medical manners Archives - Professional Courtesy, LLC

Sending Thank You’s for Physician Gifts

December 27, 2021 by procourtesy

Sending Thank You’s for Physician Gifts

Gifting Physicians

Gifting physicians and their staff during the holidays isn’t unusual. Referring physician specialists often send a gift thanking other physicians for sending them patients. And patients will often gift a physician’s office with seasonal goodies or other items the physician and staff can share to express appreciation for their care. But regardless of who sent it or why, all gifts should be acknowledged with a note. (In this case, it’s not redundant to thank the giver for the thank you gift.)

Corporate Gift Giving

Many other business people send gifts to their clients at the holiday time to thank them for their business. These corporate gifts are optional and a generous gesture on the part of the giver. And again, should be acknowledged, especially if they are sent via mail or a delivery service. The sender needs to know the gift arrived.

Managing Holiday Gifts

In the physician’s office, keep a list of everything that comes in. If gifts are sent to the entire staff, designate one person or a few people, if the list is lengthy, to write the thank you notes. Take turns if this is a yearly thing. The notes don’t have to be long, but should identify the gift and let the giver know how much it is appreciated.

For Physicians Only

If the gift is for the physician only, it’s the physician’s job to write the note, not one of the staff members. For gifts going to the physician’s home that will be enjoyed by the family, a spouse could write the note as well.

In Person Thanks

You can say thank you in person if the opportunity presents itself, but if gifts are sent via mail or a delivery service a note letting the sender know you received their gift.

Phone or E-mail Thanks

A phone call would be another option or an email thank you. Email isn’t as personal, but it’s better than nothing.

Remember to be a gracious recipient this year by sending thank you’s for physician gifts.

Never Let Your Patients Hear You Complain

August 5, 2021 by procourtesy

Never Let Your Patients Hear You Complain

I’ve always thought it was poor form to let patients hear you complain. Here’s a story to support that idea.

A friend recently shared with me her experience visiting the emergency room with severe abdominal pain. She said that the department was very busy and patients were lined up waiting for beds to become available so they could be admitted. She too, was waiting to be admitted.

During her wait time she was attended to by multiple nursing staff members. She said that her care was okay, but the attitude of the nurses was not as professional as she thought it should be. She said several of them were “complainers.” They were complaining to her about their long hours, staff shortages and some even complained about things going on in their personal lives. This was not what she wanted to hear as she was waiting to be admitted and for test results to see if she needed surgery. She said she wondered if they were giving her their full attention and if her care was suffering. And aside from that, she really didn’t care or want to hear about their problems.

When patients hear healthcare workers complain, it’s bad for business and it’s unprofessional, to be sure. Your workplace problems are not the patient’s problems. And what seem to be harmless enough comments may come back to bite you. To say your short-staffed or complain about administration can suggest to a patient that your organization is poorly run. And it may also lead to them thinking their care was sub-standard, especially if there is a bad outcome. That’s not what you want your patients to walk away with. It can also be the formula for litigation.

Your problems are not the patient’s problems. You should focus on the patient and giving them the best possible care, not on what’s going on in your life.

When at work, keep in mind that you are a reflection of your organization and you should be doing everything you can to help enhance their reputation.

Not complaining about work should apply to your social media platforms as well. Social media is a public venue and what you say there goes out to the world.

If you have complaints about work, take those complaints to your manger or supervisor and see what can be done to resolve the issues. That’s the professional way to do things!

Changing Physicians

June 6, 2017 by procourtesy

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Changing Physicians

If you have had to change physicians over the years, you know how distressing it can be. Especially if you have gone to the same physician for many years. Circumstances change when your physician retires, changes jobs or moves and you suddenly find yourself looking for a new physician or switching to the doctor who took over your previous care givers practice.

To transition to someone new needs some give and take on both sides. Staying open minded to someone else’s delivery of care will help make things go more smoothly. So, some things to keep in mind are:

Make an appointment as soon as you can to meet the new doctor. Meeting them before you get into a medical crisis can be beneficial.

At your first appointment be prepared with your your health history and list of medications.

Understand that a new physician may make changes in your medications. Every physician has their own way of doing things and lean to certain medications over others. And be prepared for some lab work to support the need of certain medications that you have been on for a long period of time.

Don’t expect refills on narcotic medications without seeing the physician first. The new physician will want to review why you are on those medications and confirm that you still need them.

Get to know the new office staff. Learning their names can be helpful when having to call the office for appointments or getting lab results.

If the office uses an automated answering system, ask for extension numbers for the nurse to get through the system faster.

If the new physician does some things differently from your previous doctor that shouldn’t be taken as a criticism of your former physician.

Be prepared to see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant at times. They help support the physician and can help ease a very busy schedule. They will know when to call the physician in for help.

Try to get to know the routine of the new physician’s office. Learning the best times to call the office. Find out when they stop answering the phones and who to talk to about lab results.

Most of all give the new doctor a chance. You might end up liking them as much as you liked your former physician

Communicating with Patients as an Introvert

November 18, 2016 by procourtesy

group of professional medical team closeup

Communication with Patients as an Introvert

Physicians and nurses come in all personality types. Some are out going, funny, charming and gregarious. Others are quieter and more measured in communicating with their patients. There is the type that likes to offer hugs and are very comfortable patting hands and putting a hand on the shoulder, but that doesn’t mean the ones who don’t do that can’t connect effectively with their patients.

Physicians and nurses should be genuine in what ever their communication style is. Their genuineness will come through to their patients.

Some of the most important things to keep in mind and demonstrate with patients are:

Empathy. Empathy allows us to connect to the feelings of the patient and understand what they are going through. It helps patients feel like they matter and are respected and valued. We all have the ability to show empathy toward others. It’s the mirror neurons firing in our brains that allow us to connect on an emotional level.

Body Language. Non verbal communication is powerful. It has been said that 50 to 80 per cent of what we are communicating comes from our body language. So, how you position yourself when involved with the patient speaks volumes.
Upon entering the patients exam room offer a handshake, make good eye contact and sit down. When sitting you are perceived to spend more time with the patient than if standing. And it puts you at their level. It also sends the message that you have time to listen to them.

Balance. When looking at the computer screen and charting make sure you balance looking at the screen with making good eye contact with the patient. A good trick is to look at the patient when asking a question and return to the computer to enter the data.

Listening. Be a good listener. Allow patients to talk without interruption before responding. Pausing before responding lets the patient know you are processing what they have said. It also allows you to formulate your response more effectively.
Lean in when listening and acknowledge what is being said by nodding. Validate verbally what is being said with phrases like; “I understand what you are saying” or paraphrasing back to the patient what has been said.

A quiet, steady approach can achieve a high level of connection too. And do keep in mind that too much touching and patting may be perceived as patronizing. Some of your patients will be the quiet steady type too, and don’t feel the need for hugging and patting. Another important reason to being attentive to each patients needs.

Essential Professional Dress in Healthcare

October 31, 2016 by procourtesy

Essential Professional Dress in Healthcare
While visiting a family member in the hospital recently, I noticed the unkempt attire of one of the lab people coming in to draw blood. As she knelt down to better reach my family member’s arm I noticed her scrub pants were frayed and dirty from her walking on them. Shortly after I made note of this, one of her co-workers came in the room to see how she was doing and noted the same thing. However, she said something out loud about the fact that her scrub pants were too long and should be shortened so they weren’t dragging on the ground. The person with the dirty scrubs said, “she couldn’t be bothered with that, after all they are only work pants.” My immediate thought was, if she can’t be bothered with being well groomed what else can’t she be bothered with.”

A visible mark of distinction for your organization can be what your employees wear. If they are poorly dressed or poorly groomed the impression the public gets of your organization can be a negative one. Or like me, they wonder what else isn’t be attended to.

What is the appropriate dress for the staff and physicians in offices and hospitals today?

This question is one that causes confusion in many work places, not just the medical arena. Staying current and up with the times in dress is important. The days of everyone being in white and nursing caps seems to be a thing of the past. However, problems can arise if guidelines are not specific. Dress codes left to individual interpretation can leave room for big surprises.

Uniforms of some sort give an air of professionalism and a sense of solidarity. Different departments often adopt a certain color unique to them and easily identifiable. For instance, pediatric situations may want to gear their uniforms to the children so they do not seem threatening. In certain departments, lab coats over street clothes offer protection and look professional. Scrubs are essential in many areas and reduce concern for getting clothes soiled. Shirts or coats with hospital and group logos offer another good choice.

One of the most important ideas of uniforms is to let the public know who you are, that you are at work, not at play, that you are not some stranger off the street who comes into a patient room in the middle of the night. In short, you should look like what you do and who you are.
If anyone has to question what you do or if you are working, it may be time to evaluate what you are wearing.
The need to move unencumbered in many situations presents some unique challenges. Here are some basic tips for dressing today:

Establish well defined dress codes and enforce them.
Be clean and well groomed. Shorter fingernails are more professional and more hygienic. Save nail art and dramatic nail color for social situations.
Hair kept short or up is suitable and more professional when caring for patients. Keep make-up subtle.
Fragrances should be kept to a minimum and if you smoke consider how you smell leaning over a sick patient.
Well fitting clothes are a benefit to everyone.
Clothes should be clean, well maintained, pressed and fit well. Make sure you can move easily without exposing bare skin
Invest in, and use a full length mirror before leaving the house.
Jackets and blazers add an air of authority and professionalism to men and women.
Identification badges should be visible at all times (first names only may be necessary for security reasons). Enforce identification with an introduction.
Wear clean, polished, professional shoes. No sandals. Keep work shoes separate from leisure and activity shoes.
Jewelry kept simple and to a minimum presents a more professional image.
Gum chewing is a solitary activity and should not be done in public.

Individuals in administrative positions or positions that do not require a uniform, including physicians, should use care to look professional and well groomed. It is just as important as those requiring a uniform.

It has been said, that the way we are dressed can influence the way we work and how we are perceived. When the public looks at you and views your work environment, what do they see?

Remember, what Mark Twain said…

“Clothes make the man, naked people have little or no influence in the society.”

Sending Thank You’s for Physician Gifts

Never Let Your Patients Hear You Complain

Changing Physicians

Communicating with Patients as an Introvert

Essential Professional Dress in Healthcare

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