The Good Patient’s Advantage – Why It Pays Off

Have you ever wondered what doctors mean by the expression “good patient?” Is it an arbitrary designation doctors attach only to those patients who never complain and who never ask questions?

Not on your life. Chiropractic doctors want and expect patients to voice concern about their health problems and to ask meaningful questions about treatment and what the doctor wants them to do. A patient’s active involvement in his or her own recovery is the first step toward being a good patient.

WHY BE GOOD?
But why, you may ask, should a patient be at all concerned with whether he or she is a good patient? The doctor is being paid for service, so why should the patient try to be “good?” The reason is simply this: good patients tend to respond to treatment much more quickly and decisively than uncooperative or lackadaisical patients because good patients see the wisdom of following the doctor’s recommendations wholeheartedly.

GOOD PATIENT DEFINED
What makes a good patient? Mostly it’s the patient’s realization that health problems need the attention of both the doctor and the patient. The doctor gives advice sincerely and the good patient takes the advice earnestly. In any good patient-doctor relationship, the following three principles are foremost:

(1) The patient realizes the doctor values his or her own reputation as a doctor and thus is striving for the patient’s recovery as quickly and thoroughly as possible. (The doctor likes to see patients get well and the good patient senses this.)

(2) The patient realizes his own best interests are fulfilled by cooperating with the doctor.

(3) The patient’s actions and attitudes naturally harmonize with the doctor’s treatment plan, advice, recommendations, and goals for that patient’s health.

The doctor gives advice and the good patient takes the advice earnestly.

HARMFUL ATTITUDES
Now, here are a few behaviors considered not to be in a patient’s best interest. Most apply equally to men and women.

The Stoic Patient. Rather than let the doctor know how bad the pain really is (say, on a scale of one to ten) stoic patients try to conceal the pain. Stoics may conceal even intense pain from their doctor if they can. Though some men patients see stoicism as manly or macho, that attitude may mislead the doctor by sending the wrong message.

The Testing Patient. Rather than follow the doctor’s recommendations, testers are out to prove they can still do anything they used to do, though the doctor may have advised them to “take it easy for awhile.” Too much testing, unfortunately, often leads to relapse.

The Irresponsible Patient. Rather than admit the error of their ways (whatever brought the health problems on) and make positive changes, such patients take no responsibility for their problem. They totally turn responsibility over to the doctor.

The Impatient Patient. Many patients tend to fall into this category. It’s only human nature to want to get well as quickly as possible. Though doctors advise their patients that it takes time for damaged ligaments and muscles to heal, impatient patients expect instantaneous results. Such patients do not yet realize that steady progress is the realistic goal.

DOCTOR AND PATIENT TRAVEL SIDE BY SIDE
Good patients know that getting well is a journey the chiropractic doctor and patient take together. The good patient learns to trust the doctor to do his or her best at all times, and the doctor, feeling that trust, “goes the extra mile.”

HealthStar Clinic