In recent years, the week of Valentine’s Day has become known as Random Act of Kindness Week. I love the idea, but why limit it to a week? Why not do it sporadically throughout the year? And why not try it out at work? As healthcare professionals, we are increasingly evaluated based on the patient experience and the service we provide. Why not go the extra mile from time to time? It will probably brighten your day, too.
Here are a few ideas:
- Send a personal, handwritten note to a patient who recently visited your office and shared some sort of exciting news — could be a milestone birthday, a new grandchild, completing a race, achieving a weight loss goal, etc. The list is endless. It takes just 5 minutes of your time, but think of the difference it might make in that patient’s day.
- Bring in a special treat for your staff “just because” and thank them for all they do.
- Keep an umbrella on hand and offer to walk a patient to his/her car on a rainy day.
- Have a stressed out mom in your waiting room with a cranky child? Why not keep some $5 gift cards on hand for the local coffee shop and as you call her back, acknowledge you can see she is having a rough day, give her a card and tell her you hope her day gets better (i.e., “perk” up her day).
- Are you a surgeon or work in a hospital environment? Why not surprise the nurses or surgical staff you work with and depend on every day with an unexpected delivery of pizzas, bagels or custom cookies from a local bakery? Or hand out handwritten thank-you cards with a coffee shop gift card enclosed.
- Call one of your top referral souces and just say thank you and let them know how much you appreciate their trust in you and working in partnership with them to care for patients.
What are your favorite random acts of kindness ideas or experiences?