Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News…
By Nick Ashton
In the global aspect of
things, not to get confused with the Internet of Things, respect is a keyword that
seems to have been deleted, flushed or just ignored.
We know we must respect our
parents, elderly and those who have been educated about life, so we too can
learn and pass on our gained and glean knowledge.
What the HELL happened?
When sick or afflicted, we
seek the best advice known to us, our doctors.
They are the one set of people we always turn to and seek their learned
knowledge. Why is it, once we have the
appointment or if an emergency, we fail to communicate at the most important
and precise time that direct communication is required and can be lifesaving? The doctors and nursing staff are human
beings, with two ears and eyes and training that prepares them for most
eventualities.
Let me share my experience
which has just prevailed regarding issues of health.
My local Doctor and Nurse Practitioner,
who, I only started with last December, 2015 and their office staff, could have
not been more helpful. I shall take you
on, a customer service journey of excellence.
I have not named them as the HIPPAA laws might be compromised. I do not want to upset some government nerd
to get their knickers in a twist over rare praise of the medical industry!
Spending one hour with my
doctor going over my medical issues, which by the way are ‘nothing’ compared to
most. Typical childhood issues, removal
of my appendicitis, gunshot wound, knee surgery and general coughs and
colds. He did a thorough job and
understood that my main issues was my knees, walking sitting and attempting to
play British Football each Saturday and Sunday from the comfort of my couch
with NBCSN.
It is what transpired during
that hour of heart to heart, respectful discussion that was so important. It was not a question and answer session, it
was his ability to extract information that lay beneath the surface of my past. Dwelling on statements, expanding and in a manner
that was not intrusive or mind blowing.
After all, they know what kills and maims you and they had better have the
clearest picture of YOU!
I am in a small city, New
Philadelphia, Ohio, by the way, we do not have a Cathedral as a British City is
the only place a Cathedral can built. We
could open a bar and call it the ‘The Cathedral’, think of the stories it hold.
I digress….
Being born in England, I was
use to the National Health System of the U.K., which since my birth in the late
1940’s has gone to hell in a bed pan!
This is not some fancy doctor’s
office, it is located near the local hospital and serves some 17,000
people. The difference, it is the
collective team within the practice that make a radical difference. From the reception desk to the comfort of an
examination room. It is a customer
service experience, second to none.
Well, that might be stretch as it will continue with the meeting of a ‘Scotch
Whiskey Aficionado’ orthopedic surgeon, his staff and a full hospital that have
been trained and naturally perform the best they can be.
Dr. M., Nurse Practitioner, C
and the entire staff, you changed my life and all because you listened, cared,
used your empathetic skills and all importantly, listened to what my story and
issues were.
It is all about CHANGE, yes change on how we conduct
ourselves and really care about the job we have been given and are expected to
do so every single day. Every word we
state when calling in, making that appointment, which is never at the time we
would like, but they are there for us.
Pain, is a
killer and that was my issue. No, I was
not using illicit drugs, drinking local still alcohol or smoking whacky-baccy,
I was suffering in silence with the occasional groan. It was Pain,
which the brain deals with in a very specific manner.
The brain uses 80% of its available resources to be
directed toward the pain issue. Meaning only
20% of your brain is left to do all
other functions. Like limping home on
less than four inflated tires in a rainstorm with bad wiper blades.
So when you are in pain,
stressed out for whatever reason, you are not performing in a realistic
pattern. So, in personal and business
life, you are failing those that are around you. Compromising the team's capabilities overall.
Your corporation does not pay
for just 20% of your undivided attention, does it? They own you at 100% mark, hook, line and
sinker!
Medicating only masks the
issues and is not the solution. Doubling
the dosage does not work, believe me!
Wellness on all fronts is
vital and even more so today. The
distractions of life have never been so high and we must accept the fact we are
failures to some degree.
We are not, the change for Change's sake is here and just like
communications, it can be improved upon at all levels.
Next time, we shall discuss
my knee replacement meeting with my Scot loving surgeon and how customer
service is alive and well!
Cheers…
Telephone:
USA, New Philadelphia, Ohio: +1 (330)
366.6860
Europe, Utrecht, the Netherlands: +31
611.303489
Copyright 2016
