What makes a good doctor?

Deductive reasoning, logical thinking, and listening skills. A doctor must have the skills to gather and correlate symptoms before they can hope to diagnose an illness. Not everyone is capable of putting 2 and 2 together to get 4. It is a skill.

Doctors that listen! and don't dismiss what you are saying just because you don't have a medical degree!

Doctors that listen! and don't dismiss what you are saying just because you don't have a medical degree!

Doctors need to be intelligent, compassionate and articulate.

They need to be able to explain things meaningfully, but at a level you understand. They need to be slow and clear. They must give patients the information they need to understand their illness, and to ask questions about their illness.

They need to answer questions in the same way. They need to anticipate, welcome and address patients' questions. Even if they think that the concerns are silly, the concerns are real enough in the mind of the patient. If patients' concerns are not addressed, they lose confidence, and they may not tell the doctor important information. It hurts their relationship, and can dissuade the patient from seeking necessary care with the doctor.

Compassion is important too. Just a few comments, that show the patient the doctor understands what they're going through, make a difficult situation feel much easier. They need to fight on the patient's side, stick with them and do what they can. They must not throw up their hands and abandon the patient, even if they feel they can't help anything.

They also need to know when to refer patients to other care givers, and who will take good care of the patient. In a "gatekeeping" system, you need a good gatekeeper!

There are a number of things that make a good doctor. One is being able to not only listen to your patient but ask questions. Being educated in alternative medicines is also very helpful buecause more and more patients are interested in finding non invasive ways to heal.

Helping the patient feel like they aren't a number but that the doctor is interested in the patient is another character of a good doctor. I could be in the office for 5 minutes or 15 minutes but if I'm being shown that there is an interest and genuine caring by the doctor then the time doesn't really matter.

Regards, Diana

What I value most in a doctor is their ability to listen, and to take the time to explain. Really, what matters to me is whether they care. So many times I've been to the doctor and they are telling me to take this or do that, or that I have this problem or that one, but when I ask for some clarification, they brush me off. This is my body and health we are talking about! I do not appreciate such important questions being ignored by the person who is supposed to help me answer them. Another thing I value highly in a doctor - also related to caring - is if they don't just write me off; diagnose me and shove a prescription into my hand after barely looking at me or listening to my symptoms. I appreciate a doctor who is open to and values alternative approaches to medicine that might complement my healing.

What I value most in a doctor is their ability to listen, and to take the time to explain. Really, what matters to me is whether they care. So many times I've been to the doctor and they are telling me to take this or do that, or that I have this problem or that one, but when I ask for some clarification, they brush me off. This is my body and health we are talking about! I do not appreciate such important questions being ignored by the person who is supposed to help me answer them. Another thing I value highly in a doctor - also related to caring - is if they don't just write me off; diagnose me and shove a prescription into my hand after barely looking at me or listening to my symptoms. I appreciate a doctor who is open to and values alternative approaches to medicine that might complement my healing.

I'd like to have my physician have some good questions for me for whenever we start the visit. More than 'what can we do for you today?' I'd like to hear questions like... 'What would you like me to know about your health?' or 'What is happening in your life right now?'

If I'm for a simple little thing, say a wart on the foot, things can be more straight forward. On the other hand, if I come in with migraines, back pain or generalized anxiety, those questions will help tease out contributing environmental factors. If the physician seems rushed, or is not actively listening to my responses, they may miss the underlying issues.

Then, the ability to ask the right follow up questions is important.

The ability to demonstrate genuine active listening skills does not come easy. It may also take time. While it may not work all the time for all situations, it can be one of the most powerful tools to help get at the underlying issues. Only then can diagnoses and prescriptive strategies be on target.

Thanks for asking.

I'd like to have my physician have some good questions for me for whenever we start the visit. More than 'what can we do for you today?' I'd like to hear questions like... 'What would you like me to know about your health?' or 'What is happening in your life right now?'

If I'm for a simple little thing, say a wart on the foot, things can be more straight forward. On the other hand, if I come in with migraines, back pain or generalized anxiety, those questions will help tease out contributing environmental factors. If the physician seems rushed, or is not actively listening to my responses, they may miss the underlying issues.

Then, the ability to ask the right follow up questions is important.

The ability to demonstrate genuine active listening skills does not come easy. It may also take time. While it may not work all the time for all situations, it can be one of the most powerful tools to help get at the underlying issues. Only then can diagnoses and prescriptive strategies be on target.

Thanks for asking.

I agree with what has been said above and would just like to put in my "ditto" on the active listening and compassion. I am a health care provider myself, and was dismayed this summer when a physician was extremely rude to me about an injury that I was very anxious about. Yes, in the grand scheme of things, it could have been so much worse. But it was bad enough to cause me a great deal of pain and anxiety. I know that I sometimes see people with what I consider "minor" problems from a stroke, and sometimes I see people with what I consider "major" problems from a stroke. I would NEVER tell the person with the minor problem, "What is the matter with you? Is this the worst thing that has ever happened to you?" And practically laugh at them. The doctor I saw, I'm sure was very good at medicine, but he was HORRIBLE at compassion, and that made a huge difference in how I perceived my care and how I handled my anxiety. I would rather have a somewhat less intelligent physician who actually has some social skills and knows how to treat someone with respect and decency. It goes a long way!

I agree with what has been said above and would just like to put in my "ditto" on the active listening and compassion. I am a health care provider myself, and was dismayed this summer when a physician was extremely rude to me about an injury that I was very anxious about. Yes, in the grand scheme of things, it could have been so much worse. But it was bad enough to cause me a great deal of pain and anxiety. I know that I sometimes see people with what I consider "minor" problems from a stroke, and sometimes I see people with what I consider "major" problems from a stroke. I would NEVER tell the person with the minor problem, "What is the matter with you? Is this the worst thing that has ever happened to you?" And practically laugh at them. The doctor I saw, I'm sure was very good at medicine, but he was HORRIBLE at compassion, and that made a huge difference in how I perceived my care and how I handled my anxiety. I would rather have a somewhat less intelligent physician who actually has some social skills and knows how to treat someone with respect and decency. It goes a long way!

someone who really listens and 'connects the dots'...The best physicians I have met with in my life were excellent at the diagnoses; I relay symptoms, vague unease and those variables are heard. I'm not expecting resolution or an answer; I'm tolerant of 'I don't know' but I want to see curiosity and desire to know...that impresses me...cm

We should not underestimate the importance of knowledge and skill. I want a surgeon who has excellent skills, a cardiologist who can read an ECG, or a family physician who recognizes a worrisome sign from my history.

Dalhousie Med School has 4 years to train physicians who will work for 30 years and impact the care of thousands of patients. Med students should learn communication and empathy skills, but I pray they learn how to properly treat medical conditions.

We should not underestimate the importance of knowledge and skill. I want a surgeon who has excellent skills, a cardiologist who can read an ECG, or a family physician who recognizes a worrisome sign from my history.

Dalhousie Med School has 4 years to train physicians who will work for 30 years and impact the care of thousands of patients. Med students should learn communication and empathy skills, but I pray they learn how to properly treat medical conditions.

What makes a good doctor? Yes...Compassion, active listening, competence etc. What makes a great doctor is their knowing that it is not about them all the time - they are responsible to the patient/client AND the rest of the interdisciplinary team. Most physicians in clinical settings have very little interaction with or knowledge of the roles of the other team players because they are taught to think that they are the only ones that count. Health care consumers suffer often because of professional arrogance. We need physicians who take the time to continually build relationships with all of those folks who are involved in provision of quality care including the patients, who truly know themselves best.

All of the above... and the importance of writing legibly? :)

All of the above... and the importance of writing legibly? :)

With two little ones, I spend a lot of time at the doctor's office. Over the years we have realized that we have to take control of our own health, so when a doctor says something we don't agree with, we ask for a second opinion. Most important is a doctor who listens! We never follow a doctors advice if we feel they have not listened. I would rather a doctor say "I don't know" after hearing me out than give me some prescription and send me on my way after a two second assessment. We have had some horrible experiences - a doctor that told us to bathe my four year old with chronic eczema in bleach (maybe it works-but its not for us) and another doctor that asked what the impact of our cultural background has on my son (who was there for a bladder problem). But I have to say we have had one or two amazing doctors who listen, are compassionate, never make you feel ashamed and are well educated in many alternatives to treatment- meaning are able to tell you what is going to work for treatment and doesn't just prescribe an antibiotic that will end up with you back in the office in two weeks. For all of you lucky current Dalhousie students there are some excellent doctors at Dal Health (DR. Andrea for one), doctors that, yes have excellent practical skills, but more importantly also treat you emotionally by listening and making you feel that you are getting the best treatment.

With two little ones, I spend a lot of time at the doctor's office. Over the years we have realized that we have to take control of our own health, so when a doctor says something we don't agree with, we ask for a second opinion. Most important is a doctor who listens! We never follow a doctors advice if we feel they have not listened. I would rather a doctor say "I don't know" after hearing me out than give me some prescription and send me on my way after a two second assessment. We have had some horrible experiences - a doctor that told us to bathe my four year old with chronic eczema in bleach (maybe it works-but its not for us) and another doctor that asked what the impact of our cultural background has on my son (who was there for a bladder problem). But I have to say we have had one or two amazing doctors who listen, are compassionate, never make you feel ashamed and are well educated in many alternatives to treatment- meaning are able to tell you what is going to work for treatment and doesn't just prescribe an antibiotic that will end up with you back in the office in two weeks. For all of you lucky current Dalhousie students there are some excellent doctors at Dal Health (DR. Andrea for one), doctors that, yes have excellent practical skills, but more importantly also treat you emotionally by listening and making you feel that you are getting the best treatment.

For me, what is lacking in most doctors I've seen is a genuine care for the patient. I think there is a lot of truth to the saying "you're your own best doctor" not because we know alot about medicine or human health - but because we're more familiar with our own health history than any doctor is.

But, just imagine the quality of advice and care a doctor could give if he/she sat down with each patient and took the time to learn as much about their health history as possible, and then apply his/her knowledge of medicine and human health to the individual's situation.

Perhaps increasing the length of appointment times would lead to reducing pressure on doctors to meet deadlines and give them more time to spend with patients.

A doctor should know the mechanism of disease. Without this foundation, the signs, symptoms, and treatment will not make sense.

I agree completely that really listening, in a compassionate manner, is important and understanding the differences between men and women's symptoms and the way each explains them. It would be great if a doctor asks you to come in for a follow up meeting to actually take a moment to look at your file before asking "So why are you here today?"

It's wonderful to have a skillful surgeon, but one who knows how to speak to people like they're human beings pre/post op in an humane manner is worth her/his weight in gold.


Also, it might also be wise for doctors/health care providers to have to be tested throughout their career, not just on the current knowledge when they are in school. Especially in regards to medications they're dispensing or alternative treatments that are available. Is a doctor in his/her 80's who still prescribes over the phone as current/patient safe, as one who makes sure to see the patient in person before updating any medication? No. But senior citizens often stick with a doctor because they're comfortable with them...not because they're necessarily skillful.

It might also be helpful to have outreach classes for the public now and then, where the students can interact with real people (not only actors) with the senior students teaching people - especially seniors- how to be an advocate for their own health care without getting into a confrontational or arrogant interaction.

Thanks for asking for input.

Understanding that people with disabilities are not here for you to have Very Special Learning Opportunities. There's a difference between "Hi, I see you have Marfan's Syndrome, and I've not seem (m)any people with that. Can I do some examinations of your joints/palate/pectis excavatum/whatever?" and just grabbing someone's hands and bending their fingers back for no reason relating to the exam.

I believe my family physician is one of the best in Halifax! Here are a few of the qualities that make her so:

- She is kind, listens intently, and asks the important questions

- She does not immediately write you an Rx and hand it over. She wants to get to the root of the problem, not just mask it with some pills. It is so easy for a doctor to write an Rx for an anti-depressant and send you on your way, whereas she follows up and makes sure you understand the medication and as well as beneficial things to start doing in your everyday life to improve your situation.

- She does not make you feel rushed in your 15 minute appointment.

- She explains exams and procedures to you step by step before and while she is doing them to ease nerves and make you feel more comfortable.

Those are just a few... she has one of the highest MD ratings (according to ratemyMD) in Halifax for these reasons and many more! I feel very fortunate to have such a great family physician.

Doctors should be kind, empathetic and knowledgeable. They should keep an open mind and be not just willing but eager to learn and work together with other health professionals for better patient outcomes.

We are taught how to recognize drug related problems in our curriculum and once recognized we explain them to the patient and inform the prescriber. The process is made much easier when the prescriber is interested in our input and willing to respond to our suggestions.

Realizing that there is always more to know and learn is a necessary quality in all health professions. Doctors need to be able to admit when they've made a mistake, and deal with it appropriately as well.

Doctors should be kind, empathetic and knowledgeable. They should keep an open mind and be not just willing but eager to learn and work together with other health professionals for better patient outcomes.

We are taught how to recognize drug related problems in our curriculum and once recognized we explain them to the patient and inform the prescriber. The process is made much easier when the prescriber is interested in our input and willing to respond to our suggestions.

Realizing that there is always more to know and learn is a necessary quality in all health professions. Doctors need to be able to admit when they've made a mistake, and deal with it appropriately as well.

A doctor like "House" on fox would be ideal.

He tells it how he see's it, no sugarcoating, and he knows what he is doing. However, he is not real and we are in Canada, so we just get who has the shortest waiting list. (Rather than choosing by ability, yay for public healthcare)

A doctor like "House" on fox would be ideal.

He tells it how he see's it, no sugarcoating, and he knows what he is doing. However, he is not real and we are in Canada, so we just get who has the shortest waiting list. (Rather than choosing by ability, yay for public healthcare)

Of course I want a doctor who knows his or her stuff, and I'll take skill and knowledge over bedside manner any day. But the best doctors have the medical smarts as well as the ability to make their patients feel acknowledged and not rushed out the door. It makes a huge difference to be treated with respect and compassion, as opposed to being made to feel that you are taking up valuable time.

Apparently I'm one of the few on here who has actually had great luck with doctors...

My doctor in Halifax is Dr.Mark Stender and here in Calgary I see a great Dr by the name of Dr.Rigby. Both are knowledgable, friendly, compassionate, both take the time to listen fully before giving their opinions, etc etc.

I think many of those who have had problems with doctors may be forgetting that a lot of how you're treated depends on how you treat others. I volunteer at an ER here in Calgary and the nurses/doctors behave significantly differently with cooperative, friendly, respectful patients (who demonstrate that they appreciate the advice of these medical professionals) than they do with patients who come in looking for a fault with those treating them.

I'd like to add, that I agree with most of the comments above; however, I think another key trait that makes a good doctor is the confidence to strongly promote their professional opinion. These days it seems like everyone is self-diagnosing... the ER is filled with helthy people who are convinced that they're dying. A good doctor should be able to confidently state his prognosis, even to patients who refuse to accept that their own diagnosis may be incorrect!

Apparently I'm one of the few on here who has actually had great luck with doctors...

My doctor in Halifax is Dr.Mark Stender and here in Calgary I see a great Dr by the name of Dr.Rigby. Both are knowledgable, friendly, compassionate, both take the time to listen fully before giving their opinions, etc etc.

I think many of those who have had problems with doctors may be forgetting that a lot of how you're treated depends on how you treat others. I volunteer at an ER here in Calgary and the nurses/doctors behave significantly differently with cooperative, friendly, respectful patients (who demonstrate that they appreciate the advice of these medical professionals) than they do with patients who come in looking for a fault with those treating them.

I'd like to add, that I agree with most of the comments above; however, I think another key trait that makes a good doctor is the confidence to strongly promote their professional opinion. These days it seems like everyone is self-diagnosing... the ER is filled with helthy people who are convinced that they're dying. A good doctor should be able to confidently state his prognosis, even to patients who refuse to accept that their own diagnosis may be incorrect!

As a retiring physician I would urge that physicians learn the basics of careful history taking which involves listening, PHYSICAL EXAM, and pathophysiology. Very often the answer is there before any tests are ordered.I would above all want a doc.who comes to the correct diagnosis and treatment,MM

I would like a family doctor who can be proactie and say, "you haven't had any routine blood work in a while, why don't you have this done soon", OR I noticed you are over....have you had a mammaogram or your prostate checked. I find most times doctors don't look further in the file, but just deal with immediate concerns of a patient.

As well, from dealing with an unnamed surgeon last year, I was very disappointed when the surgeon was very blunt, no compassion when he gave devastating news to our family about my father. He certainly wasn't humbled yet. It was very disappointing to have someone give this news in such a non-caring way, with no thought to how the family would feel about the news.

basically someone like me, who is knowleadgable in all the diseases as well as the drugs. Nice, freindly, with a rapier wit, like me

peter

basically someone like me, who is knowleadgable in all the diseases as well as the drugs. Nice, freindly, with a rapier wit, like me

peter

What could today's society want more in a doctor than compassion, empathy and patience? I think that these qualities are among the most seeked in a doctor because patients actually want to be able to communicate with their family physician- someone who they go to for help and advice when they are in their worst situation, whether it be mental, physical, emotional or a combination.

A doctor needs to be able to relate with their patient in the simple way of listening to and understanding their problem and explaining the problem in a way that allows the patient to comprehend the state they are in. The patient needs reassurance yet certainity that they are in good hands because if one's health is not in their optimal state then nothing else is either.

A doctor in my opinion should be just like a good friend- approachable (even with the wildest and most random questions about one's health!), a good listerner, patient, an effective communicator (speaking a language that patients without an MD degree can understand!) and above all willing to be a part of returning one to their best health!

What could today's society want more in a doctor than compassion, empathy and patience? I think that these qualities are among the most seeked in a doctor because patients actually want to be able to communicate with their family physician- someone who they go to for help and advice when they are in their worst situation, whether it be mental, physical, emotional or a combination.

A doctor needs to be able to relate with their patient in the simple way of listening to and understanding their problem and explaining the problem in a way that allows the patient to comprehend the state they are in. The patient needs reassurance yet certainity that they are in good hands because if one's health is not in their optimal state then nothing else is either.

A doctor in my opinion should be just like a good friend- approachable (even with the wildest and most random questions about one's health!), a good listerner, patient, an effective communicator (speaking a language that patients without an MD degree can understand!) and above all willing to be a part of returning one to their best health!

What I appreciate in my doctor is having someone I can trust in. It is important to me that my doctor informs me fully about my condition and that he considers my values when deciding on a treatment. I want to be able to trust that my doctor will keep the information I tell him/her in confidence. Another quality that I prefer in my doctor is somebody who is competent. This means that they do have the in-depth knowledge of medicine and the ailments of the body. I like to know that when my body is concerned, I am in good hands. In cases where the doctor is unsure or uncertain about the diagnosis or the best treatment, I admire in a doctor that they can have the ability to say "I dont know/ I am not fully sure", this humbling act shows sincerity. Along with admitting such shortcomings, another way of showing sincerity for my well being is if the doctor disclosed fully the ramifications of my illness, the impact of treatment options, risks/benefits associated with each treatment and how my life would be impacted in the aforementioned situations. This brings the patient and the doctor at the same level and it discourages the high-handed paternalism which vests doctors with too much authority. This act of disclosure allows patients to provide 'informed consent' and allows them to feel like they are part of the decision making process which will be affecting their lives. To summarize, some of the characteristics which I feel make a good doctor are trustworthiness, competence and sincerity.

Like many other people, I very much value my doctor's ability to listen and not brush off what I'm saying.

Don't tell me what I'm feeling, ask me. I know better than any doctor, no matter how good his/her training, what my body feels like. Don't trivialize what I say is bothering me, don't minimize my problems, and don't try to tell me it's all in my head.

Along a similar line, I know my body best. If I say that my back tends to heal poorly without physical therapy, please believe that I speak from experience. The fact that most people with the same injury will heal just fine on their own does not mean I will.

I like doctors that encourage me to do research on my diagnoses. I'd do it anyhow, but I always think the more a person knows, the more they will be able to live well with their conditions.

One that is very important to me is my doctor giving me choices and explaining them. I hate when a doctor decides what treatment plan he/she thinks we should pursue without even asking me if I'm willing to do it. I like knowing why the doctor prefers one treatment over another, and I like being able to say whether or not I agree. Sometimes, the drawbacks of one treatment plan bother me much more than the drawbacks of another, and I think I should have input in that choice.

ANSWER MY QUESTIONS! Some doctors seem to think that I don't have a right to ask questions. I may want to know if there are other options for treatment, if the treatment will address symptoms I find particularly bothersome (and if not, if we can do something to address them!), what the differential diagnosis between two possible answers is, and what I can do in addition to or instead of medication.

Send me to a specialist if you're unsure. If my case requires an expert, let's get one.

Finally, treat my pain. Too many doctors worry more about the abuse potential for drugs than about the loss of quality of life for the patient. A life of agony is no life at all.

~Kali

Like many other people, I very much value my doctor's ability to listen and not brush off what I'm saying.

Don't tell me what I'm feeling, ask me. I know better than any doctor, no matter how good his/her training, what my body feels like. Don't trivialize what I say is bothering me, don't minimize my problems, and don't try to tell me it's all in my head.

Along a similar line, I know my body best. If I say that my back tends to heal poorly without physical therapy, please believe that I speak from experience. The fact that most people with the same injury will heal just fine on their own does not mean I will.

I like doctors that encourage me to do research on my diagnoses. I'd do it anyhow, but I always think the more a person knows, the more they will be able to live well with their conditions.

One that is very important to me is my doctor giving me choices and explaining them. I hate when a doctor decides what treatment plan he/she thinks we should pursue without even asking me if I'm willing to do it. I like knowing why the doctor prefers one treatment over another, and I like being able to say whether or not I agree. Sometimes, the drawbacks of one treatment plan bother me much more than the drawbacks of another, and I think I should have input in that choice.

ANSWER MY QUESTIONS! Some doctors seem to think that I don't have a right to ask questions. I may want to know if there are other options for treatment, if the treatment will address symptoms I find particularly bothersome (and if not, if we can do something to address them!), what the differential diagnosis between two possible answers is, and what I can do in addition to or instead of medication.

Send me to a specialist if you're unsure. If my case requires an expert, let's get one.

Finally, treat my pain. Too many doctors worry more about the abuse potential for drugs than about the loss of quality of life for the patient. A life of agony is no life at all.

~Kali

I think that it is important for doctors to be aware of the community that they are working in. This could mean more time in the curriculum focused on cultural competency, strategies for meeting the needs of populations like LGBTQ people (I've interacted with many doctors who aren't even aware that lesbian women need regular PAP smears!).

Overall I would echo Kali's comment on the importance of doctors truly listening to patients - especially those of us who have spent a lot of time in hospitals, etc, and have a pretty good grasp of our health histories and needs.

Best of luck with your curriculum planning.

my biggest pet peeve with doctors is their refusal to take someone under the age of 30 seriously. When I am at home in Ontario my family doctor is fine but thats because she only sees me once every 2-3 years, the doctors here however, especially at the DAL health clinic (other than dr andrea) tend to just not believe anything you tell them because you're a student, they automatically make you feel guilty and make you feel like you're wasting their time. I had gone there complaining of sore ears and they told me it was just because I lived in a tall building and that they were sensitive, then i flew home and my ear drums ruptured on the plane, I lost my hearing for 3 weeks, the doctor in ontario told me they should've looked at my ears and then sent me to an ENT and told me to take an advil cold and sinus before flying, but they didnt, they acted like i was just trying to get out of school. I don't even go to the health clinic anymore unless I can get Dr. Andrea. Just because I am in my twenties and a student does not mean I am making up excuses to get out of school.

my biggest pet peeve with doctors is their refusal to take someone under the age of 30 seriously. When I am at home in Ontario my family doctor is fine but thats because she only sees me once every 2-3 years, the doctors here however, especially at the DAL health clinic (other than dr andrea) tend to just not believe anything you tell them because you're a student, they automatically make you feel guilty and make you feel like you're wasting their time. I had gone there complaining of sore ears and they told me it was just because I lived in a tall building and that they were sensitive, then i flew home and my ear drums ruptured on the plane, I lost my hearing for 3 weeks, the doctor in ontario told me they should've looked at my ears and then sent me to an ENT and told me to take an advil cold and sinus before flying, but they didnt, they acted like i was just trying to get out of school. I don't even go to the health clinic anymore unless I can get Dr. Andrea. Just because I am in my twenties and a student does not mean I am making up excuses to get out of school.

What I like most about my family doctor is that he is the doctor that delivered me in 1987. He may not be the most "up to date" or lively anymore, and is sure to retire sooner (rather than later) but there's something about the longstanding relationship that I respect and am comfortable with.

What I like most about my family doctor is that he is the doctor that delivered me in 1987. He may not be the most "up to date" or lively anymore, and is sure to retire sooner (rather than later) but there's something about the longstanding relationship that I respect and am comfortable with.

A good doctor does not just look at treating symptoms, they take the time to find the underlying cause. Many physical symptoms are the result of underlying social problems. Doctors should take the time to promote health, not just treat illnesses. Taking a holistic approach to health is much more effective, health is not just physical but emotional, spiritual and mental as well.

The doctor must be able to put aside their own prejudices (and yes, doctors are human beings, so they have them!) and listen to the patient. I have the experience of doctors telling me to lose weight for everything from sinus infections to psoriatic arthritis - and I went 18 months with undiagnosed thyroid cancer because several doctors' own opinions about fat and laziness were more important than what I was telling them, despite the fact that a simple blood test would have revealed something very wrong with me.

The doctor must be able to put aside their own prejudices (and yes, doctors are human beings, so they have them!) and listen to the patient. I have the experience of doctors telling me to lose weight for everything from sinus infections to psoriatic arthritis - and I went 18 months with undiagnosed thyroid cancer because several doctors' own opinions about fat and laziness were more important than what I was telling them, despite the fact that a simple blood test would have revealed something very wrong with me.

I think the most frustrated I've ever been with a doctor was when medical conditions I had had didn't appear on my medical records (I travel quite a lot), and he didn't believe me. I think there is definitely something to be said for the fact that doctors, necessarily perceptive when it comes to symptoms, aren't perceptive about how accurately a person can assess what they are feeling. Obviously, sometimes, people's views can become skewed by what they are feeling, but just generally having respect for a patient and common courtesy are two things that so many doctors lack, in my opinion, whether they've been taught it or not.

I think the most frustrated I've ever been with a doctor was when medical conditions I had had didn't appear on my medical records (I travel quite a lot), and he didn't believe me. I think there is definitely something to be said for the fact that doctors, necessarily perceptive when it comes to symptoms, aren't perceptive about how accurately a person can assess what they are feeling. Obviously, sometimes, people's views can become skewed by what they are feeling, but just generally having respect for a patient and common courtesy are two things that so many doctors lack, in my opinion, whether they've been taught it or not.

A good physician is one who works as a member of an interprofessional team and views patient/family as an integral member of the team. As a member of the interprofessional team, the physician recognizes that all team members have comparable status and power and demonstrates mutual respect for one another. Team members integrate their efforts, competence and skills to work on a common goal of positive patient outcomes. The physician along with all team members should have a clear definition and understanding of each team members’ roles and responsibilities and scopes of practice. As team members often have overlapping skills (e.g., assessing, interacting with patients, forming care plans and teaching), it is important to develop effective means of sharing responsibilities and tasks. Often the decision concerning which provider on the team performs which role is determined by provider availability, scope of the professional’s practice, level of training and member preference. These roles need to be flexible based on patient needs. Physicians should contribute to the development of standards, policies and interprofessional protocols that be used to assist in negotiating roles/ functions and responsibilities of each health care provider. These policies, protocols and guidelines should be flexible enough to enable providers to practice to the full extent of their education, licensure, and experience while maintaining patient choice and patient safety. Physicians should support shared decision making and shared leadership in order to promote patient safety, quality care and quality of work life for all team members.

A good physician is one who works as a member of an interprofessional team and views patient/family as an integral member of the team. As a member of the interprofessional team, the physician recognizes that all team members have comparable status and power and demonstrates mutual respect for one another. Team members integrate their efforts, competence and skills to work on a common goal of positive patient outcomes. The physician along with all team members should have a clear definition and understanding of each team members’ roles and responsibilities and scopes of practice. As team members often have overlapping skills (e.g., assessing, interacting with patients, forming care plans and teaching), it is important to develop effective means of sharing responsibilities and tasks. Often the decision concerning which provider on the team performs which role is determined by provider availability, scope of the professional’s practice, level of training and member preference. These roles need to be flexible based on patient needs. Physicians should contribute to the development of standards, policies and interprofessional protocols that be used to assist in negotiating roles/ functions and responsibilities of each health care provider. These policies, protocols and guidelines should be flexible enough to enable providers to practice to the full extent of their education, licensure, and experience while maintaining patient choice and patient safety. Physicians should support shared decision making and shared leadership in order to promote patient safety, quality care and quality of work life for all team members.

Echoing others, a doctor that really listens - that asks what my questions are, that hears me out talking about my symptoms/concerns before starting to poke and prod, and who checks in during the poking and prodding to make sure I'm okay - is definitely necessary.

But also, I really appreciate a doctor who talks. Who tells me what s/he is doing and why, and who treats me like an intelligent human being who is capable of handling information and being involved in decision making about my health and my body. My current and last PCP both, when I ask a question, will/would:
1) tell me what they know
2) tell me what they don't know (i.e. what the limits of their knowledge on the subject is)
3) research it with me (turn the monitor of their computer toward me, look up articles, read them aloud with me, let me ask questions about them, and print them for me to take home if I want
4) offer to refer me to a specialist if I have more concerns than they are able to address.

Doctors that listen are important, but we as patients are not always well trained to advocate for ourselves and seek out knowledge. An excellent doctor is one who proactively seeks to arm the patient with information and offer opportunities for questions and concerns.

During my brief (1.5 years) of medical education at Dal, some of the characteristics that I believe make a good doctor are:

- Communication; talks to the patient and not at the patient. Diagnosis is 80% history!
- Stubbornness; constantly searches for new clues to confirm or refute an initial diagnosis.
- Logical reasoning; performs specific tests to achieve goals (avoiding a shotgun approach).
- A good physician is an educator. No one can know it all in medicine, therefore a good doctor learns by study (evidence-based practices), and also by observing/learning from peers.

I also believe that a calm personality and a earnest interest in medicine help as well!