Imagine getting a thank you note from your Doctor?!

It doesn’t have to be some grand gesture, just something unexpected. Thank you notes, unlike impersonal holiday cards, don't end up in the trash, they end up in a box!

By Editor, Concierge Medicine Today

I've never been a fan of the holiday greeting cards that are sent by businesses.

If you've received one of these cards usually they're signed by everyone in the office and there's no personalized note.

It ends up in the junk mail trash (or recycling if you do that, of course!)

I love thank you notes, not impersonal holiday cards with all the staff signatures.

Thank-you notes take time. They have greater meaning in the eyes of the receiver on the other end because they know you took time just for them!

Imagine getting a thank you note from your Doctor?!

Notes like that don't end up in the trash, they end up in a box! They leave a lasting positive impression on patients.

Don't just save your gratitude FOR your patients either. If you see your staff do something out of the ordinary and kind to a patient or coworker, acknowledge it.

Want to really be a great boss? Write it then mail it to their house!

Yeah, this little extra piece of gold in the form of a handwritten thank you note to a staff member that they open when you're not around will go miles and miles with your staff culture!

Handwritten notes haven't gone out of style. Saying something right then is good, but don’t stop there!

People need to know their Physician is paying attention. Whether it’s your Practice Administrator going the extra mile to schedule a date night for you and your spouse or a patient who lost their dog, we want to know you care about us.

We need to know you’re watching and paying attention!

It doesn’t have to be some grand gesture, just something unexpected.

If you really want to surprise a coworker, for example, write them a note at the end of the day. Handwrite the envelope and address it to their home instead of putting it on their desk. Try it! Sure, you could leave it on their keyboard or their chair for them to find the next morning. That might make other team members a little jealous and that's not good for morale. Sending the note home informs the receiver that you thought about them and cared enough to take 90 seconds out of your busy day to acknowledge only their actions.

This can apply to your spouse. He/she is your cheerleader. In some ways, they are a vital component of a Doctor's office. They’ve helped you with your career choices, and whether they work in the practice or not, they deserve some recognition, too!

Often, we hear from Physicians about how their spouses sacrificed to help them become who they are today! That's amazing. Finding a quiet moment to write them a note that rewards them with a gift of gratitude is priceless.

“Notice what your wife does regularly for you and take a moment to say thank you for it,” said one psychologist we spoke to recently about implementing a gratitude system in a medical practice. I noticed something the other day. I made dinner (which I probably do about once a week) and when we sat down to eat, my kids said, ‘Thanks, Mom; this was great.' It made me feel good. But you know what? I make dinner the other six nights a week and no one ever says 'thank you' or even acknowledges it."

I'll leave you with this quote from a concierge medicine physician in Florida who practices what she preaches:

"Being a good physician is not just about knowing how to diagnose and treat disease. Honestly...that's what books and studying is for. Being a good doctor entails earning the trust of your patients by being honest and forthcoming. It means knowing how to communicate effectively while still remaining sympathetic. It requires you, first and foremost, to be a human being. It honestly bothers me that young doctors feel like they have to "know everything" to be a great physician. Put down the damn book and go talk to your patient. Be a friggin human being. Be a friend. It's really that simple." ~Dr. R., Concierge Medicine Physician, Florida

Have a great week!

FOR YOU, FOR DOCTORS,

Editor, Concierge Medicine Today