every time i see one of my elderly patients, he comments that he can't believe i call him with his lab results. he says, " i've been going to the doctor for 80 plus years and i've never had a doctor call me. and then you say 'this is beth' and for a minute i have absolutely no idea who the heck you are!' (he also can't believe i use my first name.)
he wants to know why i make my own calls. first of all, i don't make them all. if your pap is normal or you don't have strep, someone else will call you. but mostly it will be me on the other end of the line with your results. what i want to tell him is that it is because i love him, but that is too strange to say out loud. so i tell him it is because he is my family. he shakes his head and smiles and i know he is satisfied with my answer.
As a new patient who has experienced this... I can tell you that you may never fully understand how great it feels to get that level of care from a doctor. I love that about you! :)
ReplyDeleteI am satisfied with your answers too; including the unspoken one; I do the same thing with my people and jobs--fall in love with every one. Others think it very strange, Beth. I think it’s the only way to do my best work.
ReplyDeleteO.k. now I want you to be my doctor. My doc delivered both kids and I've known her for 20 years, but I see her personally less and less.
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