Dear all,

I am looking forward to the difficult task of restarting my practice in a new city a very very long way from my current home (my tubercular nature I'm afraid), and with access to so many people from different walks of life, I had to post this question.

WHAT ARE THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU WOULD LOOK FOR IN A NEW HOMOEOPATH?



------------------
David Kempson
Dip.Homoeopathic Medicine
Member A.H.A(Australia)

Five things:

1. Respect for me and my concerns as a patient. This means absolute disclosure regarding remedies given, what can be expected from treatment, and honest answers to any questions or misgivings I might have about the prescription or the casetaking. If I want to know why I was prescribed a certain remedy, the homeopath had better be prepared to state his case, as patients need to understand themselves in order to heal. Homeopaths and patients are partners in the process of getting well--so if a power dynamic exists, the process is endangered.

2. Non-judgementalism. For obvious reasons.

3. Accessibility. I need to know I'll be able to reach my practitioner if I need to for any reason--such as aggravations, emergencies, etc.

4. That the practitioner strives to maintain his efficacy and competence. This means that the education process must be continuous for the homeopath. Not enough that they have a graduation diploma on the wall...they must work to keep up with homeopathic research and study. Complete at least the required hours of study, post-graduation, required by their societies.

5. Homeopath respects him/herself. They seek treatment from others to ensure that they are in optimum health. A homeopath could not be competent--in fact, would be quite dangerous--if he/she did not ensure his/her own health.

5 things is really only a start!
Divina

Responsiveness. Our old homeopath, while a very nice person, was very hard to reach (esp. when he was away from his office or out of town), didn't return calls in a timely manner at all. When I suggested that he could at least invest in a pager, he agreed it was a good idea, but never followed up. His backup was also very hard to get a hold of. I also thought that he could have done a better job following up with his patients, esp. ones that he hadn't heard from in, say, a month or so. As much as he tried to help us in his own way, it was a very frustrating experience, particularly since we were very new to homeopathy and had no point of reference for anything we were doing at the time.

RF

You wouldn't be coming to the Chicago area would you?

Well here goes:

1. Personality. Do we click? Do I feel we have a sense of teamwork. I like to be involved in the process and I want to know everything and I like answers to my questions. I don't like being put off. A sense of not being rushed for me. Patience. (ok ok I know I'm expecting alot!! ) Sometimes I need help in the interview process. I've been to some homeopaths who never ask me anything...I understand where they are coming from but some prodding can be helpful to a patient to help them remember things.

2. Availability. This is important to me. Can I contact you by phone? Do you return phone calls (at least by the end of the day I called) Do you have a backup if you are unavailable? (very important when you have small kids)

3. Location. Is your office easy to get to and is there plenty of parking available. I would rather drive farther and have these things than have a hassle with traffic and finding a place to park. These seem trivial but if you are sick or have a sick kid with you it's not trivial anymore.

4. Staff. Are they pleasant, courteous and knowledgeable about homeopathy? Are they flexible? Do they work with you in getting appointments and getting a sick person in or is it just the attitude this is where we are in the appointment book..take it or leave it. Poor staff could cost even the best homeopath patients.

5. Cost. Is it fair to both of you? Are telephone consultation fees reasonable? Is there a payment plan? For me in trying to find a homeopath this is a big hurdle because of the initial cost which is expected up front.

All I can think of at the moment.

I have referred so many people(who know little about homeopathy)and known others who have gone on their own... to homeopaths over the years and my biggest surprise is that when something comes up for the patient they do not feel free to call the homeopath..in other words the homeopath has not told them to call them when something comes up(as in a long aggravation) I think that is important for new patients. Otherwise, the patient gives up on the process too early.

Thats why this internet experience is so valuable for people new to homeopathy..immediate access for any questions.I think new homeopaths don't push this aspect because they are afraid of being inundated with phone calls. And clients are not used to that kind of intimacy with "healers".

Hi David
In addition to the above constructive comments, I'd like to see the following in a homeopath:
- As a healer one is likely to attract people which will mirror one's own shortcomings - therefore I'd expect my practitioner to keep working on himself.
- Humility and total honesty in knowing one's limits can help in attracting the "right kind of patients", meaning, the ones meant for you. (however skilled one is, there are always limits and I do not mean here that you are a limited kind of homeopath as some comments here seem to indicate, on the contrary, I highly value your inputs as they come from a grounded place)
- At last I see a healer as a person who does service towards others. If that frame of mind is not given (you can feel it if it isn't so), I would have trouble seeing that person.

Good luck with your new practise, you will know if you are doing it right by the response you will have there.
Claudia

I would like to add one more comment to the wonderful responses above. A good homeopath needs to address the acute as well as the chronic condition immediately. One should not ignore the acute condition and ask the patient to just sit tight & wait. This does not work in real life as the patient has to keep going on with his life. Unless in special cases like fever etc where you have to rest for few days & have no choice. This may include aggravations as mentioned by Divina above.

If the acutes along with chronic condition is not addressed then more than likely the patient will go to some other doctor or go to allopathic doctor even if temporarily to take care of the immediate problem.

A good homeopaths name spreads quickly by word of mouth & increases business quickly.

Let us know where you moving to, outside Australia or within Australia?

Goodluck!!!

Rajan

Thanks guys, that is really helpful stuff. It is interesting to see the idea of accessibility come up so often. I always give my home number to clients, but they so rarely use it, maybe once or twice throughout their treatment if at all. Can I ask another question.

If you have your homoeopath's number, what would prevent you from using it?

And please, any other comments are welcome, so keep 'em coming.

I am moving to Melbourne, in Australia, where it will be alot more competative than here in little old Brisbane. I have an opportunity to work with the various AIDS organisations down there.

------------------
David Kempson
Dip.Homoeopathic Medicine
Member A.H.A(Australia)

I have been reading some very impressive theories that AIDS is really a pharmacuetically induced illness. No one has actually ever SEEN the HIV virus.

www.aidsmyth.com is a place to start.


David, as to your question... I think people don't call their homeopath simply because they don't think their complaint is bad enough to bother you on your time away from the office.

I also have some serious reservations about the viral theory of AIDS. Many of the symptoms can often be traced to medication, especially the chemo that they use, often 3 types of chemo every day for years on end. One can only imagine what this would do to a person.
David