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What Makes a Good Doctor: Qualities to

Look For
Find out what makes a good doctor and how to know if you chose a good one.

By Paul Wynn | April 25, 2024 |

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This article is based on reporting that features expert sources.

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Finding the best fit for you

Your doctor might have an incredible
medical pedigree and be admired by
fellow physicians, but is your doctor a
good match for you and your health
needs? Finding a doctor is an
important step, but deciding whether
to stick with your doctor or find a new
one is just as important. CREDIT

“Having a doctor whom patients can

build a trusting relationship with always ranks higher than how long they sit in a waiting
room,” says Dr. Anthony Orsini, an expert on doctor-patient communication techniques.
“Patients need to feel seen and heard, and they need to know they’re more than just a
number.”
Making the most of your time with your doctor is critical in the current health care
system. Today’s doctors are overburdened by data entry, desk work and health insurance
hassles. Doctors are spending more time inputting information into electronic health
records and less time with patients. In fact, the average amount of time patients spend
with a primary care doctor is about 15 minutes, according to one research study.

With a limited amount of time to talk to your doctor, patients should pay attention to
certain behaviors that can make a big difference during the visit. Look for these
important traits in your doctor.

1. Practices empathetic
communication
It cannot be emphasized enough that
communication is at the heart of
building strong connections with
doctors. However, only 39% of
patients reported that their doctors
are effective communicators,
according to an online survey CREDIT

sponsored by Orsini.

“The nuances of communication – including verbal and nonverbal cues, tone and
cadence – are equally important. Doctors who don’t invest in adopting effective
communication skills may be putting patient loyalty at risk,” says Orsini, author of “It’s All
in the Delivery – Improving Healthcare Starting with a Single Conversation.”

Patients seek competence and quality, but they also want a doctor who engages them as
a person.

“The stories people share tend to be about how they were treated by a doctor – ‘They
took their time to listen to me. They sat down and really got to know more’ – versus
simply the expertise they have,” says Jason Wolf, president and CEO of The Beryl
Institute, an organization focused on improving patient experiences.

Empathetic communication – such as active listening and asking follow-up questions –

improves patient loyalty and satisfaction. According to one study evaluating patients
who underwent surgery, patients reported higher overall satisfaction with doctors who
demonstrated stronger empathy.

2. Fosters trust
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for
developing a trusting relationship
with doctors, but there are common
traits to look for in physicians, such
as honesty, kindness, respect and
intelligence. These traits can help
foster and build trust between you
and your doctor. A trusting CREDIT

relationship will also help patients

stay healthier: If you trust a doctor to have your best interests at heart, you are more
likely to listen and act upon what they say.

“There is no reason to stay with a doctor if you don't trust them,” Orsini says. “Mistrust
will lead to patients second guessing their doctor’s advice, and that’s counterproductive
to maintaining good health.”

In a February 2024 U.S. News & World Report survey of Americans' experiences with
primary care providers, 95% of people who had recently gone to the doctor for a yearly
physical said they trust the doctor they saw.
3. Shows compassion
Patients don’t commonly experience
compassion and empathy during
doctor visits.

According to the online survey

conducted by Orsini, 71% of patient
participants said they experienced a
lack of compassion when interacting
CREDIT
with doctors and nurses. This could
range from not thoroughly answering
questions to not sympathizing with patients' challenging health issues or even personal
situations at home.

“The overwhelming majority of doctors are compassionate by nature. It is conveying that

compassion, however, that we often struggle with,” Orsini says. “As doctors, we are
taught from the beginning to set our emotions aside, but the results of this survey make
it very clear that patients have a true desire to connect with their physicians emotionally
and feel their compassion. Patients need to feel seen and heard, and they need to know
they’re more than just a number."

4. Listens carefully
During doctor’s visits, patients should have the opportunity to describe their symptoms
and reasons for being there without interruption, but that’s not always the case. In one
study that observed 60 patient visits
at a primary care office, patients were
interrupted within 12 seconds of the
doctor entering the room, and one-
fourth of the time, patients were
interrupted before they finished
talking. Additionally, only 35% of
respondents in the U.S. News & World
Report survey reported feeling heard CREDIT

and understood by their doctor.

Active listening helps build trust between doctors and their patients, according to a
paper in the Harvard Business Review. The authors concluded: “Not hearing the patient’s
voice harms the patient and the clinician. They don’t have the benefit of pooled
knowledge, ability to make fully informed mutual decisions or time to build trust.”

Being heard is a major contributor to higher patient satisfaction with doctors.

“One predictor of patient satisfaction is whether a patient felt that they were treated with
trust and respect and that they were listened to during the visit,” Orsini says.

However, listening is a two-way street.

“Effective communication in health care is a two-way dynamic, and when we create a

more human connection, we see better outcomes overall,” Wolf says.

Patients also need to listen to their doctor’s advice. Given how it can be challenging to
remember all the details and advice provided by the doctor during a visit, some doctors
now offer to record appointments so patients can listen to the conversation afterward.

5. Cultivates open dialogue

An effective medical appointment is one where there is open dialogue between patients
and their doctor. Watch out for situations in which the doctor is doing most of the
talking, not enough active listening and not directly answering questions.

“Questions from patients should be answered with sensitivity, compassion and based on
the latest scientific knowledge,” explains Dr. Marian Sassetti, a family physician in Oak
Park, Illinois.
In addition, it’s really important for
patients to be invited to ask
questions.

“Being asked open-ended questions

that flesh out concerns, reluctances,
insecurities and bolster the
physician's understanding and
appreciation of the whole person's life
CREDIT
story is what patients should be
looking for,” Sassetti adds.

6. Engages directly with a

personal touch
While the effect of social media on
society’s ability to communicate is
visible in day-to-day interactions, it’s
critical to hold your doctor to a higher
standard of personal communication.
Even though doctors are increasingly
using iPads and laptops during visits CREDIT

to capture your health information,

that doesn’t mean their interpersonal skills can be overlooked.
“I don’t believe that patients should just accept the fact that the doctor must capture
electronic health records during appointments because there are nuances of nonverbal
communications that are essential for a doctor to make a correct diagnosis,” Orsini says,
adding that there are ways for doctors to maintain that personal connection and eye
contact. “Based on my experience, and what I share with other doctors, patients need
undivided attention during an exam, and the note-taking can be done after the
conversation or be done by an assistant.”

7. Practices cultural awareness

In today's diverse society, cultural
awareness is an essential aspect of
providing effective health care. A
good doctor recognizes that patients
come from various cultural
backgrounds, each with its own set of
beliefs, values and practices that can
significantly influence their health CREDIT

care decisions.

“For many patients, having a doctor with a similar background is a more comfortable
situation,” says Dr. Danielle Ofri, a clinical professor of medicine at Bellevue Hospital and
NYU School of Medicine and the author of “What Patients Say, What Doctors Hear.”
"Sharing a common language rather than using a translator certainly lifts many barriers,
but the most important thing is that you make a good connection with this doctor – that
they listen to you, that they respect your beliefs and point of view, that they explain their
thought process behind any medical decisions and that you feel comfortable asking
questions.”

Good doctors ensure that their practice is responsive to the needs of diverse patient
populations. Each patient may have different cultural, religious or social backgrounds
that shape their individual health beliefs and behaviors, and a good doctor does their
best to understand and respect that.
 Language Translation with GCP

Gurunet Open

8. Displays strong critical

thinking skills
Arriving at the correct diagnosis and
administrating successful treatment
are at the heart of being a good
doctor. Diagnosing illness is often a
complex process and the right course
of action may not always be
immediately apparent. Doctors with CREDIT

strong critical thinking skills can

navigate this uncertainty logically and systematically arriving at an accurate diagnosis
and appropriate course of action.

When evaluating your doctor’s critical thinking skills, ask yourself:

Does my doctor ask relevant questions and based on my answers and a thorough
physical exam consider multiple possibilities before narrowing down to a diagnosis?

Is my doctor willing and able to adjust their diagnosis or approach to treatment if there
are any changes in my condition or if they are given new information?

Can my doctor clearly explain both how they arrived at my diagnosis and what their
rationale behind a specific course of treatment is?

In medical emergencies and other high-stress situations, doctors are required to

evaluate multiple sources of information quickly and act decisively. Strong critical
thinking abilities help doctors think logically and remain focused under pressure, while
they assess the situation and implement effective treatment that will stabilize patients
and save lives.

If you feel uncomfortable or certain about their medical decision, don’t hesitate to get a
second opinion.

9. Stays current with science

It is crucial for a doctor to stay up-to-
date on new treatments, technologies
and approaches that improve patient
care. But how can you be sure that
your doctor is keeping up to speed
with the newest medical advances?

“Some doctors will be more diligent in

CREDIT
keeping up-to-date with the latest
advancements than others, and it can
be hard for a patient to know the difference,” Ofri explains. “Obviously, the doctor should
be board-certified and keep those certifications up to date, which require ongoing tests
and educational requirements. If a doctor is part of an academic medical center, they’re
probably more likely to keep up since teaching, educational conferences, and research
are typically built into the system.”

Also, ask your doctor about any affiliations they have with professional associations or
societies, like the American Medical Association, or within their chosen specialty. These
memberships often provide access to the latest research, guidelines and educational
resources. Most medical associations also sponsor conferences where doctors and
other medical professionals come together to discuss issues and advancements
important to their field.

Ultimately, it's important to trust your gut.

When evaluating a doctor, it is essential to consider objective factors such as their
qualifications, experience and reputation. However, trusting your instincts – that “gut
feeling” you have – about a doctor is also important.
In the end, if something feels “off”
and you do not feel the doctor
engages you in a way that gives you
confidence in their expertise, the
partnership between you and this
doctor may not work.

Reflect on your past experiences with

other health care providers. If you’ve
CREDIT
had negative experiences that feel
similar to your current situation, your
gut feeling may be based on valid concerns. No doctor will be perfect, but in the end only
you know what the right fit for you is.

SOURCES

The U.S. News Health team delivers accurate information about health, nutrition and fitness, as well as in-
depth medical condition guides. All of our stories rely on multiple, independent sources and experts in the
field, such as medical doctors and licensed nutritionists. To learn more about how we keep our content
accurate and trustworthy, read our editorial guidelines.

Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD

Ofri is a clinical professor of medicine at Bellevue Hospital and NYU School of Medicine and the author of “What
Patients Say, What Doctors Hear.”

Anthony Orsini, DO
Orsini is a practicing neonatologist, lecturer, author and founder of the Orsini Way, an organization dedicated to
helping health care professionals improve communication and trust with patients.

Marian Sassetti, MD
Sassetti is a family physician practicing in Oak Park, Illinois, and she was named family physician of the year in
2021 by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians.

Jason Wolf, PhD

Wolf is the president and CEO of The Beryl Institute, founder and president of the Patient Experience Institute and
founding editor of Patient Experience Journal.
 DISCLAIMER AND A NOTE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH »

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