Appreciate, by Dr. Ogi Ressel

Thursday, February 19th 2009

Warm hellos to everyone,

Let's talk about appreciation for a bit.
Linda and I went out for a long walk by Lake Ontario yesterday and we
were thrilled to see and feel sunshine after having the Wild Winds of
the North rule the skies for the past three weeks. It is amazing how
you can miss something as ordinary as the sun! But it made me think
of all the other "ordinary" things, that in the fervor of living life, we often
take for granted in our offices.

What I find amazing is that there are coaches who still teach that you
should actually have an official "Patient Appreciation Day." This must
be for all those DCs who simply do not appreciate their patients - couldn't
be any of you!

So we set aside a special day to appreciate them. Or is it actually an
elaborate plan to get more new ones? You see, the focus of this day is
NOT your old and trusted patients.
No!

The focus is actually getting your patients to bring new ones. Nothing to
do with appreciation at all! And your patients totally understand this.
Yes, this day is actually all about appreciating greed. Nothing more.

Whatever happened to truly appreciating your existing patients? To truly
making them feel special in your office. Thanking them for their respect
and love for you? Recognizing their loyalty to you? Rewarding their
commitment to you?

How many of you have ever taken the time to hold the hand of an elderly
patient in your hands. The hands of an older lady, for example, hold the
secret to her life - a life she lived.

Look into her eyes as you gently caress her hand.  There is a wealth of knowledge
there just waiting to be discovered. Her eyes will tell you of a beauty which was
once sought after.

You'll discover times of joy, times of laughter, times of tears, times of pain,
times of love, and times of great mischief.

I often did this at the initial consultation - much to the delight of older
patients and I. And no one minded a bit. It was a well-known fact that all the
old ladies in my office were all my "girlfriends." We all had fun with this.

And don't be afraid to do this with children - gaze in their eyes - they are
the windows of their soul. Hold a child close to you, tickle them, play with them,
appreciate their innocence and their wonder. Please make certain that it is
Ok with mom first.

You can also appreciate your other patients in that same manner - but
sometimes you might be wise to ask permission to give some a hug.
And it is totally Ok to do so.

Let me ask you this?
When you truly appreciate your patients, do you really need a Patient
Appreciation Day to bring in the new ones?

Here's the thing: Everyday should be a patient appreciation day in your office.
When you practice in this manner, you do not need to do these - you'll be too
damn busy examining and checking all the referrals you receive on a daily basis.

So, lighten up. Be the doctor your innate is telling you to be!

Now, go out there and appreciate someone!

Warmest wishes,
Dr. Ogi Ressel