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  • What Qualities Do You Look for in a Healthcare Professional?

    Posted by kevin-schaefer on August 22, 2018 at 7:00 am

    My next column will be about tips for finding a good healthcare professional. My big points are to look for someone who has at least some knowledge and experience working with SMA patients, and someone who communicates well. I can’t tell you how many doctors I’ve seen who talk to my parents and not me, and it drives me crazy. Fortunately my neurologist and pulmonologist have always been great about talking to me directly, and I thank them for that.

    What about you all? What qualities do you look for in your healthcare team? Which doctors or specialists do you see the most? For me it’s my pulmonologist, neurologist and physical therapist. My primary doctor I really only see for annual checkups and when I’m sick.

    kevin-schaefer replied 5 years, 7 months ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • ryan-berhar-2

    Member
    August 22, 2018 at 6:08 pm

    Humility is a must have for any doctor I’ll be working with. Not to paint them with a broad brush, but I have encountered more than one or two doctors who are know-it-alls. The problem is SMA patients are unique, and often require unconventional care. Most doctors have never even heard of SMA, much less specialize in it. So they need to be willing to listen and learn. This goes for not just doctors, but other healthcare professionals, and anyone I work with on any level.

    • kevin-schaefer

      Member
      August 23, 2018 at 9:03 am

      That’s a really good point Ryan. In our case, we often are the experts, and it’s crucial for doctors to listen to our opinions and questions. I definitely get turned off by a “know-it-all” as well. Thanks for bringing this up.

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