Saying "Thank you, Doc!"
A few weeks ago, a mama wrote to ask for your experiences with CAT scans for the urbanTots. She emailed us with an update, and also seeks suggestions on ways they can show their gratitude to their doctor:
This is an update from the post a few weeks ago about my 7 month old getting a CAT Scan. Everything went well and he has turned out to be completely fine but we did have to spend a couple of days in the hospital and had to go through a bit of an ordeal. But during the whole process, our pediatrician was absolutely wonderful and went above and beyond what I would ever have expected in a Dr. I am so very thankful for her. Now my question is, I want to get her a thank you present but have no clue what? Any suggestions from urbanMamas? Or any Dr's out there that have recieved great or awful gifts that can share their experience? Thank you!
With each baby, I bought our favorite labor & delivery nurses a gift certificate for a massage. I figured they had given me such comfort during a difficult time that I wanted them to be compensated in kind.
Posted by: Kady | October 25, 2007 at 07:18 PM
Ithink a nice thoughtful thank you note would be sufficient. Imagine if the expectation was that all patients gave gifts to their doctors when they were doing a good job....I think they have very difficult jobs and in most cases are well compensated. But I think no one ever gets tired of being thanked. As a social worker, when I get a thank you said, or a thank you note from a patient or a family member telling me that something I did made a difference to them, it brings tears to my eyes, and I really feel that I did a good job. Words are much better than items any day.
Posted by: debby | October 25, 2007 at 07:51 PM
If you want to do something more than a thank you card (which is a great idea just by itself), a nice batch of cookies or some flowers are always well received. If the doc doesn't want them, I am sure her staff would appreciate the gesture. I sent cookies to the nurses after the (traumatic) birth of my son, as well as my OB's office. Most of them thanked me for the gesture.
Posted by: J in Beaverton | October 25, 2007 at 08:55 PM
I wrote a thank you note and baked brownies for my son's doctor. The brownies were a huge hit, especially in the middle of the week. I wrote these brownies are a small token of the gratitude our family has for your work, time, patiences and going above and beyond.
Good luck.
Posted by: Chrissy | October 26, 2007 at 07:28 AM
I gave my midwife a little gift bag with tea, honey and chocolates and a nice thank you note. She told me later how much it meant to her. A small gift (and not expensive) but a nice gesture. I think it's important to thank people - if only in an email or note- for the heart they put into their jobs!
Posted by: scotti | October 26, 2007 at 08:07 AM
Years ago, when my now 7 year old was 6 months old, I went to a new parent group at Kaiser. Our group leader was an amazing woman. As our kids outgrew the class we wanted, as a group, to thank her. We sent a letter to her supervisor/head of department. It was well timed because she ended up getting a much wanted promotion. Your thank you may not lead to a promotion but a thank you note in your doctors file will be a long lasting gesture they will remember - and if you bake cookies/brownies are always appreciated. Another idea would be to make a donation in your doctors name(s).
Posted by: Lori | October 26, 2007 at 09:05 AM
Here's our Mother Tree list for Ten ways to thank your provider. Our's is birth related but you can customize.
1. Recommend her!
2. Share your story with other mamas!
2. Post your thoughts at urbanmamas: http://urbanmamas.typepad.com/urbanmamas/2006/05/could_you_recom.html
3. A massage gift certificate (highly recommend for all of your support team--including mama)
4. Baby-Mama Art is delightful
5. A thank you card with your baby announcement is always appreciated
6. A spa treatment
7. Something of your own design or talent -- here's a list from some creative parents in the past (a beautiful hand-made skirt; a luscious body-beauty products basket; a home winterizing; fung shui consultation; two month supply of coffee; a knit set of leg-hand warmers)
8. Dinner out (since she's often missing meals while at prenatal visits and births)
9. Chocolate! Sweet and Caffeinated. Either provides a cheerful buzz for that next all-night birth. Need we say more?
10. A gratuity is always accepted with gratitude
From,
Mother Tree Doula Services
Posted by: Jesse | October 26, 2007 at 02:43 PM
I think flowers are always appreciated. Who doesn't love a beautiful bouquet of delightful blooms?
Another great thank you gift for teachers, care givers, doctors, hair dressers etc.. is a gift card for a service. It doesn't have to be expensive. Even a gift card for a nice car wash is a great 'fat free' clutter free gift!
Posted by: Kristi | October 26, 2007 at 02:56 PM
Whatever you do, check into the gift giving policy at the Dr.'s office / Hospital most all larger places have them and they vary widely... They might not be able to accept gifts over a certain value.
Posted by: Lisa | October 27, 2007 at 09:22 PM