Most executives know when it’s time to fire an employee. Whether he or she constantly misses deadlines, doesn’t take responsibility for mistakes or just isn’t up to the job, the signs are usually pretty obvious.
But evaluating your doctor’s performance can be a little more difficult.
That’s partly because people don’t tend to treat doctors’ visits like business relationships. Whether you’re going for a physical or treatment for a specific condition, instead of focusing on how to get the most out of an appointment, you’re probably tense–maybe even intimidated.
There’s something about playing the role of a patient that can make the most powerful CEO, stripped of his Dior Homme suit and told to put on a skimpy cotton gown, feel vulnerable. Whether it’s because you’re nearly naked or afraid of what the doctor might say, you suddenly may not be able to clearly explain your symptoms, ask the list of questions you brought or decipher all of those medical terms, let alone tell if your doctor is doing a good job.
If a person behind the counter at a retail store doesn’t have the right attitude, you’ll probably confidently walk away with your business, says Dr. Phyllis Hollenbeck, a Seattle-based fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and author of the new book Sacred Trust: The 10 Rules of Life, Death and Medicine.
“But,” says Hollenbeck, “you lose that sense of being connected to your gut in the doctor’s office.”
Putting up with poor patient-doctor relationships can have consequences ranging from potentially billions of dollars squandered nationwide on unnecessary medical tests each year to outright substandard care. It also can be, quite simply, frustrating.
- www.forbes.com
Check out Mojo’s Top 10 Reasons why it’s time to fire your Doctor