National Doctor’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect opportunity to give back to those who give to others all year long.
The holiday’s roots reach back to 1933, when Georgia-born Eudora Brown Almond, the wife of a prominent doctor, first commemorated March 30th as the day to publicly recognize physicians and their life-saving services. She chose that particular date in order to commemorate the anniversary of the day that surgical anesthesia was first administered to a patient.
Though the holiday was originally celebrated by sending thank-you cards to local doctors or placing flowers on the graves of deceased physicians, it has grown to include a variety of other methods of celebration. Below are just a few thoughtful ways you can show your appreciation for your physicians this March 30th:
- Say thanks. Not every gift requires immense preparation. Though it costs nothing, a simple, heartfelt “thank you” can mean the world to your physician.
- Host a luncheon. Arranging a potluck and preparing a variety of healthy meals or desserts is a popular way to celebrate the holiday. Encourage nurses, technicians, and other members of the hospital staff to participate in order to make the event even more special.
- Give a red carnation. Historically symbolizing love, respect, and admiration, red carnations have undoubtedly become the emblematic flower of National Doctor’s Day. A classic gesture, offering a red carnation to your physician can be a simple and charming way to show that you value their skill, hard work, and unending dedication to the community.
- Offer a service. Physicians are 15 times more likely to experience burnout than any other professional. Show your appreciation for them this year by hiring a licensed massage therapist to offer 10-minute massages at your event.
- Collect cards from patients. During the next several weeks, ask patients to compose short notes revealing their gratitude towards their physicians, and distribute the cards to the appropriate doctors on March 30th.
- Offer a day off. Many physicians work between 50 and 60 hours per week. Offering them a paid day off can be a good way to show that you respect their health and wellbeing as much as they respect yours.
- Shoot a video. Honor your community’s physicians this year by producing a video wherein patients share their healing stories or heartwarming encounters with their doctors. Make sure to send it to the respective physicians in an e-newsletter and post it on your website or social media accounts.
- Donate, or encourage others to do so. Create a website to recognize the work of physicians and invite readers to celebrate this Doctor’s Day by giving a gift to the specialty of their choice. Be sure to send personalized acknowledgements to each physician regarding contributions made in his or her name.
- Launch a new awards program. Physicians are, unfortunately, among the unsung heroes of our community. If you don’t have one already, consider launching a new clinician recognition program, recognizing physicians for their professionalism, their excellent services, their innovation in clinical care, or their work in directing grateful patients to the foundation. As a bonus, dedicate a website (or a page on your existing website) to these Clinician Champions, featuring honorees and their respective awards on the homepage.
Here at Gobel Group, we believe in the proven connection between gratitude and wellness. Showing gratitude towards your physicians and acknowledging their role in the healing process, during National Doctor’s Day and every day, will help not only the physicians but ultimately the patients who need them.
