Wanted: IC Physician for a long term care provider relationship
Requirements: Compassion and respect. Does not push invasive procedures. Has an extensive knowledge of IC. Willing to listen & follows the patients wishes without his/her personal feelings getting in the way. Is non-judgmental and does not imply the patient has emotional and mental problems causing IC. He or she takes time with patients and shows interest in what they are saying. Listens and answers questions. Gives results of tests in a timely manner. Takes any information that the patient provides and is willing to read it when schedule allows. Does not let ego get in the way of learning new information" - A Survey Response

It's true that patients with chronic diseases face the unique challenge of looking for physicians who will care for them and about them. In IC, some of us have great physicians while others struggle with distant, almost accusatory, care providers. It is not unusual for patients to seek and interview many physicians before they find one that meets their specific criteria.

And while it's easy to lay the blame at the doctor's doorstep, we also must look at what we expect in our physicians. Some survey respondents had impractical or impossible expectations. One asked for their physician to be "a companion," another asked for a "friend." Yet another asked for a doctor that didn't hurry. Lets be blunt. In the era managed care, our physicians just don't have the time they used to have. As much as we hope they can be friends, the time it takes to develop a friendship isn't practical or possible. And, asking a doctor to not hurry, is like asking a mother not to run after a child running into the street. When on duty, doctors frequently have to run. They are in the business of saving lives.

So, as we work with our doctors, let's be realistic about their lives too. Be concise. Be realistic and remember that sometimes doctors who don't have the best bed side manner can be expert clinicians. Take a moment and review our Chapter on Doctor-Patient Relations for tips on how to work more effectively with your doctor (and nursing staff). Now, on to the survey results!

1. Honesty, directness, understanding and information about what they've found
2. Belief that I have this disease and a willingness to help
3. Someone who will pay attention to what I am saying and really listen and HEAR what I say.
4. Someone I can talk to.
5. Compassion and listening skills!
6. Whether he is thorough or not
7. Credentials, expertise, good interpersonal skills
8. A cure
9. COMPASSION (six seperate entries)
10. Understanding
11. Experience with IC- considerate-empathy
12. Experience, knowledge, she/he does not rush you, makes sure they know your backround, and are willing patiently to help you or direct you where to go. I hate being rushed, many doctors do this, very frequently. I want to be helped and not get the "run around" You know!
13. Understanding, Compassion, Honesty, and Positive Attitude
14. Someone that will listen to what I have to say.
15. One that is understanding and takes the time to talk or return my phone calls promptly. He cares about my health and taking care of my problems.
16. A friend
17. Compassion, patience
18. One who listens and does not interrupt
19. Compassion and respect
20. Best possible medical training
21. An open mind - a doctor who hasn't already decided what is wrong with me before asking lots and lots of questions. There are too many docs out there with a personal agenda!
22. Sincerity
23. A willingness to listen -- really listen, before recommending
24. A treatment and, above all, compassion and understanding.
25. Understanding of my problems
26. Someone who is willing to listen to what I am saying and who will try and find an answer to all of my questions.
27. Compassion, compatability and willingness to work with me as an individual, not another patient.
28. Compassion even before knowledge...
29. Someone who will take the time to listen to everything I have to say before tey cut me off and make they decision on what I do or don't have
30. Someone that is caring and understanding of what I am going through.
31. Unhurriedness
32. Knowledgeable and knows that I'm knowledgeable on the subject. Trust that what I say is true. Compassion. The willingness to research, and if necessary, refer.
33. Belief of what I say and several types of treatment
34. Time and listening ear
35. One who does not say "I am going to really help you. I'm going to cure you of this horrible disease
36. Companion
37. No.1 is compassion and respect and does not push invasive procedures, extensive knowledge of IC, listens & follows the patients wishes without his/her personal feelings getting in the way, (I had a rheumatologist that I had been seeing for 10 years tell me that his feelings were hurt because I would not take gold shots for my arthritis and that he felt I should take and claimed he knew that the gold would not affect my IC and that I should trust him, I knew he could not know if gold would hurt my bladder but he insisted he did know possitively the gold shots would not cause problems with the IC. He was condescending, rude and heartless after I refused to take the gold shots, I left his office crying that day and have never gone back), nonjudgemental and does not imply the patient has emotional and mental problems that are making these problems, also takes time with the patient and shows true interest in what his/her patient is saying and truely listens and an! swers the patients questions and if the dr. does not know the answer finds out the answer and gets back to the patient in a timely manner with the answer, gives results of test that were done in a timely manner and does not lose the test results which takes weeks to track down, lastly gladly takes any information that is brought for the dr. to read and the patient knows the dr. will devour every word of it as soon as the dr's. schedule allows with the final goal being to help the patient whether it be to finally cure the patient or just get the patient to a point where the patient is comfortable enough to have a life without agony.
38. (1) Breadth of knowledge; 2) Patience
39. Good communication skills and compassion
40. #1) Knowledge of IC #2) Good bedside manner #3) Availability (appointments, questions, concerns)
41. If the doctor listens to us or not
42. Attention,knowledge,thoroughness,followup
43. Honesty
44. Knowledge and understanding,someone who listens to you
45. Honesty, integrity