Up Close And Personal: The Importance Of Building Trusting Relationships With Healthcare Professionals
Not so long ago, a doctor was a family friend. The chances are that they would’ve treated your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. You said hello to them on the street and invited them round for cake. Despite the fact that they had to sit there pretending they hadn’t seen your diva parts, it was nice to be on terms like these.
Now, though, the situation couldn’t be more different. Though you’re given a particular doctor on signing up to any surgery, most of us never even meet our ‘doctors’. Instead, we visit someone different every time we book. We could, of course, wait to see our chosen physician. But, where our health is concerned, the length of time we’d have to wait can do real damage.
But, speed aside, there are some real issues with not having a regular doctor. For the most part, your doctor was once an individual who knew your history in-depth. They didn’t have to wait for your files to know all your illnesses because they had been there for them all. As such, they were able to spot subtle signs and symptoms straight away. A doctor who’s never seen you before simply won’t have the ability to do the same.
Not to mention that seeking medical help is a leap of faith. You need to build trust with your health professional to ensure they’re suggesting the best treatments. That simply can’t happen when you see someone different each time.
The good news is, you don’t have to follow the crowd. There are some alternative ways to build medical relationships. You could, of course, settle in for a long wait each time you want an appointment. Or, you could opt instead to see the same nurse each time. Nurses are often easier to book appointments with, and many can diagnose, just like a doctor. There’s also no need to worry about the level of qualification among nurses in the modern age. In an attempt to lighten the load on physicians, many nurses study much the same information at university. Some even opt to do 100% Online RN to BSN Program, to ensure they can gain experience while learning. Hence, you’re sure to be in safe hands here.
If you aren’t convinced, we’re going to look at a few of the reasons it’s worth building such trusting relationships with your medical professionals. Though there are a number of convincing arguments, here are the forerunners.
There won’t be any fear of making an appointment
Nobody enjoys making unpleasant appointments. While the dentist is top of the list for fear, the doctor isn’t far behind. Even if you have a persisting problem, you may be hesitant to see your doctor because you’re afraid. You wouldn’t be alone. A shocking amount of us holds off booking an appointment until ailments are unbearable. It’s a vicious cycle because this is what leads to the need for quick appointment times.
But, if you see the same person each time you visit, you’ll find that fear reduces in a major way. The unknown element of a medical appointment is often the worst. Remove it, and you’ll find the process so much more pleasant. Popping to the doctors will become much like chatting to a friend. The formal element will leave the process, and you’ll be more relaxed all around.
You’ll feel more able to talk about embarrassing issues
Our bodies are embarrassing, and our ailments can be, too. Often, we feel unable to expose ourselves or talk to unknown doctors and nurses about what’s bothering us. This can lead to significant problems, as well as stress.
But, if you know your medical professional, you’ll feel more able to broach issues like these. Sure, it’ll be embarrassing at first because you know them on a more personal level. In some ways, you’ll even convince yourself that anonymity would be better.
But, over time, you’ll come to know the discretion and mannerisms of your particular caregiver. You won’t have to worry about taking your clothes off. You already know they’ll remain professional and soothing at all times. Hence, it’ll become second nature to speak about anything which is bothering you, no matter how embarrassing.
You’ll be held accountable
Another major plus point to seeing the same person each time is that they can hold you accountable. How many times have you been to the doctors and completely disregarded their advice? If a physician you’ll never see again urges you to lose weight, why should you listen? Equally, if they attempt to encourage you to quit smoking, you can rest easy that you’ll never see them again anyway.
But, when you become a regular, your situation changes in a major way. Your healthcare professional will now be in the perfect position to check your progress. As such, you’re much more likely to heed their advice. After all, none of us likes to get in trouble!
They may spot issues others would miss
A regular caregiver may also be able to detect problems others would miss. They’ll have the history of your past ailments in mind and may be able to join dots which wouldn’t be evident for someone who didn’t know you. Not to mention that they’ll know your family medical history, and will be able to rule out the most pressing concerns from the off. By comparison, someone who’s never seen you may fail to take action as fast, preferring to rule out more mundane possibilities.
Your regular caregiver will also come to know you when you’re healthy and see straight away when you’re not. Often, it can be frustrating when a doctor doesn’t seem to believe we’re unwell. You’ll never experience that again once you’ve built that level of trust.
As you can see, it’s well past time you took control of building trusting medical relationships. There’s no denying that it’s more work, but it’ll pay off in no time at all. And, such relationships may actually be easier to form than you’d think.
