For some, the belief that an MD should display professionalism, empathy, and consideration almost feels like a privilege that we, the patients, don’t have a right to assume. But after my latest good read, Your Doctors’ Manners Matter: Better Health through Civility in the Doctor’s Office and in the Hospital, I recognize that these traits must be intentionally sought after, and yes, even expected.
The very nature of what we do at Café Physique (wellness promotion) requires that our full attention be towards helping our clients attain and maintain a state of good physical and mental health. While we focus on physical fitness, proper nutrition, stress relief and the like, underlying it all is our assumption that our clients are under good medical care. That, in fact, is essential for us to do our jobs.
On occasion, we’ve delayed starting fitness & nutrition programs with clients who have not been cleared by their doctors to pursue significant lifestyle changes after events as natural as giving birth or as intense as bypass surgery. At other times, we’ve been forced to abruptly end programs with clients who refuse to see a physician about recurring symptoms, despite our encouragement and eventual insistence.
In the midst of these times, I’ve readily asked the million dollar question: “Why won’t you go to the doctor?” and I’ve been really surprised by the variety of creative responses – some humorous and others downright sad. But at the core, nearly every one of our clients who has demonstrated a strong aversion to pursuing medical attention has essentially said the same thing – they just don’t like their doctor.
The practical part of me thinks, “Well, I don’t like brushing my teeth, but I don’t skip out on the task,” but then my emotional side kicks in, and I really get it. I love my doctor (and pediatrician), so I hadn’t really considered what it would be like to build a relationship with a physician who did not exhibit kindness, compassion, and all around good manners.
After reading the real-life patient stories in the book, I feel a renewed sense of empowerment and determination for taking control of my family’s health…and an increased level of satisfaction with my current physicians. What a great feeling!
My favorite chapter of the book focused on working with pediatricians. With a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 9 month old, I spend more time at the pediatrician’s office than you can even imagine. One day recently, I found myself emailing blurry iPhone pics of my baby’s ear to the doctor, and I breathed a sigh of relief when he assured me that he wasn’t suffering from an irreversible deformity often obtained in the boxing ring (Hey, don’t laugh. I swear that’s what Dr. Google said!). Despite being a frequent flyer in the pediatrician’s office, I almost skipped that chapter in the book because I felt that there wasn’t much more an experienced mom could learn about seeing a pediatrician.
Boy was I wrong!
A person’s a person, no matter how small. – Dr. Suess
First of all, any time you start a chapter with a quote from Dr. Suess, you have my full attention. But then the authors, Drs. Barry Silverman and Saul Adler, went on to give incredible insight on what to expect from a good pediatrician. This was stuff that you won’t find in any parenting book I’ve ever read, and it was like getting the behind-the-scenes inside scoop since they’re actually physicians themselves.
Whether you’re ready to take control of your healthcare by learning what to expect from your doctor or if you’re a parent or caretaker who has the responsibility of managing a loved one’s medical experiences, Your Doctors’ Manners Matter, is a must read.
