This is actually an easy question to answer then it may seem on the surface. While the definition of “good” is different to each person, It can be summarized as this: a good psychiatrist is one who provides the type of care you feel happy with. That is all. A good psychiatrist is one that performs to your expectations – whatever those are – while also following the best practices of safety and patient care that are expected of a medical professional.
The first step in finding a good psychiatrist is picking one out of the multitude and researching their practice. The easiest way to do this is through websites like HealthGrades.com. It allows you to find doctors through name, specialty and location. It also provides feedback on the doctors including a background check which is excellent information to have before you walk into a doctor’s office. Keep in mind when researching on these websites that online reviews cannot always be trusted. Working in behavioral health means treating and evaluating individuals who are oftentimes mentally unwell, and who may take our their frustrations through a negative online review.
Once you’ve found a doctor and made an appointment, you need to decide what to ask a doctor to find out if they’re a good fit for you. While on first meeting, a doctor is going to be interviewing you in a sense, and you should be interviewing them too. What you ask depends on what you care about in a doctor and in your treatment. Here are some suggestions of questions to ask a psychiatrist during your initial consultation:
In addition, one might ask other questions about specific medications and treatments that are specific to you. At the practice of Raul J. Rodriguez, MD, every prospective patient comes in for an individual evaluation where they have the opportunity to ask these sorts of questions. We view our consultation as a collaborative process to create a treatment plan that works for both patient and provider.
That is totally OK. Not every doctor is for every person and there’s nothing necessarily wrong with either doctor or patient if there feels like there is a barrier; if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. It’s not unlike going on a first date. First dates don’t always lead to second dates and that’s OK.
Now is the easiest time to say something simple like, “I don’t think we’re the best therapeutic match; could you provide a referral to someone else, please?”
Remember to be polite. Some doctors may not be used to be interviewed by the patient and may be taken aback for a moment. So thank them for taking the time to answer your questions. A good relationship is a two-way street so treat the doctor with the same respect you expect from them.
Contact us today to set up a consultation with Dr Rodriguez and his expert team of psychiatrists in Delray Beach!
