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
Do You ‘Like’ Your Doctor, Do You ‘Connect’?…How it Affects Your Health
The more people like their doctors, the healthier they tend to be. This is what researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found in a review study where they examined 13 research reports on this subject.
Being the “Best in the Field” Isn’t Enough
You’re heatlthier if you like your doctor!
Even if a doctor(s) is the best in their field and an expert in your condition, that may not help you if you don’t communicate well with them and don’t relate to them. If we don’t like our doctors, we’re less likely to listen to them.
Some doctors (particularly those from overseas) often communicate poorly, or talk in “medicalize” and are nearly incomprehensible. Other doctors come from a medical school with a tradition of aloofness and keeping a distance from patients (with women in particular).
Relationship-Based Strategies Improve Patients’ Health
This mega-study review looked at doctors who were trained in “relationship-based strategies” such as making eye contact, listening well, and helping patients set goals. The results: these strategies significantly improved their patients’ health compared to control groups. Their patients achieved lower blood pressure, increased their weight loss, reduced pain and improved glucose management.
If You Don’t Like Your Doctor, Look For a New One!
It’s intuitive, isn’t it? But now a review of studies backs it up. If you like, trust and respect your doctor(s), you’re more likely to accept and follow their advice. Developing a good relationship helps you feel comfortable asking questions and getting feedback in a give-and-take environment.
If you don’t have this rapport with your current doctor(s), it’s worth looking elsewhere for a new doctor―even if they are “the best” in their field.
In the article, Know When it’s Time to Fire your Doctor, CNN.com Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen discusses five ways to know when it’s time to think about leaving your doctor, and the best way to do it. The highlights are:
1. When your doctor doesn’t like it when you ask questions
2. When your doctor doesn’t listen to you
3. If your doctor can’t explain your illness to you in terms you understand
4. If you feel bad when you leave your doctor’s office
5. If you feel your doctor just doesn’t like you — or if you don’t like him or her
Don’t Be Afraid to Fire Your Doctor
Changing doctors can be scary. According to Robin DiMatteo, a researcher at the University of California at Riverside who’s studied doctor-patient communication. “”I really think it’s a fear of the unknown. But if the doctor isn’t supporting your healing or health, you should go.”
To learn more, read our page: How to find the right doctor for you and your treatment goals.
