New Survey Asks: What Do Patients Want Most in a Doctor?
Compassion, empathy, and active listening are important in any relationship — and the doctor-patient relationship is no exception.A new survey from Everyday Health and Castle Connolly suggests that patients really value the soft skills that contribute to a good bedside manner when they’re hunting for a new doctor. Roughly half of patients surveyed said these traits were the most important things they looked for. The survey involved 1,001 consumers and 277 healthcare professionals.Clinical experience still matters, and 28 percent of patients said this was their top priority in searching for doctors. But the survey results suggest that professional expertise isn’t the main thing people want in a physician, says Patrice Harris, MD, an Atlanta-based psychiatrist and the chief health and medical officer at Everyday Health.“The bottom line is patients deserve…