Say Thank You to Your Health Care Professional

Take a moment, close your eyes and ponder this question. Is there a Nurse, Doctor or other health care professional who made a difference in your life? Are you an anxious patient and did your doctor communicate with you well so as to keep you calm? Were you comfortable that you recieved enough information about your illness? Did your doctor or nurse proactively call you at home to check on you following day surgery?

Health care professionals tend to work long hours in very stressful environments and there is no room for mistakes . It takes a special kind of person to become a doctor, nurse, medtech, therapaist etc to enjoy taking care of sick, cranky, afraid and sometimes flat out rude patients all day long. They tend to do this with very little of the appreciation they so richly deserve.

May 28th is recognized as Health Care Provider Appreciation Day and serves as a reminder that Health Care Providers are people too and need to know they're appreciated. However, I recommend that everyone make an attempt to make sure every positive encounter with a health care provider does not go unnoticed. A simple thank you card written with sincerity for the nurse who obviously took personal responsibility for your health and comfort while in the hospital will remind her that she is doing a great job. The positive feedback boosts morale and reduces the rate of burnout. When morale is good, people tend to want to do an even better job thus improving quality of work.

The surgical team that repaired your broken leg may get paid a lot for the miracle they just skillfully crafted so that you can walk again, but I can assure you a Thank you note written with sincerity and maybe even including a pictrure of you happy with your newly repaired leg will make their hours of labor over your leg worth it. For many of them, it will remind them why they worked endless hours to become a surgeon to begin with.

Feeling valued reduces risk of early burnout. How valued the health care provider feels will usually boost performance, creativity, attitude and quality of work will improve.

With all of the politics around our health care system right now and shortage of health care professionals - spending a few minutes writing your health care providers a Thank You note for going above and beyond the call of duty or for simply doing her job well according to your perception is a priceless gift you'll never be forgotten for. The next patient she takes care of will feel the benefit of you taking a moment to write a simple Thank You as appreciation tends to bring with it a renewed spirit to a servant's heart. The next time your health care professional sees you, your simple act of appreciation will be remembered.

Boost morale in the Health Care industry and Incorporate the habit of showing appreciation to your Health Care Professionals a regular part of your life.