Ways Patients Show They Care About Their Doctors

Working in a medical office can be very busy, stressful and rewarding all at the same time.  Today was one of those days in our office, we were a couple of staff members short so we all had to be on our toes and make sure that patient service came first.  It really was a good day, everyone working knew the situation and stepped up to help in anyway that was needed to serve our patients, it was true team effort.  What made today even more interesting is that we had three different patients show their appreciation for us (physicians and staff) in three totally different ways that I want to share with you.  I was working the back office and went in to the treatment room to help one of our elderly patients with her shoes and socks, which she was very appreciative of, and when I was bending down before her she said “Your doctor is a really wonderful person, you know that?”  I told her I did and that I would not be working here if he were not.  She then said “you know he actually asks me about other things besides what I am here for, like what I am doing for the Holidays, and how are my children doing.  No other doctor that I go to ever asks about my personal life, and I go to a lot of doctors.”  I told her that we were not only a doctors office that specialized in feet, but we specialized in people.  She said that she absolutely agreed and that she would not go to a different doctor for her care and was so glad that my doctor was such a kind and caring person.  I thanked her for letting me know how she felt and that I would let the doctor know how she felt about coming here. The next person who moved me with her words of kindness was a patient who had brought her young adult daughter in who needed to have a small surgical procedure done.  The patient’s mother has been to our office many times and we know her well.  She immediately noticed that we were short handed today, but we did not rush her daughter, who was very nervous, and we spent extra time with her in making her feel comfortable.  I being the back office assistant had to leave the room while the procedure was being done in order to facilitate patients for our other physician and during this time the young patient’s mother came out of the room looking for me as I was cleaning a treatment room floor preparing it for the next patient.  She informed me that the doctor needed me for something, I told her I was sorry that she had to come looking for me and she said “I know you are busy and short-handed today I am sure that this day has been a challenge and at the end you will probably be very tired, but I also know that because you have done the job well you will feel very empowered.  This is a great office, if it were not, I would not bring by child here.”  Wow, did I feel appreciated! Now if that wasn’t great enough listen to this;  One of our doctors was in with her patient taking care of his needs and she came out to take some x-rays and told me that her patient wanted to give her some extra money because he didn’t feel that Medicare had paid her enough for the services and care she has given him!  What? This has never happened before, it is usually the other way around, where patients feel that we should do more for the money we are paid.  She graciously told him that she appreciated the kind gesture, but she could not take his money.  When the patient was finished with his visit he thanked for all that she has done for him and went to the front counter to schedule his next appointment.  When the doctor walked by the empty treatment room she noticed that he left $70 on the chair, she brought it to me not knowing what to do and not wanting to embarrass her patient.  I noticed that the patient was standing at the front counter and his jacket pocket was open, so the doctor walked up and while he was talking to our assistant she was able to slip the money back into his pocket without him noticing.  After he left we all just stood there in amazement that this kind patient felt that his physician’s services were under paid by his insurance and he wanted to compensate her because he felt her care was worth so much more.  Again…Wow. Patients really do care about the physicians when the feel that their physicians and staff really care about them.  Do you have any stories that you would like to share about patients showing that they care?  We would love to hear them and post them on our blog. http://doctorandpatient.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-i-love-my-doctor.html