Introduction
Health care on the basis level starts with the relationship between the patient and the doctor. Doctor-patient relationship has been and remains a foundation of care. It is the means in which diagnosis and plans are made, data is gathered, compliance is accomplished, patient activation and support are provided. A patient-doctor relationship exists when a doctor a patient’s medical needs, by mutual consent. This relationship forms one of the contemporary medical ethics. However, this relationship gives rise to ethical obligations of the doctor to place the welfare of the patient above their own self-interest. In order to hold the best interests of the patient, a doctor is ethically required to use sound medical judgment. Being a doctor is always a demanding job. Their goal is to cover a broad range of care delivery tasks on behalf of their patient; therefore, the patient must trust the doctor and the doctor must fulfill the patient’s wish.
Historical and Present Development of the Patient-Doctor Relationship and Decision Making
I am interested in the doctor-patient relationship because it is an issue that has affected me personally. Everyone wishes to receive the best treatment from a doctor every time they go for medication or check-up, and in most cases, luck, financial status and time, drives us to the services we deserve. A few years ago, things were totally different in the health care system. Almost everything was done manually, and one could spend almost the whole day in the long queue waiting for their turn to be served. However, everything has gradually changed.
Today, the health care system is efficient and fast. Most of the illnesses require total cooperation from the doctor and the patient. Communication between doctors is the keystone of this cooperation. Years back, the issue in the healthcare system was the patient – doctor relationship. Doctors spent very little time with their patients, and as a result, patients were not contended with what they received. Subsequently, all this has changed. The internet has brought forth credible changes in health care (Subotsky, 2010, p. 117).
Through the internet, managed care has been easy and up to standard. The amount of information available is endless. Due to the availability of this information there has been a dramatic change in how we use the medicine profession particularly in relationships with the doctors. Historically, the medical profession seemed to be a closed book that was held back only for doctors and other medical practitioners. That era was so conventional, and no one suggested that a doctor could be wrong at some point. Subsequently, no one questioned their advices. However, things started changing and, the internet was now used in the hospitals, doctors, and other medical professionals started using the internet. These changes have led to quality care in the hospitals, easy access to hospital websites and to doctors. Truly, the best words to define use of the internet are “extreme makeover”.
Studies show that the availability of internet-based healthcare information to patients, including the non-health professionals, has influenced the doctor-patient relationship, patient knowledge and the expectations of patients regarding healthcare. As I explore the effects of information acquired through the internet on the patient-doctor relationship, I realize that it offers new responsibility for doctors to patient recommendations. It has also affected decision making process of both the doctor and the patient. The recent advancement in medical decision making is that the patient can easily obtain medical information before seeing the doctor.
Patients have the potential of weighing options between knowledge and preferences before contacting the doctor. It is beneficial to the patient because they can choose their preferred assessment and treatment. Secondly, the increased knowledge of the patient is an opportunity to consider and reflect on preferences prior to discussions with the doctor. In addition to that, doctors must be prepared to address different responsibilities. Time saved by the doctor and the patient could be allocated elsewhere within the system. Subsequently, such interventions save time, make work easier and strengthen the doctor-patient relationship.
How the Doctor-Patient Relationship Relates to Planning
In order to meet the goals of creating and maintaining a plan, doctors develop plans such as a work schedule, make appointments and plan ahead. Consequently, patients also need to plan, set dates for appointments and research on the matter that is to be addressed by the doctor prior to the visit. The doctor patient relationship relates to planning in a couple of ways. One, it enhances credibility of the doctor. Patients are able to make the right decisions regarding the type of examination and treatment they prefer prior to visiting the doctor. Subsequently, health care activities are lessened in order to speed operations and enhance doctors ‘competence.
Planning is thinking about and organizing activities. Planning is required when integrating plans. Likewise, the doctor-patient relationship requires proper organization of activities and critical thinking in order to integrate plans set by the doctor and the patient. The doctor and the patient must agree on certain issues before choosing any treatment or examination method. Such considerations are of paramount importance in clarifying the best method that is preferred by the patient (Myers, 2008, p,. 89).
Addressing the health care reform issue with effective health care management in New York City-based Flushing Hospital Pediatric Clinic
Last year when Manju Chopra, the managing director at began practicing as a physician at the Flushing Hospital, she realized that she barely had ten minutes to spend visiting patients after communicating with them. Everything was changing on her side; patients started looking up their symptoms in the waiting room and downloading applications on their phones. This issue has also been evident this year and, Manju has now realized that the lack of technology innovation in healthcare is what is slowing down her practice. It is also disabling her from spending enough time with her patients. The negative impact of this event has spread to the entire health care system. As a result, it has caused patient dissatisfaction, slow delivery of care and physical fatigue.
Chopra feels that she is trying to operate within a broken and dysfunctional system. She has realized that mobile technology can make a doctor’s visit more personal, efficient and productive; it would also improve patient care. She needs a solid foundation where she will build a platform for targeted communications between patients and doctors. She has made efforts of discussing this idea with her husband who has helped her bring a good vision to life, the PingMD application. Within a span of two months, patients have witnessed the benefits of this application. Doctors and physicians in the organization posit that the application has reduced the number of post-operatives visits significantly, and they are not paid for those services. This platform enables patients to reach doctors whenever they want (Mallia, 2013, p. 48).
After creating the Ping application, Chopra has discovered another way that would strengthen the doctor patient relationship. I realize that it offers new responsibility for doctors to patient recommendations. It has also affected decision making process of both the doctor and the patient. The recent advancement in medical decision making is that the patient can easily obtain medical information before seeing the doctor. It will enhance communication between doctors and patients in the organization. Other interventions are underway that are geared towards enhancing proper relationships between the doctor and the patient. This plan is; creating a website that will support interaction between the doctor and the patient.
Today, the health care system is efficient, and fast. Most of the treatments for these illnesses require good relationships from the doctor and the patient. The internet has gradually changed the way we live. The amount of information available is endless. Due to the availability of this information, there has been a dramatic change in how we use the medicine profession when engaging with doctors. Historically, the medical profession seemed to be a closed book that was held back only for doctors and other medical practitioners. That era was so conventional; no one suggested that a doctor could be wrong at some point, and no one questioned their credibility. The gradual change in doctor patient relationship has benefited patients in acquiring information. Doctors and physicians are able to set schedules, and plan all their activities in a convenient way.
References
Mallia, P. (2013). The nature of the doctor-patient relationship: Health care principles through the phenomenology of relationships with patients. Dordrecht: Springer.
Myers, M. F., & Gabbard, G. O. (2008). The physician as patient: A clinical handbook for mental health professionals. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub.
Subotsky, F., Bewley, S., & Crowe, M. (2010). Abuse of the doctor-patient relationship. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists.
