Trust is a Wonderful Thing: The Doctor-Patient Relationship

Posted on May 3, 2023

As a patient advocate, I know how vulnerable patients can be when seeking healthcare. Faced with the experience of physical or emotional pain, dealing with a serious illness, or the reality of difficult decisions about their health. Patients who trust their physicians are more likely to feel supported and empowered throughout their healthcare journey.

The doctor-patient relationship is an important and valuable aspect of healthcare that can significantly impact patient outcomes and satisfaction. From my professional and personal experience, trust plays an essential and critical role in both the relationship and the delivery of high-quality healthcare.

As a patient advocate, I know how vulnerable patients can be when seeking healthcare. Faced with the experience of physical or emotional pain, dealing with a serious illness, or the reality of difficult decisions about their health. Patients who trust their physicians are more likely to feel supported and empowered throughout their healthcare journey.

Trust helps to establish a strong partnership between patients and their physician(s).

This partnership is so important for providing patient-centered care - tailored to each person’s unique needs and preferences.

Patients who trust their physicians are likelier to communicate openly and honestly, follow through with recommended treatment, and experience better health outcomes. As the relationship develops and matures, both patient and physician work together to develop and manage personalized treatment plans that consider medical history, lifestyle, and goals.

As in any relationship, the reality and challenge of finding the right physician. Someone who is committed to making sure you receive high-quality, personalized care that meets your needs and expectations. Here are a few steps to take to ensure a good fit:

1. Consider your healthcare needs and preferences before selecting a physician. Are you looking for a primary care physician or a specialist? Do you have any specific medical conditions or concerns that require specialized care? Also, consider factors such as location, hours of operation, and insurance coverage.

2. Research to identify potential physicians who meet your needs and preferences. Check online directories, ask for recommendations from friends or family, and read reviews or testimonials from other patients.

3. Check credentials and experience. Before selecting a physician, check their credentials and experience. Verify that they are licensed and board-certified in their specialty. Also, check their experience and training.

4. Schedule a consultation. Once you have identified a potential physician, to meet with them in person. This can be an opportunity to ask questions, discuss your healthcare needs, and get a sense of their communication style and bedside manner.

5. Trust your instincts. If you feel comfortable and confident with a particular doctor, and they demonstrate the qualities that are important to you in a healthcare provider, then they are a good fit for you.

Realize that finding the right physician may take some time and effort, but it is an important investment in your healthcare. Ultimately relationship building characteristics you are looking for include:

• Trust and rapport are built on mutual respect. As a patient, when have the confidence of an honest conversation with my medical provider, I actively participate by disclosing more information in response to questions. Once treatment or another course of action is recommended, it is my turn to ask questions in an effort to understand the rationale for recommended treatments.
• Good communication is essential. Trust in knowing I am being heard gives me the confidence to communicate openly and honestly about symptoms, concerns, and preferences. In return, I am confident that s/he has the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the most effective treatment plan.
• Personalized care tailored to my needs and preferences. This is a win-win. I can count on improved health outcomes, and my doctor appreciates my recommendations to others as a satisfied patient.
• Better adherence to treatment plans leads to better health outcomes and a lower risk of problems or complications.
• Continuity of care continues throughout the relationship as my physician continues the conversation with each following visit. She always makes a point to ask about what’s happening in my life. Particularly last year following the death of our son. Her focus on my care plan changed. Management of a chronic condition I have and disease prevention through routine screens became secondary. My well-being (and subsequently, that of my family) was front-and-center, with the visit lasting (understandably) a bit longer than scheduled.

One last comment worth noting. As with any relationship built on trust, it is important to maintain it over time. This involves ongoing communication, trust, and engagement.