Physicians and patients alike often ask themselves what makes a great doctor. Concerns include how to achieve the highest standard of care. If you are a patient, you may often wonder if the care you are receiving from your primary physician is the best available. At Innova Primary Care, we know that you have an abundance of options when it comes to your Huntsville doctor. We strive to provide excellence in all that we do and hope that you feel the same. What makes a great doctor is often subjective. However, patients often look for certain qualities from their primary care physicians. This includes when trying to find the right Huntsville Doctor

The right to a capable, competent and compassionate Huntsville doctor

Communicative

A quality physician has the ability to effectively communicate with their patients. While this sounds like common sense, many physicians do not have an affirming bedside manner. They may be very knowledgeable and experts in their field, yet lack the ability to communicate in a way their patients can understand. When you are sick or have questions, you need to be heard and understood by your physician. Furthermore, they need to be able to communicate with you in a manner in which you comprehend. Does your Huntsville doctor understand you? Do you feel listened to? Can you relate to what they are saying? Do you leave the appointment with information you can digest? If not, it may be time to look elsewhere.

Compassionate

Compassion is the ability to see another’s suffering and feel compelled to do something about it. Do you feel this emotion from your healthcare provider? A good doctor notices another’s suffering, large or small, and feels driven to help. They have the knowledge and resources to assist their patients with care because they do indeed care about the health and well-being of their patients.

Honest

When seeking medical advice, you want a Huntsville doctor who will not only treat you and your condition with respect, but also be honest with you about your situation and treatment options. This is crucial to the doctor-patient relationship. One must be able to trust his or her healthcare provider in order to get better. Honesty coupled with compassion and competence is vital. You deserve someone who will be straight with you about your options and lead you in the right path for your needs.

Competent

In an article posted on Harvard’s website, a physician sought the advice of Twitter on what makes a good doctor. He documented the results and ranked the top 10 findings. Competency showed up ranked 5th. It is worth mentioning every physician must pass rigorous standards in the form of board certifications in order to practice. There is a high standard of excellence that a doctor must prove in order to practice. Some certainly slip through the cracks. However, competency ranks in the middle of the pack because patients want to feel heard and cared for before they accept a doctor’s orders.

Respect

A study in Patient Education and Counseling found that patients know when their physician respects them. In turn, physicians that respect their patients provide them with more information that patients respond to in a better manner. Respect is key in any relationship, and this is especially true for the partnership between a physician and patient.

You as the patient have the right to ask questions of your health care provider. You have the right to fully understand your own health needs. Be a proactive patient and require nothing less than the best from your health care team. If something feels off, do not be afraid to ask. If you do not understand a diagnosis or why a medication is required, keep seeking answers. You do not have to live in fear of a doctor visit. This should be quite the opposite.

Your health care team should be fighting hard for you, just as you do for yourself. Understand you are worth a Huntsville doctor you feel is right. Competent and compassionate care is the standard at Innova Primary Care. We want our patients to feel comfortable asking the hard questions, because we know that we are capable of providing answers. For more information on the services we provide, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here and ready to serve you.