else that sets Copeman Healthcare apart from other models," he says, adding that, again, this responsibility doesn’t rest solely on the healthcare provider, and that "patients need to follow their doctor’s advice. If you disagree with the treatment plan, be clear about why. A good doctor will listen to your concerns and work with you to come up with other viable solutions. For optimal healthcare, both sides need to be open, trusting and respectful of each other.”
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