Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."
Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."
Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI
“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.
Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017
“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD
Choosing Your Doctor: Good Rapport & Trust are Vital for Your Health
An A-Fib.com reader, now A-Fib-free after two ablations, wrote me about an experience with one EP she had consulted:
“I checked your website’s listing of EPs and was surprised to find (name withheld) listed under (affiliation withheld).
This is the EP who told me I was definitely not a candidate for ablation and I needed to just accept the fact that I needed to stay on basic medications (atenolol and Eliquis).
This guy is a smooth talker and tells you how he “treats his patients just like they were his family members”.
However, when I pressed him with questions, he told me that ‘he was the one who went to medical school’. I would never recommend this EP to anyone.”
Studies of Doctor-Patient Relationships
At A-Fib.com, we stress the importance of a good doctor-patient relationship and finding the right doctor for you and your treatment goals. Don’t just go to a doctor because their office is nearby.
Indeed, recent research proves that patients do better when they have a good rapport with their doctor. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital analyzed the results of 13 high-quality studies of doctor-patient relationships.
“Patients who trust their doctors are more likely to follow their advice, ask questions and discuss how treatments are working”, according to Dr. Gerald B. Hickson of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Doctors, in turn, may be more engaged.
Finding the Right Doctor for You
Which doctor?
If the first doctor you interview doesn’t meet your needs, move on the second (or third) doctor on your list, etc. Yes, I know it takes time and energy, but a good doctor-patient relationship is important. You’ll do better when you have a positive rapport with your doctor.
Read more at How to Find the Right Doctor for You and Your Treatment Goals.
