At Matthews Internal Medicine, we’ve seen firsthand how a better doctor-patient relationship can lead to good things. Getting to know your internal medicine doctor and having a good relationship with them can actually pay off. Here are some of the benefits of working on that relationship.
You’re More Likely to Share
When you have a better relationship with your family medicine doctor, you’re more likely to be honest and share important information. Patients who don’t have a good relationship with their physician might feel awkward sharing certain things. They might lie about their habits and how healthy they’ve been. This can be a problem because it makes it harder for a doctor to do their job and figure out if anything is wrong with you. If you have a good relationship with your doctor, you’re more likely to share important information that could lead to more accurate diagnoses.
Appointments are Less Stressful
Going to the doctor can be stressful, and not just because there’s sometimes the possibility of getting bad news. A visit can be stressful if you feel like your doctor is going to judge you for your habits or what you say to them. If you can’t be honest with your doctor a visit might feel more like a tightrope walk. Knowing your doctor better can make a trip to the doctor’s office feel less like a slog.
Health Outcomes Improve
Some studies actually show that a good relationship with your internal medicine doctor can actually improve health outcomes. You’re at the doctor’s office more often. You’re giving more accurate information. You’re getting more accurately diagnosed when a problem does come up. All of these factors, taken together, make your appointments far better uses of time and help with your health.
Your Doctor Can Help You Set Goals
If you have a good relationship with your doctor, you’ll probably end up going beyond the typical schedule where you visit occasionally and just do the bare minimum number of tests that people in your age group need. A good relationship with your doctor could encourage you to rely on them to help you with your weight management, for example. You trust your doctor to help you set healthy goals and you can depend on your physician for useful advice when you hit a wall.
Your Doctor Could Spot Problems Earlier
A good relationship with your doctor likely means more frequent visits. That means that your doctor has more information about you and knows what’s “normal” when it comes to you and your health. That means that it’s easier for them to spot if something is off. They’re familiar with your blood pressure numbers and cholesterol levels, and a sudden change could alert them to a problem. If you don’t go to your doctor as often, they might not have a complete health profile on you. A good doctor-patient relationship and frequent visits could improve your chances of catching a potential problem earlier.
Your Family Medicine Doctor in Charlotte, NC
Matthews Internal Medicine is ready to offer the family medicine Charlotte, NC residents need. Make an appointment today and start forging a bond with one of our skilled physicians today, so that you can reap the benefits of a better doctor-patient relationship for yourself.