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Keys to a Successful Doctor's Appointment

Visiting Mayo Clinic | Last Active: Oct 4 10:56am | Replies (57)

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@bmspector

Please don’t ask us to carry more than we already have to, when we spend every day just trying to survive. How is that fair?

Also, why is it on us to figure out how to communicate with doctors? They could simply do their research ahead of time or after the appointment, and figure out how to ask the right questions to us. That’s what every other profession asks of its practitioners when it comes to customer service.

The Hippocratic Oath says “do no harm.” Doctors and the medical community would be wise to adhere to that.

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Replies to "Please don’t ask us to carry more than we already have to, when we spend every..."

From my perspective, doctors are not in the customer service business. I think of it as a business transaction, and in business transactions, the best way to have a successful outcome is to speak in a way that resonates with them. Should the other party (doctor) also try this? Sure but in the end it is me who wants something of them, so I have to go that extra mile and try, not always successfully, to build that relationship , just like in business.

I would also caution throwing around the Hippocratic Oath, as the easiest way to do no harm is to do nothing at all, i.e. not accept you as a patient which is becoming all the more common these days.

Without fail, I am asked to complete a survey after every appointment whether with a doctor, NP, PA or lab services. That is the place to air your concerns if there is a lack of communication, which is definitely is a two-way street!