I really like my Doc! He never appears to be in a hurry - when I ask a question he sits back and has an honest to goodness discussion with me. I have never waited longer than 15 minutes past my appointed time and his receptionist informs me if I will be waiting when I arrive. The best thing is that when I am sick and need to see him the very day I call, I am accomodated and when I arrive I am ushered right in (supposing they don't want my germs in the waiting room). If you are not happy with your Doctor - inform him/her! Would you not have that discussion with the mechanic who works on your vehicle??

I feel that aside from the wait time at my Doctors office, this list of ten things is pretty important. People need to start taking responsibility for their own health, get outside and get some fresh air and exercise. Our government does not have the money to sustain the health care system as it is for much longer, so people have to become more responsible for their own health. Use your private health insurance benefits (if you are lucky enough to have them) to see a homeopath, chiropractor and massage therapists. Do some yoga. Stop eating sugar!!!! Ask your doctor for test results and bloodwork results and keep them somewhere safe so you can use them if seeing a specialist. Doctors don't know everything and they are tired out working people just like the rest of us.

I'm also in B.C. and I LOVE my Doctors! Plural, because there are 3 who rotate within the same practice. They all communicate with eachother very well. I could start seeing one doc about a problem, and the follow-up could be with another doc, but they know exactly why I'm there, what I was told the last time, etc. AND... If I choose to go to a health-food store instead of taking their perscription, they support me. If my child has a fever, I'll take her in to find out where the infection is, but if I decide I'd prefer to let it take its course over meds, they support that too. I RARELY have to wait longer than 15 mins past my appointment time. It's a shame that so many people are unhappy with their doctors. FIND A NEW ONE!

I'm a good patient. Perhaps we can now make a list of what patients expect from their "doctor's".
1. BE ON TIME , If I have an appointment for 2:00 , well 2:15 is okay but not 3:00. I have things I have to do as well. 2. LISTEN So often doctors DO NOT LISTEN TO THEIR PATIENTS. It's our bodies and we know how it works and how if feels. 3. When we ask question about a prescription your'e writing out or a procedure you want us to have, don't take it as a personal attack , just answer our questions. After all it is our body we are putting the drugs into, and the procedures we are having done. 4. Be a bit more sensitive, don't just look at US patients as another dollar to be made. This is a doctors office, not a drive thru. The bottom line is if it wasn't for all of us ailing folk you Doctor's wouldn't have a job. Respect goes a long way.

#2 is a joke, Last time I visited my Dr in 2006 (6 years ago) I waited 2 hours and 45 minutes to see him and he gave me the "courtesy" of about 8 minutes. Swore I'd never go to another dr. again like that. Even the walk in clinics are much quicker than that. So anyway after 6 years of good health I decided I'd better check in and get the old age 55 routine of colon checkup/mammogram and physical. Again, same doctor, waited 55 minutes to be called in, changed and sat on the bed for another 22 minutes, he came in and most TALKED about the extra tests I should take, took by BP, listened to my heart, did a pap and I was DONE.....after 6 years....thought a physical entailed some ear, nose, throat, lungs and general check over. Never even felt my stomach.

I am G.P. and all I can tell is that this article is so wrong. We are not thinking even close like that.

1. Don't give meds without finding out how I really feel
2. If you are late coming into the office and keep me waiting, at least apologize
3. Most patients don't know that herbal products can be dangerous - get them to write out all the meds and herbs they are taking while they are in the waiting room
4. Don't tell people to lose weight without helping them find a way for them to do it - weight gain can also be a symptom of depression - what else is going on
5 It takes most patients longer than 5 minutes to get the courage to discuss something very personal that is bothering them or interrupt the doctor when he is chatting
6. Explain the dangers of overmedication of antibiotics, don't just say you don't need it
7. If patients arrive with a list of symptoms, they are often told the doctor does not want a list - many of the problems on the list are related and might actually help make a diagnosis
8 No prescriptions over the phone is OK if it doesn't take 3 weeks to get a routine appointment
9 Doctors are known to be the worst at washing hands between patients. If a patient arrives with a body odour, that should trigger a discussion by the doctor. The family have probably been trying to solve this problem without success.
10. Post a list in the waiting room of valid web sites for certain medical conditions and be sure they are sites that are at a patient friendly level. Patients are going to read the internet, so it is better to have them read a valid site. Patients try to be prepared with information because for years they have been made to feel they are wasting the doctors time with some symptoms. It also helps them recognize when something might be serious enough to visit the doctor.

Two things...
I relate to the person who no longer wants to see doctors or specialists. I had a neurologist that ruined my son's life by putting an emg needle in too deep...he can no longer walk, his whole right side is affected and he is now in a wheelchair. It's permanent. Sue? Sure, i'd love to but we don't have the money and doctors are too busy protecting one another. Another neuro told me he thought my son was "putting me on" rather than trying to deal with the situation or even admit a doctor made a mistake he decided to "blame the victim." We have little faith in the medical system here in B.C.

Number two...To go to doc #2, 3, 4, whatever it takes...it took us over TWO years to find a new GP. Most aren't TAKING new patients, and the clinics are basically in and out. But we found a good doc in a clinic but it took time and someone it took a STRANGER to recommend her doc because nobody else's was taking new patients.

I'd have taken a "Dr. House" if it meant that he would find the exact problem in no time, and stop at nothing to do it. And then FOLLOW through when someone screws up. But in their hypocratic oath they are to treat other doctors as "brothers" so i guess you don't rat on them when they make a big boo-boo and ruin someone's life.

This new doc? Completely different and we are hoping for better things!

To Lisa - I understand what you are saying but you have to realize that even tough your school/college don't actually sell the products themselves, they do get trained by the companies who do and they are selling a lifestyle that goes with the consumption of those products. Doctors do the same thing, they get educated for many, many years by people who promote sickness to make a living - the pharmaceutical idustry and the doctors themselves can not survive without making you think you are sick. Taking pills does not cure a person, it makes the symptoms dissapear while you take the medication. Stop taking them and it will usually come right back. Very often, one pill will cause other symptoms (side effects) that can also be treated by another pill and so on and so on and so on. But do remember, that cosmetics can also cause illness because many toxins that affect us actually enter our bodies through our skin. Even shampoos and simple soap create toxins in your body. In my face, I use nothing but water and an occasional scrub and a very occasional facial. Best way to stay healthy, is by getting the good foods (less prin your body making sure that you get a lot of antioxidant foods

Iºm a makeup artist. and in my schooling we get classes on skin care to realize proper products to use on different skin types. not close to medical advice, but enough to know how to get some in depth care. Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer MUST be followed to aid in yur skins Hp balance. I went to my dr for a check up and she asked what I use for my skin and I told her i was useing that system and before I could even tell her which product I was using she waves her hands in the air saying "oh my gosh I can~t believe you fell for that foolishness, just use soap." fell for it? I paid a LOT of money to learn about that. are you trying to tell me that colleges are giving out wrong information? and to what advantage? they donºt sell products. then she asked if I would rather use a gel or bar soap for my "perscription´ of soap. now questioning what I thought I knew, I told her I was taught that to cheapen bar soaps companies use animal fats and lipids as the ingredient that keeps the bar solid. she says nothing to this, shakes her head, and continues to write my perscription for Spectro gel. and then says "ok, whatºs the next problem?" what kind of information is coming out of this? Drºs donºt want to waste time telling you what you need to know. they would rather write up a quick solution and that can be easily bought in THEIR pharmacy.
However everytime somebody tells me about their visit to an ACUPUNCTURIST, I hear nothing but GREAT things. and you can see the difference in the person too. they go into such detail ahout what causes your ails, and want you to understand how to take care of your body. not just make you feel better.

There are a few topics here that the local doctors in my area are not up to snuff on. Weight is a big issue. The doctors here look at you and say if you are happy being that weight who cares? CAS is involved and the doctors are saying who cares? Lets get one thing straight. The doctors do NOT want to deal with big issues. They like to deal with easy little stuff.

Being late for an appointment? That has happened to me. I was 5 minutes late and they wrote it down. I sat and waited an hour and a half! Who was late?

Taking alternative medicine is a NO NO in a doctor's eyes. If the doctor is not willing to treat his patients who will?

Lastly I expect doctors to be honest with their patients. If it's an issue can not be treated TELL THE PATIENT. Don't just skip the testing because you can't treat it. My poor 5 year old child had her thyriod checked. The doctor looked at the T4 and NOT the T3! He came back and said the thyriod is fine when it's NOT!!! Shame on you! You are supposed to look at EVERYTHING! Now I want YOU to approach CAS and tell them YOU are in the wrong and be greatful that I found out what is wrong with my child. At least I still have a chance to save her life!

Folks PLEASE do not take your medical doctor seriously. If you do not like the answers you are gettting turn to another doctor. If after 5 doctors you still don't have answers, turn to alternative. The answers ARE out there. For stress and anxiety, I found out I had Lyme disease! It was totally over looked by the medical doctors! Thanks alternative medicine you have saved my life!

There are 10 things I would like to really "say" to my doctor too.....YOU be on time....YOU stop yapping about golf, YOU take your meds, YOU wash up, YOU stop rushing me out so I can't think, YOU call if you are gonna be late, etc, etc....I am tired of the Doctors thinking they are "god" when really ........they are supposed to "work" for us.......we pay em !

10 things patients wish they could tell their doctors:
please don't lie to me for "my own good"
please don't treat the symptom without looking for the cause
please pay attention to my blood test changes or give me copies of the results
please learn more since most of what you know is now on the internet
please work 5 day weeks so you won't be overtired
please don't limit hands on to the young
please lobby for more money for health services
please recognize value of elderly
please monitor your reception staff attitudes
please lobby for 30 min. gym daily in schools

If you're not happy with your doctor. Find a new one.
I work in a doctors office, and yes, everyone has to wait, but that's only because the doctors are taking as much time with each patient as they need.

How about ONE thing a Patient wishes a Doctor would know/do? Please don't ask a patient to show up on time for an appointment only to have the patient routinely show up on time and then wait an hour or more to be seen by the physician for 5 minutes so they can bill OHIP for an hour or a 'visit'?

Some things I secretly wish I could tell my doctor: 1. I AM taking the medication. If it's not working, don't make me wait two and a half years before you change it. 2. When I raise symptoms of depression, I'm not asking for sympathy or a coddle or trying to bother the busy doctor with my personal problems. I need an evaluation and treatment for real. Please don't be dismissive when I try to talk to you about depression and anxiety. Thank you.

I have a car accident in BC and the doctor of this province are very crook I beg them and tell them that I was in pain and they still lie and make bad report and he humiliate me insulte me and when I call to ask him some help he lie and just get rid of me my life as been turn around after that today after more then ten year I suffer the dam hell each day of my life it never go away if ever I become sick I dont want see a specialist again or go to an hospital again I prefer just go away in peace I dont have confiance in doctor and nurse anymore. I go to the clinic get pain killer but never I going to see a specialist again I dont need this discrimination again. I can take care of my self and if I became so sick I can take care of that to than you. They never going to touch my body again.

Ansi va la vie

Would we actually have such an article about any other profession? I mean, would we actually tell ourselves that our stock brokers may not like us being late and may not like that we get stock reports from the internet? No, because we don't care what they think. Nor should we. I already feel that my relationship with my doctor is almost entirely about his practice, his time and his opinion. I don't need to worry about those things. My only concern is my health. if the paatients are inconveniencing the doctor then maybe he or she should get out of medicine and become a stock broker where nobody cares. or even better - become a nurse. they're the ones who do actual patient care anyway. and you know what? they do it without any control over their time or what patients ask of them. they just do it.