My Primary Care Physician, Dr. Farhad Nassiri Afshar values two-way communication. That means sitting down and having a conversation with you during visits. He shows concern for my feelings & makes me feel like he really listens to me and respects what I have to say. He is honest, forthright, tactful, and empathetic, and offer hope and encouragement when appropriate.
Health care can be complicated. And explanations can often be full of confusing medical terms. My PCP break concepts down using plain language so that I can understand what’s happening. I likes how he treats me with respect. Listens to my opinions and concerns.
Encourages me to ask questions & Explains things in ways I can understand.
Being an excellent communicator also means being a good listener because it enables you to understand the needs and concerns of your patients Availability. The average primary doctor spends around 17 minutes with a patient if that much. ...
My PCP takes the time to outline my options and explain the pros and cons of each of them. Then WE discuss what works best for me in my situation. I feel ownership in the final decision of what to do next.
When discussing next steps, Dr. Afshar says “there’s no bad question,” As patients we have to be comfortable enough to ask what’s on our mind. If we’re not comfortable, we’re not going to follow the treatment plan. Repeating the options back to your doctor when they will listen to you is a good way to make sure you understand them. Even when I see other doctors & acupuncturist my doctor still stay up to date on my health.
My doctor also uses email and a secure patient portal to communicate with me.
A secure patient portal is a platform where you and your doctor can exchange nonurgent messages. It’s a good way to handle communication between appointments. My Doctor also uses a patient portal to share follow-up information, such as test results. “I’m a fan of the portals, because the messages are his words exactly and it improves the accuracy of questions in between visits.
If my relationship line up with the relationship you have with your PCP, celebrate! You’ve likely found a good match. If they don’t resonate with you, you might want to consider finding a PCP who’s a better fit.