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In my own experience, it has been and still is, virtually impossible today to find a "good" physician in my area. By that I mean not only one that is well trained and qualified to care for your health, but also one that can empathize with you and genuinely is concerned enough to listen and diagnose you without rushing you of of their office.

Too many want to either rush you out of their office as if you were a number in the dozens that they have to wade through that day or they are pill pushers. If you have had the experiences that I have with medications; they have done more to harm than to help.

Many physicians offices schedule patients 15 minutes apart and this just isn't time enough to get a good examination and diagnosis from your doctor. It's frustrating to have your conversation negated by the doctor so they can get on with the next "money-maker". I have interviewed as many as 10 doctors before I found one I felt comfortable with. There is nothing quite as valuable as the "Meet and Greet" when choosing a doctor.

People today are virtually stuck with whatever their Insurance or HMO allows them to have access to and many times that is not always a good option. You really need to find a good physician even if you have to pay for it yourself. Think about it, the doctor can either heal or kill you. You will get what you pay for in this area. (Or what your insurance pays for.) My mother used to have a saying, "Remember, doctors bury their mistakes". I've thought about that one every time that I've been mis-diagnosed or have been given the wrong medication for something. (And believe me, it's happened several times in my life.)

This brings me to my second point, a doctor has to listen in order to diagnose and treat your symptoms. There is no other way. If you doctor does not listen to what you are saying; get away from them. They will not help you. Find someone who will listen to you without interruption and then will ask further questions once you are finished describing the problem. Don't allow the doctor to rush or pressure you into giving a short version of your symptoms. And if the doctor isn't empathetic to your situation; don't return. It is a clear lack of concern if they don't listen and aren't empathetic from the start.

You don't want a doctor who writes fiction in your file either. If your doctor doesn't listen or rushes you out of the office. If he/she is answering the phone or being interrupted by nursing staff to ask about other patients, be careful!

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