What are Some Key Traits I Should Look for When Choosing a Physician?

When you’re dealing with a medical condition or have come down with an illness but have not been successful at pinpointing what it is, it is likely you are seeking medical advice and even care from a healthcare professional. The fact is, anyone who suffers from an illness or even a disability wants to keep their condition under control so they can enjoy their life as much as possible. And anyone who has developed some sort of illness and isn’t sure what it is, is probably seeking answers that will tell them how to treat it and maybe even heal it.

Now, although there are thousands and thousands of physicians all across the U.S. that are both qualified and experienced who can help those in need, it doesn’t make them the best at what they do. Unfortunately, there are plenty of doctors who have committed acts of medical negligence, even those who have acquired all of the licenses they needed to practice. And sadly, those who have received treatment from these physicians were either left injured or didn’t survive.

So, when choosing a physician to seek treatment from, it is important that you research who this professional is and whether they have had medical malpractice lawsuits filed against them. You can search for this information in a number of ways which include:

1. Conduct a record search online. If your doctor was sued in the state in which they practice in, you should be able to find this information online. You may also want to find out if the doctor practiced in any other state and search for records their as well.
2. You can also search if the physician you are considering seeing has had any disciplinary action taken against them by visiting Doc Info.

Once you look up the physician in question and find their record is clear, you then will want to keep an eye out for some key traits that might indicate that they are the doctor for you. According to WebMD, there are seven key traits that make an ideal doctor which include:

1. Confidence. When a doctor is confident in their practice, it allows you to feel more confident about the treatment they provide you with.
2. They are empathetic. Doctors who make the effort to understand what their patients are going through shows they are concerned and interested in what this person is experiencing.
3. The doctor treats you like a person, not just a patient.
4. They are forthright. Rather than beat around the bush, the doctor is straightforward and honest with you.
5. They are respectful.
6. They are thorough. A thorough doctor takes the time to truly assess your condition to determine what might be causing it and rule out what is not. The last thing anyone wants is to be treated by a physician who rushes them through their appointment and doesn’t take the time to address their concerns.

When you take the time to research a physician rather than just schedule an appointment with the first doctor that pops up in your Google search engine, you reduce the chances of becoming the next victim of a medical error.

However, if you recently underwent a procedure or received care from a healthcare professional in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, or any other city within the state of Iowa, and you feel an error was made which worsened your condition or caused you to suffer an injury, we recommend you contact the Iowa medical malpractice attorneys at Eells & Tronvold Law Offices P.L.C. While it can sometimes be difficult to hold a doctor accountable for their mistakes, when you have the right legal team working behind you, anything is possible.

If you would like to schedule a consultation where we can sit down and discuss what happened and how we can help you, contact us today at 319-393-1020.

 

You can reach Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. at:
1921 51^st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000