A plethora of qualities define a good doctor. Though society can measure and qualify doctors by degrees and number of years working, patients look at doctors differently – what they remember on the days they felt most vulnerable and what they felt they were treated with.
To truly excel in medicine, one must possess the right amount of scientific knowledge, but be able to interact with fellow humans in an empathetic manner. There are, however, traits and characteristics of a good doctor that extend beyond the realms of academics. They represent a holy trinity of competence, personality, and passion.
For all medical students and aspiring health professionals, as well as patients who are looking to discover the true essence of a great doctor, below are the top essentials.
Good Medical Knowledge and Clinical Skills
The most important element of any good doctor qualities is the ability to apply medical sciences in a clinical setting. A doctor must possess extensive knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the body and the underlying pathological processes as well as pharmacology and diagnostic techniques and treatment of various diseases. All these help a doctor arrive at the right diagnosis.
It takes a competent and committed doctor to know that a rash or painful burning sensation in the stomach is not your everyday clinical presentation and may in fact be signs of a more serious condition.
Great doctors are life-long learners. Updating medical knowledge is essential. There are many changing medical guidelines and advances in the field.
Excellent communication is another essential skill
Thorough knowledge of the field is of no use without appropriate communication. One of the main reasons for patient dissatisfaction is poor communication.
A doctor must perfect both speaking and listening. While speaking, a doctor must be able to simplify and explain the complex world of medicine to the patient using easy to understand terminology. This includes telling the patient the diagnosis as well as the treatment. The doctor should inform the patient of all of the relevant details of the treatment plan. It is appropriate to check for understanding along the way with questions such as “Does this all make sense?” or “Do you have any questions?”
Listening is just as important. Often the most relevant pieces of information about the patients can be obtained when they are free to say what they want, without feeling cut off. Listening will enable the doctor to determine what the patient’s main concerns are, and what their fears are and why.
It is also significant for a doctor to communicate well with the whole medical team for the safe and appropriate medical attention of the patient.
The third quality is empathy and compassion
As the heart of medicine, empathy is equally as important as the brain of medicine (medical knowledge).
In this instance, understanding and acknowledging a patient’s feelings is not the same as experiencing the same emotions as the patient. The doctor recognizes that a patient is behind every single symptom. The doctor is one of the few people in society that is allowed to ask direct, personal questions about patients’ bodily functions and personal habits. However, patients may feel anxious and fearful disclosing these private things about themselves to a doctor, especially if the doctor is a stranger. Providing one’s diagnosis doesn’t necessarily relieve patients’ anxiety. A compassionate doctor gives patients space and time to talk; acknowledges the anxiety; and describes what the diagnosis means, and what it is that the doctor is going to prescribe or do to treat the disease.
The doctor is in control of dozens of little things (eye contact, tone of voice, presence) that alter the patient’s perception of care, and even the final outcome of the patient’s health condition. The present state of the healthcare system and how things are practiced require the clinician to integrate empathy and compassion into their practice in order to protect and develop their bond of trust with the patient.
Refusing to perform unnecessary tests or procedures for financial gain is also part of ethical practice
Knowledge without ethics is like a compass without a magnetic north pole.
The fifth quality is commitment to patient care
This includes giving emotional support to the patient and the family as needed, believing in the power of prayer, and recommending spiritual healing. Exceptional patient care requires understanding the meaning and purpose behind patient’s illness as well as their real needs and expectations.
Good patient care takes into consideration a patient’s lifestyle, workplace conditions, mental health, family and financial resources, and ability to pay for medicine. Continuity of care is critical to managing chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes.
Respect for patient’s rights is fundamental to patient care. Every patient is entitled to dignity, and to the time to ask any question. Professionalism means working with nurses, other doctors, and pharmacists with courtesy, and accepting feedback.
The sixth quality is professionalism in every action
Professionalism underlies commitment to patient care and ensures that quality care is consistently delivered, even in stressful or chaotic situations. Professionalism includes punctuality, being accountable for one’s actions, and being responsible for the care of the patient (or other person in your charge). Protecting a patient’s privacy requires you to disclose patient information only to those you are obligated to (i.e. courteous communication to nurses and other health care workers involved in patient’s care), and protecting your professional boundaries requires you not to discuss a patient with an unrelated person.
In stressful situations – an emergency or a long night shift – being professional means a doctor can stay calm and stay with the patient.
For other core qualities, there are three more that all great doctors have.
- Critical thinking.
Medicine is complex and full of unknowns.
One symptom can mean anything or lead to many possible diseases. An excellent doctor thinks deeply, use logic, avoids assumptions and considers other probable diseases.
- The second quality is patience and observation.
Patients don’t always tell the story by the book. They forget things or simply can’t think of the right words.
The effective doctor patiently listens to the story and asks the right questions. Patience is essential when dealing with kids and the elderly.
- Third is emotional resilience.
Doctors are often dealing with suffering and making difficult decisions. Without resilience it’s easy to get burnt out. With resilience it’s important to have healthy ways of coping in order to keep compassion going.
In the end, the best doctors are scientists with the heart of a caregiver. Scientific knowledge will help make the diagnosis. Doctor’s Communication will make it understood…
Compassion will make the patient feel cared…
Ethics will make the practice Trust-worthy. Care will make it Worthy… And Professionalism will make it Consistent.
A doctor with the knowledge but not the kindness might be truly esteemed but he or she cannot be genuinely trusted. What good doctor qualities will not suffice alone is a doctor who has the kindness but no knowledge – and this doctor cannot deliver safe care. The good doctor virtues have to be trained actively in a career.
By: Meghna Gupta
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