Why do most doctors today treat their patients like a number?

Question

I've been using the same doctors for years, and for the most part, they don't even remember or know my name let alone anything about me. I always feel rushed during an appointment, especially gyn appts. It's like they have less than 5 mins to spend with you, then they have to rush onto the next patient. Whatever happened to compassion?

I do my best to be an informed patient consumer and always bring a list of questions with me....and will not leave the office until my questions are answered. I feel this is my right to know and care about my health and healthcare and I'm paying for a service, not to be superficially examined and hear "see ya next year."

Answer 1

The problem is that medicine is no longer the doctor running and managing his own office.

The doctor is owned by a corporation now...he's an employee...and for the corporation---TIME IS MONEY---he cannot spend a great deal of time even exchanging pleasantries...his role is to get you in and out and diagnose your problem.

This is the reason that the film "Sicko" was produced:  to criticize the emergence of the "Healthcare Managed Organiztion" (HMO) and its treatment of the patient as a mass of tissue instead of a person.  You'll just have to cope with these difficulties for the time being until people force a change in the business model.

Answer 2

Get a new doctor.  I know plenty of doctors that actually give a c**p about me.  Do some research on potential new ones.  Word of mouth is their biggest form of advertisement... listen to what they have to say.

Answer 3

You can thank insurance HMO's.  We are now an assembly line of patients.  And it is worst in big cities.  I moved to a small town and have a doctor who not only remembers me, but will sit and answer any questions I have.  If you are in a big city, try finding a doctor on the outskirts of town, near smaller suburbs.  Has worked for me so far.