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.

---- Maricelle Ong, MD
       Houma, La