Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Thanks Giving

With the up-in-coming holiday I have been mindful of things I am thankful for. Most often it is modern conveniences and forgiveness.

Spell check: I've used it three times since beginning this post!
Downey
Hair dye
Words
Noise machines
Music
Cameras
Leather-furniture or shoes
Eye glasses especially cute frames
Long tank tops- for those long torso people
Paper
Pain medicine- especially epidural
Ink
Washing machines
Heaters and air conditioners
Post office
Sugar
Volunteers
Freezers
Blue Jeans

I am thankful for forgiveness because daily I take advantage of this gift I have been given so freely. Often times I am unaware of all of the times when I have graciously been granted forgiveness by others for my missteps ignorant of the error. Then there are those times that I have wronged someone or better yet the Lord that I am so aware of yet continue on the path taking full advantage of the grace I have been given. I wonder where does that put me before the throne. Shall I be ashamed. Shall I walk boldly in the knowledge of my deed and the act Christ fulfilled in freeing me?
Dear Jesus thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for freeing me by giving Yourself.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Losing patience with being a patient

I am a patient.
I am pregnant, (obstetrics patient).
I have a pacemaker, (cardiac patient).
I am alive, (general practitioner's patient).
I have teeth, (dental patient).
I am a mother of two, I oversee two young patients.
I am a wife, I encourage another when he should be a patient.

Since I encounter the medical field so frequently I may be a bit sensitive or just overly exposed. But there is a HUGE deficit in the customer care side of the medical field. I encounter wonderful medical care; it is the other care that is completely lacking in most practices I visit. Why is it that the nursing and office staff of most practices seem as if there is one hundred other places they would rather be than in scrubs?

Each office I visit could benefit from visiting my dentist's office. Buzz Nabors in Knoxville, TN has the best run office and friendliest staff I have EVER encountered. The atmosphere is nice, the staff makes a point to call you by your name, and engage you in conversation. This particular office has every right to treat me with disdain too. I have missed at least three dental appointments. For one reason or another I have had to reschedule appointments and one I completely forgot- and they had called me the day before to remind me and spoke directly to me! However; Stephanie the office employee I deal with most frequently treated me with kindness and respect when I called three weeks later to reschedule- yet again!

I have worked in several customer service oriented fields. I know dealing with the public is difficult and tiresome. But it does seem since the medical field is such a necessity that the staff would treat each patient with kindness and concern. I understand that the nursing and office staff can't fathom what type of visit a patient may be having. There are times when the news you receive is devastating or elating. How are they to know or even try to engage you? They are not. Let's start with a smile and begin treating the patients with kindness, compassion, and respect.