When people go to see a doctor for any medical issue, large or small, they are walking into the office with a degree of trust. It may be that the patient has known their doctor for a long time, or it may be that the patient is meeting a new provider for the first time. Either way, the patient is trusting the healthcare provider to listen to them, identify the causes for their symptoms, and suggest solutions. Trust, and lasting relationships built on that trust, are critical for any doctor’s career success.
In the highly-digitized modern social and cultural landscape, a person’s reputation both online and in professional networks is as important as ever. For doctors expected to make medical decisions and suggestions on behalf of their patients, this is doubly true; having a reputation of integrity, trustworthiness, and medical acumen is good for both business and patient-doctor relationships. Strong communication skills and shrewd use of technology are important components of building such a robust reputation and digital presence.
Dr. Parminder Jaswal knows this well. A board-certified physician with 30 years of experience, rated in the top 5% of doctors in Michigan for ten consecutive years by Blue Cross Blue Shield and designated as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) provider, Dr. Jaswal has certainly proven himself as a doctor of quality and integrity. However, he knows that his practice and his patients deserve better than for him to let his accomplishments speak for themselves. Dr. Parminder Jaswal makes good, proactive use of technology and tools to foster and protect both his relationships with his patients, and his professional presence.
Removing Barriers With Technology
The American healthcare industry, and its connected systems, have a reputation for extensive bureaucracy and often poor communication. These issues often delay patient care, if they don’t block it entirely. Dr. Parminder Jaswal has taken steps to leverage new technology and digital solutions to alleviate those problems, help patients quickly, and build functional relationships with patients and colleagues alike.
One of the most impactful single trends and technology applications that Dr. Jaswal has used in his practice is telemedicine. By enabling remote consultations, Dr. Jaswal was able to increase patients’ accessibility to initial care, which allowed people to get care when they otherwise wouldn’t. This also allowed Dr. Jaswal and his practice to maintain relationships with patients through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Communication is critical, and every new tool, platform, or technology that directly improves and streamlines communication between doctors, patients, and providers is a boon. Dr. Jaswal oversaw direct benefits in the form of reduced wait times, easier appointment scheduling, and improved patient education through a variety of technologies and platforms, from Zoom to MyChart and beyond.
Keys To Success
Dr. Parminder Jaswal credits a number of specific traits for his strong career as a family doctor and his success when working with patients, but they can all be summarized under three categories: connection, learning, and adaptability.
Being able to connect with others is a baseline expectation for any social creature, let alone a career professional, but it’s especially important for healthcare providers. Strong communication skills are the backbone of trust. For a doctor like Dr. Jaswal, being able to explain complex medical issues clearly, listen actively to patients, and build rapport with them are all critical components of building a good relationship and ensuring the patient adheres to their treatment plans. Communication isn’t one-way, however, and the other side of strong communication is being able to listen to patients’ needs with empathy, compassion, and care.
The world changes quickly, and the people who embrace a paradigm of lifelong learning will be the best equipped to change with it. For a medical professional, this looks like continuously learning about new studies, techniques, procedures, and medications that may help their patients. For a family doctor like Dr. Jaswal, it’s especially important to have a broad understanding of multiple areas of medicine because of the broad range of patient ages, backgrounds, and conditions they encounter.
While being a voracious learner helps, a degree of baseline adaptability is important for a professional to succeed in the modern day, and that’s as true for doctors as anyone else. Being able to solve problems and think critically in the face of a changing business or medical landscape is important—doctors often need to diagnose problems quickly and accurately in order to best deliver care. Keeping up with new treatments and research is important here, as new discoveries or techniques may change the prescribed treatment plan. Paired with strong time-management skills, this kind of adaptability allows Dr. Parminder Jaswal to expertly navigate the daily turbulence of the medical profession.
Building Patient Trust
Dr. Parminder Jaswal, like many successful healthcare providers, is very intentional about building trust between himself and his patients. His job is to help them solve health-related problems, but that cannot be done if the patient doesn’t trust him with their symptoms. To that end, he leverages a number of basic, but effective strategies to build these long-term patient relationships:
- Active Listening: By giving patients his full attention, and listening without interruption, Dr. Jaswal ensures patients feel heard and valued.
- Empathy: Dr. Jaswal acknowledges patients’ feelings and provides reassurance when needed to demonstrate empathy and understanding.
- Clear Communication: Dr. Jaswal explains medical conditions, treatments, and procedures in simple terms, ensuring patients understand their options and next steps.
- Transparency and Honesty: Dr. Jaswal never hides information or sugarcoats reality, but he makes sure to frame it in a compassionate way. Being open about diagnoses, treatments, and possible outcomes builds critical trust.
- Respecting Time: By minimizing wait times and respecting patients’ time by ensuring that appointments aren’t rushed, each patient feels like they have the necessary time with Dr. Jaswal for care.
- Following-Up: Regular follow-up on treatments or check-ins after significant diagnoses demonstrate that Dr. Jaswal and his staff care about the patient beyond the bounds of their office visit.
The best healthcare outcomes often come alongside strong, long-term relationships between patient and doctor that are built on trust and integrity. Dr. Parminder Jaswal has experienced this first hand, and makes sure to foster such relationships in his practice. He says, “I strive to know my patients over time. Learning about their health history and personal preferences helps me provide better care and build long-term trust.”
By Chris Bates
