A Kind Office

(not my real doctor's office)

So I may not have gone into great detail yet about how important finding the right doctor is, but I am constantly reminded that it is equally important to find the right doctor's staff, because they can make everything so much easier!  With my doctor, she has one employee, who I will call "T" who somehow manages to take care of the office, be kind to everyone who comes in, and always be on top of any problem you have.  She is an advocate for patient issues and will help me with any problems that may arise between doctor visits... insurance issues, pharmacy problems, prescriptions, supplements, you name it.  I realize that while I am very happy with my doctor, my experience would be very different if it weren't for T.

When I had a primary doctor, I didn't care that much about my doctor or staff, but I did notice that the staff would act put out with every question I asked.  If I had questions, I had no confidence that telling the person on the phone my question would mean it ever got to the doctor.  When I called, I would immediately be put on hold, and no one would make any effort beyond what was absolutely required of them to be helpful.  While waiting for my appointment, I could see that they would gossip about whatever while a patient was on-hold on the phone.  Doesn't really engender trust in the practice overall.  Heck, I was amazed when I first found out that Dr. K's office calls every patient to remind them they have an appointment in the next day or two, along with emailing us an appointment confirmation. 

I am not sure where Dr. K found T, but she is one of the best things I've found throughout my "journey."  (Journey sounds like a fun thing, maybe not the best word... think bad journey).  I can't really imagine anyone better.  Always a smile when I or any other patient comes in, always knows who walks through the door and greets them with a smile and their name, makes sure I have what I need when I leave the office, and will ask me how I'm doing and actually care.  Kindness kounts, people!!  I've seen her chat with others in the office, who are all very nice, and I have never seen any gossip or disrespect towards patients or co-workers from anyone in the office.  That's a big thing, in my opinion.  No matter what they may think or feel or what kind of day they are having, they don't burden the patients with any of it.  I can email T directly and by this point I know that if she doesn't respond with an answer very quickly, then she is not in the office.  I constantly leave my appointments very grateful that she is there, so I think the positives need to be written about along with the negatives throughout this process.  I don't dread going to the doctor and that is a BIG thing when I have had to go so often!

For those of us out there who have had to endure multiple doctors and multiple nurses and receptionists and PA's or whatnot, it is a small but very meaningful thing to find kindness among these people.  You would think it wouldn't be that hard, but I have dealt with so many people who seem put out just by the fact that they've had to answer the phone.  It makes everything that comes after that much worse.  The impression sticks with you and hopefully Dr. K knows that she has a diamond in the rough in T and the rest of her staff!