10 THINGS AMERICAN PATIENTS EXPECT FROM DOCTORS

10 THINGS US PATIENTS EXPECT FROM DOCTORS

Did you know that American patients have the same expectations for the quality of medical services as in other service industries such as banks, hotels, airlines, etc.? v.?

This is an interesting finding from a study by the PwC health research institute (USA) after surveying thousands of patients in the US to evaluate their personal opinions. them about medical examination and treatment.

As a family doctor working for a large health system in the US, I also agree with that observation.

When talking about medical quality, a common phrase in recent years is “Patient’s experience” meaning “The patient’s experience.” This term shows the importance of patient-centered disease, and more specifically, “EXPERIENCE” of the patient as the center.

Both patients have diabetes. The two went to see two different doctors. They were prescribed two identical treatment courses. But one person feels very happy and satisfied. The other person left feeling insecure and uncomfortable.

Those two patients actually had two completely different EXPERIENCES. In your opinion, which patients will return for follow-up visits with that doctor? with that clinic?

In the US, patients appreciate the service attitude and friendliness of medical staff and consider these as the top criteria for them to choose a treating doctor. treatment.

Cost of medical examination and treatment is not the main factor that governs the choice of most patients for medical services. They even accept to go to medical facilities at twice the cost to receive the best care from the most dedicated doctors and to have the best experience.

Ben Besides, building a good relationship between doctors and patients also increases the efficiency of medical examination and treatment and improves patient health. On the contrary, when this relationship is not good, the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment will easily be flawed, leading to negative effects on the patient’s health.

They know their rights, including the right to participate in their medical examination and treatment process instead of being passive as before, and they also have more expectations from the health care system. Here are 10 things American patients expect from their doctors.

1. LISTENING

It can be said that this is the most important factor that a patient needs from a doctor.

Patients expect their doctors to listen to all of their concerns and feelings about their pain, and most importantly, how that pain affects their lives.

So, listen and try never to interrupt them and never let them feel like you are rushing through the conversation.

2. ATTENTION

There’s nothing better than when the treating doctor still remembers your name, even asks about your children and grandchildren, especially about your health status, whether you’ve stopped coughing or not… during your follow-up visit.

Patients will be very happy when the doctor welcomes them with a smile on their face, and is cared for throughout the examination process, no matter what age they are.

There are many ways to do this. You show interest by looking into their eyes, giving them the feeling that you are really paying attention and understanding their story.

3. TRANSPARENCY

American patients value transparency. They can accept that you cannot diagnose their illness or find a cure for the illness they are suffering from, as long as you honestly share with them.

Similar to Therefore, they also understand that doctors are human after all and medical incidents are completely possible because of course nothing is absolute. Most patients will not ask for heavy compensation if you are honest with them.

They want to know exactly what happened and how the doctor tried to fix things. come on. Therefore, to be transparent, you must always explain to patients the success rate as well as the possible risks of each treatment method.

4. DEDICATION

Have you ever had a consulting appointment with a lawyer or other person in another field, and when you left you still felt quite confused because of the complicated terminology they used? How uncomfortable that feeling is.

The same goes for the patient.

>

They want their doctor to explain diagnosis and treatment in a clear and understandable way. Please limit the use of complex terms. At the same time, you can also type or write medical information on paper so they can take it back to review if they forget.

You also try not to appear annoyed or irritated when asked the same question over and over again. Instead, change the explanation to help the patient absorb the information more easily.

5. FAITH

When a patient comes to see you, it means they have risked their health to you. They gave you a seed of faith. But that seed needs your care to grow.

Patients want to feel that they were right to trust you. This is extremely important, because only when they truly trust you will patients feel comfortable sharing, including sensitive issues and difficult-to-speak things that are on their mind. dir=”auto”>This is one of the difficult points when practicing in the US because the trust of American patients is difficult to win and is much easier to lose than that of Vietnamese patients.

6. RESPECT

American patients want to be respected by their doctors and medical staff in all circumstances. They may come to examine you, but do not want to follow the treatment regimen you give, and they want you to respect that.

Therefore, never focus too much on building a clinic with modern or majestic equipment and forget that you also need to have medical staff who treat patients with all the deepest respect and empathy.

7. TIME

American patients want doctors to take time with them and make them feel comfortable, not rushed. They want the opportunity to share all the things that are bothering them.

In the US, the time spent for each appointment usually averages 15 – 20 minutes/appointment for repeat patients and 30-40 minutes/appointment for new patients.

In Vietnam, the time for each appointment is often much shorter, and this makes the doctor always feel the need to quickly complete the appointment. This risks leaving the patient feeling unsatisfied.

Therefore, you should spend the little time of the appointment to focus absolutely on the patient and limit being influenced by other things.

8. EMPATHY

American patients value a doctor’s ability to show empathy and understanding.

This factor is no less important than the ability to diagnose and treat.

Always remind yourself that patients are very vulnerable so they need empathy from From there, you will learn how to empathize and treat them more gently.

9. BENEFITS

In the US, patients often want to see their doctor immediately when they need it.

They also want to have test results notified and questions answered quickly.

Therefore, a working system that optimizes communication between the clinic and patients is extremely important.

10. COOPERATION

The doctor-patient relationship in America is an equal relationship.

Doctors are knowledgeable about medical knowledge, but patients are the ones who understand their bodies and lives better than anyone else. They want to be involved in their own treatment and have a say in every decision. They want a thorough explanation of every treatment option, its effectiveness, and the risk ratio that that option brings.

That’s why you should become a companion to the patient instead of a leader for them.

You may be worried and hesitant when examining and treating American patients because of cultural differences and the way the doctor-patient relationship develops.

When you understand the 10 things American patients expect from doctors, you will be able to confidently give them the best experience when they come for examination. treatment.

Comment “yes” if you wish to examine and treat foreign patients.

10 THINGS US PATIENTS EXPECT FROM DOCTORS

Did you know that American patients have the same expectations for the quality of medical services as in other service industries such as banks, hotels, airlines, etc.? v.?

This is an interesting finding from a study by the PwC health research institute (USA) after surveying thousands of patients in the US to evaluate their personal opinions. them about medical examination and treatment.

As a family doctor working for a large health system in the US, I also agree with that observation.

When talking about medical quality, a common phrase in recent years is “Patient’s experience” meaning “The patient’s experience.” This term shows the importance of patient-centered disease, and more specifically, “EXPERIENCE” of the patient as the center.

Both patients have diabetes. The two went to see two different doctors. They were prescribed two identical treatment courses. But one person feels very happy and satisfied. The other person left feeling insecure and uncomfortable.

Those two patients actually had two completely different EXPERIENCES. In your opinion, which patients will return for follow-up visits with that doctor? with that clinic?

In the US, patients appreciate the service attitude and friendliness of medical staff and consider these as the top criteria for them to choose a treating doctor. treatment.

Cost of medical examination and treatment is not the main factor that governs the choice of most patients for medical services. They even accept to go to medical facilities at twice the cost to receive the best care from the most dedicated doctors and to have the best experience.

Ben Besides, building a good relationship between doctors and patients also increases the efficiency of medical examination and treatment and improves patient health. On the contrary, when this relationship is not good, the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment will easily be flawed, leading to negative effects on the patient’s health.

They know their rights, including the right to participate in their medical examination and treatment process instead of being passive as before, and they also have more expectations from the health care system. Here are 10 things American patients expect from their doctors.

1. LISTENING

It can be said that this is the most important factor that a patient needs from a doctor.

Patients expect their doctors to listen to all of their concerns and feelings about their pain, and most importantly, how that pain affects their lives.

So, listen and try never to interrupt them and never let them feel like you are rushing through the conversation.

2. ATTENTION

There’s nothing better than when the treating doctor still remembers your name, even asks about your children and grandchildren, especially about your health status, whether you’ve stopped coughing or not… during your follow-up visit.

Patients will be very happy when the doctor welcomes them with a smile on their face, and is cared for throughout the examination process, no matter what age they are.

There are many ways to do this. You show interest by looking into their eyes, giving them the feeling that you are really paying attention and understanding their story.

3. TRANSPARENCY

American patients value transparency. They can accept that you cannot diagnose their illness or find a cure for the illness they are suffering from, as long as you honestly share with them.

Similar to Therefore, they also understand that doctors are human after all and medical incidents are completely possible because of course nothing is absolute. Most patients will not ask for heavy compensation if you are honest with them.

They want to know exactly what happened and how the doctor tried to fix things. come on. Therefore, to be transparent, you must always explain to patients the success rate as well as the possible risks of each treatment method.

4. DEDICATION

Have you ever had a consulting appointment with a lawyer or other person in another field, and when you left you still felt quite confused because of the complicated terminology they used? How uncomfortable that feeling is.

The same goes for the patient.

>

They want their doctor to explain diagnosis and treatment in a clear and understandable way. Please limit the use of complex terms. At the same time, you can also type or write medical information on paper so they can take it back to review if they forget.

You also try not to appear annoyed or irritated when asked the same question over and over again. Instead, change the explanation to help the patient absorb the information more easily.

5. FAITH

When a patient comes to see you, it means they have risked their health to you. They gave you a seed of faith. But that seed needs your care to grow.

Patients want to feel that they were right to trust you. This is extremely important, because only when they truly trust you will patients feel comfortable sharing, including sensitive issues and difficult-to-speak things that are on their mind. dir=”auto”>This is one of the difficult points when practicing in the US because the trust of American patients is difficult to win and is much easier to lose than that of Vietnamese patients.

6. RESPECT

American patients want to be respected by their doctors and medical staff in all circumstances. They may come to examine you, but do not want to follow the treatment regimen you give, and they want you to respect that.

Therefore, never focus too much on building a clinic with modern or majestic equipment and forget that you also need to have medical staff who treat patients with all the deepest respect and empathy.

7. TIME

American patients want doctors to take time with them and make them feel comfortable, not rushed. They want the opportunity to share all the things that are bothering them.

In the US, the time spent for each appointment usually averages 15 – 20 minutes/appointment for repeat patients and 30-40 minutes/appointment for new patients.

In Vietnam, the time for each appointment is often much shorter, and this makes the doctor always feel the need to quickly complete the appointment. This risks leaving the patient feeling unsatisfied.

Therefore, you should spend the little time of the appointment to focus absolutely on the patient and limit being influenced by other things.

8. EMPATHY

American patients value a doctor’s ability to show empathy and understanding.

This factor is no less important than the ability to diagnose and treat.

Always remind yourself that patients are very vulnerable so they need empathy from From there, you will learn how to empathize and treat them more gently.

9. BENEFITS

In the US, patients often want to see their doctor immediately when they need it.

They also want to have test results notified and questions answered quickly.

Therefore, a working system that optimizes communication between the clinic and patients is extremely important.

10. COOPERATION

The doctor-patient relationship in America is an equal relationship.

Doctors are knowledgeable about medical knowledge, but patients are the ones who understand their bodies and lives better than anyone else. They want to be involved in their own treatment and have a say in every decision. They want a thorough explanation of every treatment option, its effectiveness, and the risk ratio that that option brings.

That’s why you should become a companion to the patient instead of a leader for them.

You may be worried and hesitant when examining and treating American patients because of cultural differences and the way the doctor-patient relationship develops.

When you understand the 10 things American patients expect from doctors, you will be able to confidently give them the best experience when they come for examination. treatment.

Comment “yes” if you wish to examine and treat foreign patients.

Picture of Dr. Christina Nguyen

Dr. Christina Nguyen

The Phoenix Medical Academy

About Dr. Christina Nguyen

Picture of Dr. Christina Nguyen

Dr. Christina Nguyen

The Phoenix Medical Academy

About Dr. Christina Nguyen

BECOME A DOCTOR IN THE U.S.

Would you like to learn how to communicate with patients in English to U.S. medical standards, explore the mindset and skills needed to succeed in medicine in America, or learn more about life as a doctor in the U.S.?

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

BECOME A DOCTOR IN THE U.S.

Would you like to learn how to communicate with patients in English to U.S. medical standards, explore the mindset and skills needed to succeed in medicine in America, or learn more about life as a doctor in the U.S.?

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

If you found this article helpful, please share it with others!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

About

I’m Christina Nguyen, a Family Physician in the U.S., and founder of The Phoenix Medical Academy, with a mission to help Vietnamese doctors confidently shape their future.

Contact

Pages

Receive new articles via Email

© 2026 Dr. Christina Nguyen All Rights Reserved.