Visiting the doctor’s office can be a scary part of anyone’s life. It’s enough of a regular occurrence to be completely mundane, yet, it’s still a scary thing to face. If you’re ill, and you need to see someone about your symptoms because they’re bad enough to impact your normal life, it’s going to cause stress and worry!
And in a situation like this, you need the right doctor on your side. You need someone who understands, and does everything they can to help you feel better again. And if your needs are not currently being met by your doctor’s office, you do indeed deserve better!
So, without further ado, here are a few questions to ask yourself about your average doctor’s trip. Are you visiting the right medical professionals for you?
Are You Comfortable in the Waiting Room?
Of course, waiting in the waiting room is going to be an uncomfortable thing quite a lot of the time. You’re surrounded by people coughing and sniffling. You also have no idea what your doctor is going to tell you when you present your symptoms to them.
But if the wait you have to go through lasts forever, and you’re spending at least an hour waiting for a scheduled appointment to start, it might well be a sign you’re not being treated right. At the same time, if there’s nothing in the waiting room except a few chairs to sit on, your long wait won’t be made any more comfortable!
Does Your Doctor Listen?
Your doctor needs to listen to you, and prioritize your concerns over everything else. After all, you’re the person suffering, and in need of help, and if they cannot administer something like a simple shoulder to cry on, it’s a sign you should find another doctor.
But this problem can be a double edged sword. Your doctor may act like they’re listening, but they may just be finding convenient solutions for you. Sometimes it can be useful for your doctor to just hand you medication so you can be on your way, but if they take physician dispensing to the next level, and never order further tests or second opinions, you might want to start asking for more.
Are They Conducting the Right Tests?
A quick but important point to finish off: is your doctor going too far? After all, it could be costing you a lot of money! So, at the same time as the above, be vigilant to ensure your doctor is never putting you through unnecessary and long testing cycles. Some diagnoses require a lot of leg work from both you and a medical professional, of course, but if you’ve received no answers after months and months of testing, it might be time to ask what’s going on and why there are no results for you.
Your doctor’s office might not be taking care of you right. Know your rights, and help your expectations be met.
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