POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Javicho on November 13, 2006, 04:31:01 pm
-
I have been reading a lot of your comments about good Doctors, can anyone tell me what a good Doctor is?. I think I don't have a good one, my doctor only tells me what my numbers are and that's all.
Anyone can help me? and also if anybody knows a good one in VA, thank you guys!!!
-
Well, a good doctor is one that will work with you and listen...as far as finding one, I would suggest you contact your local ASO...
-
Hi Javicho,
Jeromy said it. A good Doctor is someone who will listen to you as well as answer you. Explore through your choices of Doctors through your local ASO (Aids Service Organization). You will know which one is right for you.
Make the BEST of each and every Day!
-
Hello Javicho,
I believe,( as has already been stated) a good doctor is one that listens to you, and listens with patience.
A good doctor is one that is compassionate and understanding of your needs. And, a good doctor, is one that has other HIV/Aids Patients, and who keeps up with all the latest medical advances, and treatments.
Take care-----Ray
-
I absolutely concur with what all have said thus far:
A good doctor is one that:
Will listen to you.
Answer your questions.
Ask if you have any questions.
Explain himself (herself) thoroughly.
Has good bedside manners.
If it takes a couple of tries, I hope you find yourself one that you are comfortable with.
-
My doctor takes my fears and concerns into consideration. If I have a question she takes her time to answer and gives me her full attention. She is thourough... she is part of the Infectious Disease Society of America and also a member of the American College of Physicians... She also serves as a sub investigator in clinical trials. She has my confidence and her bed side manners are impeccable.. All in all confidence in my doctor is very important. Now if I could just drop my stubbornness she could do her work accordingly...
She also has one of the best asses I have ever seen. I can't wait til the day she asks me to drop my pants just so I can display my best part... you know just to return the favor. ::)
Thomas
-
I can't thank Thomas for his last comment which, as I am trying to rush through the forums today, brought me to a complete, smiling, halt. :)
I would turn this around slightly. A good doctor/patient relationship is what we should actually be looking at, a relationship which is a partnership in which the patient takes the initiative to do some (however basic) research on his or her own about the issue(s) which he or she has concerns, brings up the issue(s) when appropriate (i.e. allowing the doctor to do his/her work with the patient until the questions period comes up), during appointments, allows the doctor to answer his or her questions and issues, hears what the patient has to say, agrees to work with the patient by coming back with more information, making referrals where needed, allowing the patient to make his or her own decision even if he or she as doctor agrees to disagree with the decision which the patient makes.
Cases in point? In NYC, in the dark ages, I had to drop any number of aids experts of that time because they insisted that I start AZT and I couldn't see the logic of staring a medication until (looking at CD4 numbers) I absolutely needed to do so. A nurse practitioner last Summer read something which indicated that he should bump up the Norvir from 2 to 3 a day. This was two months into my taking 2. I was to see him and get labwork done in a month. I, not he, decided to see what would happen if I continued on the 2 so as to take as few medications as necessary. My 'study' proved that the bump up was unnecessary. Win
-
A good doctor is:
1) A PERSON...Not just a professional
2) Someone WHO LISTENS!
3) Someone who kicks your ass, when you are being a stubborn.
4) Someone you are not attracted to... (Yes, THAT is kinda messy)
5) Part of your "inner circle" of people who gets to know you
Have I told you I REALLY like my doc? :)
Alex
-
4) Someone you are not attracted to... (Yes, THAT is kinda messy)
To some I guess... I guess she should have been born ugly. How could a great doctor ever be attactive? Thanks I knew something had to be wrong.
Since we are talking literally here... why does your doctor kick your ass? Does he do it with a baseball bat or his fists?
Thomas
Edited to add : Just being humorous...
-
For starters, a good doctor is your partner in keeping you well. That means you want someone who knows about HIV/AIDS. And you are PARTNERS. Two people working together for the same goal: to keep you as well as possible.
It's someone whom you can talk openly with and who is actually listening when you speak or ask questions.
A good doctor doesn't have to be "perfect," whatever that non-existent ideal might be like, but who does have the ability to get back into the present moment with you when he/she may have been going on automatic in a conversation or examination with you.
It doesn't matter how great a reputation a doctor has. He/she has to be a good doctor for you. To some extent it's the right patient with the right doctor.
Like any relationship, it may ebb and flow, but overall you have to feel this is someone I can rely upon who is treating me respectfully.
-
Thank you all for your responds. I think I need to change my doctor I' m not feeling that she is been helping me at all, yeah my numbers are good and I'm not been sick at all but that's because I do take good care of me.
Everytime I ask my Doctor for any thing that I'm concern she never has time, I wait for her every appointment for about 45 minutes and she expend 10 minutes w/me, just she let me know what my numbers are.
I have a lot of question before I start reading (questions and answers) in this forum and I found a lot of information and answer that were in my head for a long time, thank you guys is time for me to change doctors and be more active in this Forum.
Javicho....