How do I know I've found a good doctor?

I lost my best physicians this summer. When you have a "rare" disorder, and your doctor moves, well the stress can be profound.

I wanted to create a list that comprised all my favorite physician attributes - you know the ones that give you feelings of no-see-ums such as trust and faith, peace and a sense of partnership in the journey of living a purposeful life despite chronic pain or illness. I'm learning that one must be in the correct frame of mind for those thoughts to flow, and I'm just not quite there today, so I want to point out a truly sweet blog post by Tiffany Christensen of Sick Girl Speaks titled Top 10 Ways to Know You Have Found a Good Doctor.

Would you add to this list?
Would you change part of it?

I wish physicians understood the journey of a person who has had to change their life from that of a vital, energetic person who loves every minute of their life, to that of a Patient and the daily tail-chase of symptoms, timed medications, side-effects, doctor's office appointments, insurance letters, trips to the pharmacy, blood draws, (repeat) phone calls, the sheer hours of waiting that defines a "patient", and the disappointment of friends and family that comes with every visit or phone call. If every physician had to be a chronically ill patient for a year before treating one, I think they would be gentled, and the result might be very different lives for those they treat.

Havanese puppy Excalibur's Picasso Blue


I wish I could print Tiffany's list out, frame it and give it to the next new doctor I'm referred to as I try to replace the gems that moved this summer.

I wish I could mat and frame it beautifully and place it in every office, waiting room, ER and hospital room. Oh that I could weave it into the blankets that cover hospital beds so staff would be reminded of the goals most of them had when they worked so hard to get through school and training to help people. Their jobs are so difficult, is it so bad to need reminding?

I wish the list would remind patients of the damage they do when they don't foster these attributes in those we partner with. Every time a doctor is lied to, manipulated or dis-respected, we all suffer. Not a good thing when lives hang in the balance.

Now, I wish I could find an equally respectful list created by a physician that listed the top 10 ways to know you've found a good patient...

Know of one? ... please post a link here for us all to learn and share.