| Philosophy of Treatment |
- Be
a good listener. Patients
given the opportunity to explain their concerns are more
satisfied with their providers, cooperate more fully with
treatment, and show greater improvement. Allow the patients
to describe the effect that the illness has had on their
lives including daily activities, work, recreation and relationships
without underestimating the degree of functional impairment
they experience. I allow patients to express their feelings
about their illness - fears, frustrations and anger - making
sure that the treatment does not go beyond my capacity,
as I am not trained in psychotherapy.
- Be
someone who acknowledges. A
caring provider asks questions like, "What do you think
caused your problem?" and addresses the beliefs of the patient,
rather than dismissing them. Make sure I know the patient's
goals and help them work towards the goals as best as I
can.
- Be someone who explains.
People have a need for explanations
about the causes of their health problems, what to expect
from the illness and what they can do to relieve symptoms
or speed recovery. Information can reduce anxiety, increase
feelings of personal control and even improve a person's
ability to cope with pain. I have found the amount of information
given to me by health care providers, correlates with the
degree of my satisfaction with the treatment.
- Be someone who understands
how patients feel and offer encouragement, hope and reassurance.
Feelings of hopelessness contribute
to sickness and inhibit cooperation with treatments. Make
sure patients actively participate in developing a therapeutic
plan and are active in their treatments.
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