A rural health clinic’s doctor has one of the most important jobs in the surrounding areas. They have been tasked with the care of the countryside’s citizens, who may not have access to another physician. It is imperative that they have these four essential skills, so that their duties as a rural health physician are upheld as best as possible:

Confidence

Confidence is a core part of charisma’s genetic makeup, and a doctor needs to appear charismatic to their patients so that they are put at ease, so that their account of their medical history is as precise as possible. You don’t want nerves getting in the way of an accurate diagnosis. Confidence helps patients understand that they are in good hands, and that, for whatever reason they’ve come into the care of a health clinic, they will be provided the best healthcare available. As an added bonus, confidence improves one’s ability to perform a given task, such as any one of the many procedures performed in the course of a rural doctor’s life, encouraging them to give their patients their best.

Empathy

Nobody goes to the clinic for fun. Your patients might know that they have something wrong with them, but have no idea what that might be, or as to the severity of the cause. A healthy understanding of your patients’ anxiety will aid in their appreciation of your clinic and create a more relaxed atmosphere overall. This can aid in their willingness to do what is asked of them, so that the process of administering healthcare goes as smoothly as possible. A few of them might be cranky, or they might have nervous family members nearby that don’t understand that it’s the potential of a serious diagnosis they’re irritable over, not you.

Thorough Supervision

Rural areas don’t have as much access to medical information as urban populaces do. Some of the patients you see may not want to be there at all, and be more eager to leave than they are to receive treatment. Whatever the case, your job as a rural doctor is to follow up with all of your patients and make sure they’re doing well. An occasional phone call– just to see how they’re doing– can do wonders, and greatly improves a person’s morale. People need to know that they’re seen as more than just a paycheck, and treating them like one goes a long way. Have a conversation about football, family, the weather. Anything. Their comfort level with you aids in their willingness to see you for a routine checkup or simply to be honest during one.