I have to agree with Walt, compassion is half the battle in finding a
good doctor.   It the doctor is the "best", but doesn't listen to your
concerns or isn't willing to talk things through with you, then I fire
them.  I want someone who is good, but who also listens and works with
me not against me!

In finding a new doctor, I first ask friends and other doctors I have
who they would recommend.   I then make a list and contact those
doctors.   I have found that some will let you interview them over the
phone, some prefer to be interviewed in thier office, while others will
charge a fee to be interviewed.  I, myself, don't pay to interview a
doctor.   If I really feel that is the doctor I want to go to, I will
just make a regular appointment with them.   It usually doesn't take me
more than one or two visits to know if I am going to like a doctor or
not, so if I don't like them, I just find someone else.   Make sure you
have a list of questions already made up  of what you want to ask the
doctors and of what is important to you.   For example:  you might ask
the doctor how his office handles after hour calls/emergencies, how his
office handles prescription refills, what are his views on pain meds for
patients, is he willing to work with you and take into consideration
your feelings/thoughts, etc.  Does his office mail copies of test
results or give them to you when you come for a visit, do they charge
for copies of medical records, what is thier turnaround time for acting
on calls for prescription refills, and so on.

You will also have to try and set aside your "bad attitude" as you put
it about doctors and be honest with them and tell them everything.   Try
not to go in with a chip on your shoulder and try not to be fearful or
distrustful of them.   Tell them if they are doing something that
doesn't just set right for you.   I have found for myself, at least, in
the long run, if I am honest with them and tell them when I am unhappy
about something, they will try to correct the situation or will try to
find a good compromise for you and for them.

Good luck in your hunt for a new doctor.  Sure hope you can find one you
can trust and work comfortably with!

Donna G

i agree.  compassion definitely is a biggie, walt.  a little compassion goes
a long way to help the patient's healing processes.  we really are not that
far away from being the children we once were, when it comes to needing to
be heard, having our experiences validated, and needing access to authority
with answers to our seemingly niggling questions.

i went with "the best" neurological diagnostician (who is tops in his field,
but has little or no peripheral sight for much beyond the puzzle before
him), but only for the answers i needed.  for the treatments of those
answers, i went for someone else, with compassion as well as intellect and
skill.  i'm glad i did both, though for different reasons.

kate

  The best. Uh huh. It was the best that treated my uncle and he ended up
with his hands looking like seal flippers and at that point they told him
there was nothing they could do. This wasn't all that long ago (4 years) so
why didn't "the BEST" that NYC have to offer offer him aggressive RA
treatment to save the use of his hands?

   I personally don't care about compassion as long as the treatment is
effective. My uncle is a retired artist who spent the majority of his life
expressing his art thru his handiwork and that was STOLEN from him by the
BEST. Do I resent those docs? You betcha.

     I strongly agree that the phrase 'the best' is too often
untrustworthy. Especially if it's equated to 'high priced' like my aunt
equated it. I can't even begin to think that having seal flipper hands from
RA is an appropriate outcome these days...and particularly from some of the
highest paid RD's anywhere.

Yet and Still Angry At Them Hugs from Rosie