Docs need better bedside manners from medicineworld.org

Docs need better bedside manners

As the 2008 national presidential election heats up, one topic remains a voter hot button and a constant debate issue the health care crisis in America. Political affiliations aside, there is one aspect everyone can agree on the importance of access to quality health care. But what defines quality health care today" As per a new survey conducted by Kelton Research for the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a vast majority of Americans wish their doctors demonstrated the care in the term heath care. The survey unveiled that nearly eight out of ten polled (78 percent) complain that todays doctors need better bedside manners and less than half of survey respondents could describe their doctors recent conduct as attentive (49 percent), communicative (44 percent) or compassionate (32 percent) at their last medical visit.

A number of past studies have shown a strong connection between patient and doctor satisfaction and better overall patient outcomes when doctors develop a relationship with their patients, said Arnold P. Gold, MD, founder of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. What this survey shows us is that patients are still craving for their doctor to see the person behind the prognosis and really want a connectedness with their doctor.

As the leading Foundation dedicated to keeping the care in healthcare, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation sponsored the online survey of 1,000 Americans over the age of 18 to garner patient perceptions about their physicians commitment to providing compassionate care. Survey respondents indicate that along with the need for better beside manner, less than half (47 percent) of the doctors visited have displayed an interest in their overall well-being as a person rather than the specific ailment at hand. In addition, a number of Americans report that their dissatisfaction with doctors is due to an experience of disconnection, such as the doctor making them feel rushed (40 percent), not providing enough opportunity to discuss their concerns and questions (36 percent), or even being outright rude or condescending (23 percent).

Posted by: Janet Source

Did you know?
As the 2008 national presidential election heats up, one topic remains a voter hot button and a constant debate issue the health care crisis in America. Political affiliations aside, there is one aspect everyone can agree on the importance of access to quality health care. But what defines quality health care today" As per a new survey conducted by Kelton Research for the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a vast majority of Americans wish their doctors demonstrated the care in the term heath care. The survey unveiled that nearly eight out of ten polled (78 percent) complain that todays doctors need better bedside manners and less than half of survey respondents could describe their doctors recent conduct as attentive (49 percent), communicative (44 percent) or compassionate (32 percent) at their last medical visit.


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