Everyone should be under the care of a Board Certified and licensed medical doctor.  The importance of carefully selecting a doctor cannot be overemphasized.  People should look at Board Certification, medical licensure but most importantly (and rarely addressed) is the motivation and ability of the physician to talk and explain things carefully and clearly to their patients.  Patients have a responsibility to look for these traits in their doctor and should never plod along in a relationship with a doctor if communication skills are lacking.  In addition, MDatYourService.com believes each and everyone has a personal responsibility for their own health and should not rely solely on the physician to keep them in the communication loop.  They simply are too busy.   Become an active participant in your own well being.  Ask questions, question answers.  Do not settle.  You should always know the answer to the question, “why did the doctor order this test?”

In the "money in medicine" section of this website the reader can develop an appreciation for why approximately 50% of physicians do not explain diagnosis, treatments, risks or outcomes carefully to each and every patient.  Keep in mind, the balance of the physicians, the other 50%, feel the data is too complex for people to comprehend.  Of this latter 50%, probably 25% of physicians just lack the teaching abilities to get the points across.  All these factors come together and the result is lack of communication between physicians and patients.  What a travesty!  This puts the burden to understand all on the patient and this is wrong.  So, patients should be proactive.  Use MDatYourService.com as a counseling tool and keep tract of your health and the health of your loved ones.  Be responsible.