Our Favorite Patient Types in the Clinic! Part 2 🩺😄 | Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kıraç

“Which patient do you prefer: the one who says, ‘Doctor, I looked it up on Google yesterday,’ or the one who says, ‘Doctor, I haven’t researched anything. I came straight to you’?” I can work with the patient who says they looked it up on Google. They may have learned some information online beforehand. However, that information may not always be accurate, and it is not enough on its own. We can determine the right approach by talking things through and making a shared decision. “Doctor, which do you prefer: the patient who arrives half an hour before their appointment or the one who says, ‘Doctor, I was stuck in traffic,’ and arrives 40 minutes late?” I definitely prefer the patient who arrives early. “Doctor, which do you prefer: the patient who brings their test results neatly organized in a folder or the one who says, ‘Doctor, everything is on my phone,’ but can’t find anything?” Both types of patients can make things a little difficult. The e-Nabız system has become quite advanced, and we can access a great deal of medical information through it. However, I would prefer a patient who can show me at least some of their results, even if they are on their phone. “Now, doctor, what about the patient who writes down their questions on paper before coming in, versus the one who only remembers their questions as they are walking out the door?” I really like patients who write down their questions beforehand, Erdem. That way, no questions are forgotten, and patients can get answers to everything they are curious about. This method is particularly effective for our older patients. “Okay, doctor, our final question: Which do you prefer, the patient who says, ‘Doctor, give it to me straight,’ or the one who says, ‘Doctor, whatever you think is best’?” I like patients who ask me to be direct. I am a straightforward person myself, and being clear always makes things easier to understand. The patient who communicates clearly is always my favorite.