Medicine is considered one of the most prestigious and appreciated professions. It is definitely not for the faint hearted. While you may know may compassionate doctors excelling in their careers, but what exactly does one need to be a good doctor. In actuality, it requires intelligence, motivation and the ability to get accepted in a med school. Moreover, one also needs the grit to cope up with the tough challenges that med students incur.
The one question, doctors often ponder is that what it takes to succeed in the field of medicine. What exactly makes a good doctor? However, the answer may depend on the person you ask from.
As discussed, while intelligence and determination is a key component, but there are several other qualities that you need in order to succeed. It would be wrong to miss the integral soft skills that enable doctors to succeed in the field of medicine.
4 Integral Qualities Of Great Doctors Are Listed Below:
Good Doctors Have Great Communication SkillsIf you are a good listener, you are likely to be a good doctor. Your patients are likely to tell you what exactly is wrong with them leading to effective diagnoses if you let them speak. Often it happens that patients are interrupted by doctors as soon as they start speaking about their ailment. It is also very important for doctors to understand the concerns that their patients are facing and also explain their diagnosis to the patient in detail.
A good doctor is one who gives his/her the patients the time they deserve and require. They should be able to answer their queries in a manner that is clear to them. Many a times, doctors start using medical terminologies that confuse the patient. Even during difficult situations, a doctor should ensure that they are honest but also give hope to their patients. Empowering the patient helps in improving the overall health and wellbeing resulting in better clinical results.
Keep Yourself Organized
When a child joins a school, the first skill they are taught is that they need to be organized in order to be successful. This is a life lesson that not only helps in schools or self-grooming but is also very important in the field of medicine. One cannot be successful in the field of medicine without any presence of mind or being peculiar to details.
A doctor needs to ensure that their patient gets all the required screening tests, their concerns are addressed properly as well as have a clear action plan before they leave the office. They should be thorough professionals, who are vigilant about all follow up test and then communicate the results in a clear and concise and manner.
Good Doctors Care For Patients
For your patients, it does not really matter if you graduated as the top student in your batch, have the ideal GPA in med school or got the best residency. Similarly, it will not matter if your research got published in a prestigious journal or you were part of a ground breaking research. The only thing a patient wants is to be in good and safe hands.
So, the question here arises that what it takes to be a trusted doctor? Primarily, a good physician gives their patients the feeling that they are cared for, the queries are legit and they are heard.
A patient will want a doctor who listens to them instead of the one who has numerous awards or research papers up their sleeves. You can care for a patient by listening to their concerns and effectively answer the queries they or their families may have.
One needs to understand that a patient is a lot more than medications or medical problems.
Furthermore, there are small things you can do to make your patient feel valued. By asking them about their job and family, you can show that you are interested in them beyond the scope of their medical problem. Similarly, if you just lend a ear during a conversation may show that you care.
She goes on to explain that there are small things you can do to really make a patient feel valued. Things like asking questions about their job or family show them that you're truly interested in them as a person. "The patient isn't just a list of medical problems and medications," Dr. Ma says. "Even sitting during the conversation shows the patient they are a priority to the doctor."
Curiosity Is A Virtue
If a patient comes to you with confusing symptoms, your curiosity as a doctor will help you in diagnosing correctly. This means, at times, you will have to look into things such as the household environment which may not be a part of your clinical diagnosis checklist.
If you notice that your patient shows worrisome or unusual symptoms, a great doctor is one who is willing to inquire what is actually going on. This may require some additional research, reaching out to peers, or taking out time to acquire the detailed history of the patient.
A good doctor will ensure that they follow the curiosity and ponder on the questions for the sake of the patient. They are not the ones who rush to a diagnosis.
THE GOOD DOCTOR
So who exactly is a good doctor? Well, in reality, there is no set formula. There is not any one approach that fits all. However, following the aforementioned qualities will help you lead a career in medicine successfully.