Knows and cares about you and your family, and encourages development of a long-term and trusting healthcare relationship with you. Will remain your doctor even if you should become more seriously ill and need referrals to other specialists. They are educated in family medicine for you and your entire family, internal medicine for adults, or general pediatrics for children from their birth through their teen years. For many young women, a gynecologist serves as a personal physician. However, as a woman ages and the possibility of illness increases, it is good to include in this health partnership a family practice or internal medicine physician.
Communication is a critical part of any doctor s role.
You will know your doctor has good communication skills if you and your family members feel free to ask whatever questions are on your mind. You should receive clear and complete answers from your doctor and their staff members. Your doctor should be a good listener, conveying the feeling he or she cares about you and is giving you full attention. You should not feel that you are being rushed through the interview or appointment or that your questions are not important. You should feel free to call the office back if you forget exactly what was said, or if you have other questions.