Jennifer A. Douglas, MD

Philosophy of Care

I love what I do because I see a wide variety of conditions in patients of all ages. The key to having a great relationship with a patient is open and honest communication -- patients need to know I'm listening and I care about what they're saying. Likewise, there are many options to deal with most health issues and one solution does not fit every person, so I love a patient who is willing to listen to options and discuss them with me to choose what works best for them. Everyone uses Google as their physician these days, and I do not discourage patients from doing their own research, but I encourage discussion of what they've found and what questions their research has uncovered. It's important for patients to take an active role in their own care and my job is to facilitate that -- to answer questions, motivate change, and offer assistance. The best healthcare decisions are made when I can share what I know and the patient can share their own knowledge, concerns, and needs to customize care. ***