Improving Doctor-Patient Relationships

The real concern is not about the wait although that's important, but because our medical professionals are so busy, how can we be sure that we really get the full ten minutes we're allotted in the system. I'm not saying that we should keep an eye on the clock, but I am suggesting the importance of you and your medical provider being "present" together throughout the appointment.

There is lots of scientific literature and books about being "mindful". As I interview those with illnesses I'm wondering how our doctors would respond if we tried to practice mindfulness during our appointment. Is it possible to create a sacred space within the doctor's office? Could we invoke some level of control over our appointment by suggesting to our medical provider that we both get centered for a moment making the interaction more human and relationship based and gets both us and our providers to match energetic forces as we tackle the big questions about test results, examinations and treatment?

Would we absorb more and become more responsible patients if we had the doctor's attention to the degree that the two of us, for a brief period of time, were really the only ones in the world....just for those ten minutes. It's important to remember that it's not about the quantity of time you spend with your medical provider but the quality of the visit. Keeping focused and holding the doctor's attention is critical to good care. Having the ability to express yourself and be understood alleviates misunderstanding and increases more efficacious treatment strategies. Taking the guess work out of a treatment plan allows you to have more confidence in your medical team and that elevates your intention to comply with the instructions and in turn elevates the odds for a positive outcome.

It may be difficult to think about medicine as a domino effect, but the truth is that your interaction with your healthcare team impacts the doctor's willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. You'll have greater access to your medical team because they know that each and every contact is initiated with purpose. There is nothing more detrimental to the doctor-patient relationship than creating an adversarial relationship. The doctor and patient must respect each other and understand that everyone is working toward the same goal...wellness.

If you're facing a health challenge take a personal inventory of your relationships. Note those things that create better relationships between you and your friends and family. Apply those same principles to your relationship with your medical team. Each visit is an opportunity to connect person to person, not simply as doctor to patient. These human relationships create a bond where everyone is vested in the best outcome possible, not out of duty, but out of desire. Don't you want to be at the top of someone's priority list out of choice and not circumstance? "Presence" will give you the edge in the world of medical overwhelm.

Looking for other ideas to improve your relationship with your doctor? Get your FREE copy of the special report "The 5 Pillars of Health and Healing". As a bonus I'd like to offer you the multimedia program "Instilling Hope for Health". Want to benefit from my experience with illness and twenty years of working with clients who have been diagnosed? Get your FREE report and multimedia program at http://www.survivingstrong.com