I believe that having open communication with a patient is key to providing the very best care. My patients’ experiences, values and opinions play a vital role in decisions about their health care. To make this happen, I spend a lot of time talking with my patients and listening to their concerns and needs. My patients always know that they have been heard.
There is still so much that we do not know in medicine, and each person is different; they don’t follow a textbook description of a disease or disorder. But our jobs as health care professionals includes acknowledging our limits and finding a way to help people the best we can. I may not have answers for every problem, but I want my patients to know that we have some kind of a plan to address their needs and improve their individual conditions.