Patients are just patients or also human beings? This question is swirling around my head since many years. Do you remember the last time you gave a warm greeting to your patient? Believe me, I don't remember either because I've done for a very few times even the book says it is mandatory.
How often we call our patients by their name?
How often we greet?
How often we communicate with patients during treatment or with visitors?
How often we bring smile in a child's face by giving a balloon while leaving?
How often we give proper instructions after treatment?
I know we have limited time and sometimes we have to work fast. But these small things matters a lot if we really want to have a positive attitude of the patients towards us. We all have sound knowledge about all these but still most of the times we miss. We just need to train ourselves better.
I think, the best thing patient like in us is our smile while having conversation. Not that fake smile but the genuine one. Believe me, if you are having good conversation in between the treatment or you are giving proper instructions but your lips are not wide enough or your facial expression is looking dull, then the patient will not follow your instructions properly and what he/she will remember after leaving the department is just your ill-looking face. So smile when needed and also make your patient smile.
Lincoln once said, "Everybody likes a complement." According to William James, "The deepest principle in human being is the craving to be appreciated." Let the patient feel special while he/she is in the department. Find good things in them and give complement immediately. I want to share one of my experience.
One day a 64 years old patient came in the department and he dressed well like he was going for a party. I liked his personality from the beginning. He looked confident and sharp. Well, how could I miss the chance of giving him a warm complement and when I did that he started sharing all about his life and daily schedule. He felt special. He thanked me and appreciated my work too. He returned happy and it was a good time spend for me too.
Some patients don't reveal their health conditions just because they feel that you are some stranger. Let them feel that you are a doctor and all doctors are good friends of patients. Let us not just treat them as an object. Let us make them feel special. Let us bring smile on their face while leaving the hospital. Let us learn to share happiness. This will surely increase the quality of patients life.
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