Finances

Be a Great Doctor–Even on Down Days

By Cheryl G. Murphy, OD

Every person in every profession, whether they are a business owner or an employee, has had a bad day–and optometrists are not immune. What matters is finding a way to combat the tornado of terrible that the day has become and bounce back from it.

The notoriously grumpy patient stomps in. The online contact lens buyer insists you are out to scam them. The precarious patient is back requesting that you check their new prescription for the fourth time. We have all had patients who test our patience. In addition to them throwing a wrench in your day, perhaps you worked through lunch. The phone won’t stop ringing. Your front desk staff called in sick. Your equipment is malfunctioning and you’re about to have a meltdown.

Relax. Take a deep breath. It’s just one bad day. Keep these five strategies in mind for the next time you experience the mother load of all bad days.

Get through it. Some days your schedule is packed, and maybe it’s with your not-so-favorite patients, but you have to persevere. Think about tomorrow and other days you have had that were not this hectic. This is just one out of 365 days in a year, and the good news is however crazy your shift is, it will eventually come to an end.

Stay calm. Do your best not to lose your cool in front of staff and in front of patients. Drink water, send for coffee or have a lunch delivered and take five-minute breaks or whatever you can spare to center yourself and just breathe behind closed doors.

Lean on others. If there is staff working with you that day, ask for their help. Even if they don’t usually help you with a particular task, ask if they can help you with it just for today.

Prioritize the work. Prioritize what must be done now over what should be done now over what could be done now. Maybe you won’t get to assembling a chart for a new patient today. Or confirming that 1-800 contact lens message just yet. Or writing that report to your patient’s endocrinologist. That’s OK. Let it go. Revisit the task later when things slow down or when you have more time to tie up loose ends tomorrow.

Go home. Remember what really matters. Connect with your loved ones and friends. Share your trials and tribulations with a sympathetic ear. Also, remember why you chose optometry as a career. Think about the people you have helped over the years who stand out in your mind the most. If you save thank-you letters and cards nice patients have written you, go through them and re-read them.

What you are doing makes a difference and one bad day was just that, one bad day. It does not define you, so don’t let it.

What strategies do you use to combat bad days? What tips do you have for preventing them? How do you handle a fully booked patient schedule and a bad day? What is the best way you have found to relieve stress at work?

Cheryl G. Murphy, OD, practices in Holbrook, NY. You can like her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @murphyod. To contact her: murphyc2020@gmail.com.

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