"Good" patients versus "Bad" patients

In my four years combined of volunteering in a hospital setting and working at a private practice, I've mentally compiled a list of attributes that determine what constitutes a "good" patient versus a "bad" patient. "Good" patients make a practitioner's job easy, whereas "bad" patients can tax an office staff's time and resources. Obviously patients run the gamut, and these aren't based on any single person....some attributes are even oversimplifications. In these months leading up to starting medical school, I've been ruminating on what I'm getting into for supposedly, the rest of my life.

“Good” patients Are at least somewhat educated Follow directions Speak the same language as you Can afford brand-name medications Have good insurance plans or are able to pay out of pocket Don’t mind waiting up to an hour for an appointment Respect the doctor and staff Are appreciative  Are understanding of human errors Ask good questions Volunteer information that may be indirectly pertinent to care Make appointments and keep them Have positive attitudes and are grateful for care Trust the doctor’s advice and are willing to consider treatment options Bring the office staff treats

“Bad” patients Have low levels of education Have poor compliance Speak a different language from you Cannot afford medications, or purchase questionable meds from unverified international or online retailers Have insurance plans that don’t cover services completely or limit visits Threaten to leave if not seen immediately upon arrival   Are litigious Don’t ask questions even if something is obviously wrong Withhold information or are bad historians Forget appointments and then demand to be squeezed in on busy days Have a “this is a waste of time” attitude Ignores the doctor’s advice and gets defensive about health Bring their poorly behaved children