Apologies Are Appreciated
Apologies and appreciation can work wonders for both patient and physician. One afternoon at our noon-to-5 clinic, a flood of patients arrived all at once at 4:00. Most had to wait more than an hour to be seen, and they appeared tired. When I entered the examining room, I apologized for the long wait and thanked them for their patience. Their faces were immediately transformed.
Apologies and appreciation can work wonders for both patient and physician. One afternoon at our noon-to-5 clinic, a flood of patients arrived all at once at 4:00. Most had to wait more than an hour to be seen, and they appeared tired. When I entered the examining room, I apologized for the long wait and thanked them for their patience. Their faces were immediately transformed.
---- Maricelle Ong, MD
Houma, La
