Doctors’ Day

One of my CEOs sent a wonderful letter to his medical staff thanking them for making his hospital “a great place to be a patient.” He shared the accomplishments of the past year that were only made possible by the dedicated physicians. The letter was not only short and sincere, but also very powerful and memorable. I’d like to share a portion of the letter written by Dr. Larry Weinrauch, a Massachusetts board-certified Internist specializing in cardiovascular disease, on becoming a physician:

Becoming a doctor is not an accident, luck or fate. It doesn’t just happen. One doesn’t just get a “calling,” put a hand on a rock and become a “healer.” …it takes hard work to learn … and to observe the world objectively. It takes … so much knowledge to be crammed into the head that it feels often like it will explode. It takes the confidence of my parents who pushed me to achieve and their support to continue. It takes persistence in the face of adversity, and for me, the support of the love of my life, … The juvenile desire to be the one to “cure cancer” has been replaced by the need to learn the things that are known, define the things that we don’t know, appreciate areas in which our “knowledge” is wrong and lessen areas of which we are totally unaware. … good medical care is a collaborative effort between doctor and patient. Both want the patient to do well, but speak to each other from different chairs and experience. … Thus, confusion, error, and in the era of the short patient visit, neither physician nor patient can be content with the encounter.

History of Doctors’ Day

The first Doctors’ Day observance was held on March 30, 1933 by the Barrow County Auxiliary in Winder, Georgia. The idea of setting aside a day to honor physicians was conceived by Eudora Brown Almond, wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond. The recognition occurred on the anniversary of the first administration of anesthesia by Dr. Crawford W. Long in Barrow County, Georgia in 1842.
Through the years, a red carnation has been used as the symbol of Doctors’ Day.
On March 30, 1958, the Resolution Commemorating Doctors’ Day was adopted by the United States House of Representatives. On October 30, 1990, President George Bush signed S.J. RES. #366 (which became Public Law 101-473) designating March 30 as National Doctors’ Day.

What Would Your Medical Staff say?

If I surveyed your medical staff today, how would they describe ways that you and your organization have demonstrated appreciation through your kind words and actions? When I say action, I mean making their experience with your organization consistently efficient, hassle-free, and reliable. Remember, words of gratitude are FREE!

What are your plans to reach out to your physicians and demonstrate your appreciation on Doctors’ Day?