What makes a good newly qualified doctor

For me, among the most upsetting statistics is one I heard recently. On average, doctors interrupt patients after only 18 seconds. What people really want is not necessarily a friend or an equal, but someone who really cares, is respectful, and is down to earth. Unfortunately, certain pressures often influence doctors to make decisions that might benefit their pocketbook, or ones they think might help decrease their chances of being sued. But, most people just want a doctor that cares and is honest enough to help them make decisions solely to benefit them, the patient.

Certainly, this means being able to connect with a doctor when the need arises. But it can also mean a doctor who is available to consider different perspectives and ideas. Many patients have shared with me that their former doctor simply shut them down when they brought up information that they found online or obtained from a friend or family member. The advent of online doctors will especially fulfill this need.

Yet, a good doctor is open-minded and will put aside his or her bias and not be offended if a patient does not accept their opinion. Being open-minded also means not being stuck in old patterns of belief and practice. The world is changing and patients want their doctors to be open to that change. Surely there exists a foundation of knowledge that is essential, but emotional intelligence goes a much longer way in the long run.

And smart also means being interesting in cutting-edge developments in science and technology such as online medical services like SteadyMD , to maximize health and prevent disease. The last thing you want is a doctor who is too serious and treats you like one of his or her textbooks. Read our guide to discover the traits that mark out a good physician from the other graduates. Medical schools are looking for more than just excellent academic credentials , although of course these are expected.

They are looking for the types of people who demonstrate the attributes needed to work as an effective MD. Are you socially intelligent? A good listener? This is important for diagnosis, but also because good doctoring is about building relationships. Do you have the right amount of compassion and human understanding? Are you dedicated? As a doctor you will, at times, need to work harder than you thought possible. There will be late nights, no weekends, long shifts and demanding rotations.

Do you think you can retain your professionalism through tiredness, hunger, distraction and personal tragedy? Can you command a room on no sleep? These are the attributes that medical schools will want to see glimpses of. Having a good work ethic as a doctor is essential. Especially in the first few years at med school, as a resident and as a newly-qualified doctor — the demands on your time are going to be huge. But you will need to be organised about how you spend your time and systematic in how you divide it between work, wellbeing and play.

You will already know that many doctors tend to work shift patterns, so you will need to be prepared to spend your nights and weekends at work. You will definitely have to work holidays and weekends, even if you avoid night shifts for the majority of your career. A work ethic simply means that you are hardworking, something all doctors need to be of course. This is a set of principles that you sign up to when you become a doctor. It is a formal code of practice and if you breach it, your medical license could be in jeopardy.

It requires some serious intelligence and motivation to get accepted into medical school. As students work their way toward becoming practicing physicians, they develop even more qualities that equip them to be successful in the field. So what makes a good doctor? Their insight can help you better understand what it is that distinguishes a great physician and if you would want to be a doctor. Being a great physician requires more than high exam scores and knowledge of medical terms.

Learn about the lesser-known characteristics the best doctors share. Lisa Doggett , a family physician. And they should help their patients feel empowered to improve their own health. Children are taught from a young age to practice organization in order to be successful in school.

A good doctor knows how to make a patient feel as though they are being cared for, that their concerns are valid, and that they are being heard.