Let’s be honest, not all of us have the best relationship with our primary care physicians. We’d probably all like to have better relationships, but it can be quite difficult at times to strengthen them. Doctors can be intimidating, and that alone can discourage building relationships with them. By the same token, we must realize that many doctors have friendly personalities and can be easily approached. Also, it is a doctor’s job to provide professional medical care and make his or her patients feel comfortable at all times. Your doctor most likely wants to have a strong relationship with you, so put aside your qualms about seeing or speaking to a doctor, and work to improve your relationship with your primary care physician. Below, we will explore a few simple ways in which you can do so.

Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth

Honesty is important in all walks of life, including those taken with your doctors. When answering questions about your medical and family history, it does you no good to lie about something to make yourself sound better or healthier for the time being. Also, when you see your doctor for a checkup or any other reason and he or she asks about your health, do not hide anything, especially those of significant concern to you. Honest, thorough answers to your doctor’s questions will be paramount in developing mutual respect as well as strengthening personal and professional relationships.

Follow the Advice You are Given

Another way to improve your relationship with your primary care physician is to heed his or her advice. Saying you plan to follow the advice given now and actually doing it later are two separate things that can often be miles apart. Eventually, your doctor will know whether or not you have been diligent with your instructions and prescriptions, and it is certainly better to have your doctor be pleasantly surprised now than to be disappointed later in the future. Also, this ties in with what was previously stated about telling the whole truth to your doctor. If you have done everything your doctor told you to do, it will be easier for you to answer questions honestly and thoroughly upon your next visit to the MD.

Stay in Communication

Furthermore, keeping in regular contact with your primary care physician will show that you truly value and respect what he or she does for you. If you receive a phone call or email from your doctor or someone from his or her office, return the call or respond to the email punctually and appropriately. Staying in communication also means to not go too long between appointments and alerting your doctor if you notice anything of concern with your health.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Asking questions can be the most difficult and loathsome part of seeing a doctor. After all, you don’t want to come across as unintelligent or excessively bothersome. Moreover, we avoid asking questions because we’re embarrassed to ask them. If this sounds all too familiar, try placing yourself in your doctor’s shoes for a second. Chances are, you’d want for your patients to leave your office fully informed and without any questions on their mind. Also, in regards to embarrassment, you must remember that doctors make a living, often a good living, off treating patients with conditions some might find to be embarrassing; we’re all human after all. And to doctors and other healthcare professionals, hearing about, seeing, and treating conditions that some might think embarrassing are all in a day’s work.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to physicians.

Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. SMith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to physicians. http://www.lsiphysicianrelations.com/

Author Bio: Peg Smith is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Ms. Smith is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to physicians.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: Doctors, Physicians, Professional Relationships