Analyses of the patient satisfaction ratings on DrScore.com shows an extraordinary relationship between how caring the patient thinks the doctor is and how satisfied the patient is with the visit. How caring the patient thinks the doctor is accounts for nearly all the variation in doctors’ patient satisfactions scores far more often than other factors such as how long the patient waits in the waiting room or even how much time the doctor spends with the patient.
Notice I didn’t say there was an extraordinary relationship between how caring the doctor is and how satisfied the patient is. What matters is how caring the patient thinks the doctor is. That doesn’t mean the doctor doesn’t have to be caring. But in addition to being caring, doctors need to make sure patients know the doctor is caring.
I’ve yet to personally know a doctor who wasn’t caring. But doctors don’t always appear caring. I’m a test tube scientist, a nerd who isn’t naturally touchy feely, comfortable with hugging or interpersonally warm. While I care deeply about my patients, it might not always be obvious. Many doctors are probably like this, working incredibly hard to make sure they give patients great care, but not automatically appearing caring to all their patients.
Leaving just a few patients unsure about whether the doctor cares or not can ruin a doctor’s overall patient satisfaction score (at least compared to other doctors). As I mentioned in a recent blog, getting just a few 0s or 1s from patients can lower a doctor from having a score among the highest doctors (say a 9.8 or 9.9) to a score among the bottom half of doctors (say a 9.1 or 9.0).
Giving every patient the right diagnosis and the best treatment isn’t enough. It is absolutely critical that patients know the doctor is caring. Great medical care isn’t just about the right diagnosis and the right treatment. Touching patients, eye contact, body language — it’s all important.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Read Full Post »