I forgot to mention in my post about the small bags of candy. I always opened them and kept a few pieces and then gave them to the staff, tellling them that I didn't need all the pounds, (the truth) and would they please share the bag among themselves. AND...when I went home from the hospital, I took time to write a nice thank you note to the nursing staff and one to the phy therapy dept telling them how much I appreciated their care of me while I was there. AND...I took the time in the form of a short letter to express my graditude to the young emergency room doctor for his correct diagnosis of the fractures. I told him we were extremely lucky to have a doctor of his caliber in this small town. And I do feel that way.

Billye

I'm on the side of the goodies, but not going overboard with them. More than that, if a nurse or receptionist treats you particularly well, a thank you note to the DOCTOR, commending his nurse, means a huge amount.

A good thank you note is also quite sufficient and really appreciated.

Does it depend on the circumstances or the office or hospital situation?
The times I've brought gifts of food and the like it's always been readily at times greedily received...So I thought. Now does that mean I have to re-think how I can show simple appreciation for a good support staff? Not just the docs but the staff that are the ones that often times are the ones making the doc more accessabile and any billing/records/appointment issues soo much easier? Those staff people are MY heroes at times, often important times...How can I be PC and thank them appropriately? IF not food, How then? I mean, it's OK for drug reps to come to offices and 'bring lunch' for the whole office...we certainly can't do that.....nor should that be solicitated of patients...but...

I really want to show appreciation, as does Kmeb, to the folks, all the right folks who really do GOOD by/to us, the patients. Any and all perspectives/input is really appreciated! I for one, feel more confused now than before! Is it a hospital, therapy, testing, professional office/site thing that determines the protocol? - j

In my case I beleive that any doctor who treated me with respect & courtesy and didn't dismiss me as a head case because I have a "difficult to diagnose illness", deserves the biggest milk chocolate chip cookie I can get my hands on.

But I know it's not always appropriate to give or receive. Administrators,regulators,and policy makers generally tend to be more cautious because they have to. Lower level staff are in the trenches and probably would take a small offering at face value.

Though I must say I had an auntie who used food and gifts as a way to manipulate doctors and nurses. She was a known "doctor shopper", and lived off of free samples of just about everything. She became a major pill addict well into her 70's as a result. Doctor's could not resist her,and nobody could imagine that this sweet little old lady was a major pill popper.

She used to show us the pills she "scored", with such pride like she was showing you her wedding photos.

Needless to say it was really weird!

The simplest and most well received is a sincere THANK YOU - both in person and/or an appropriately addressed note/card.

kmeb I was wondering the same exact thing as I am also in the middle of a SSDI case I was going to send my rheumy a thank you card for Father's Day, maybe I will wait till after the fact as see if he really helps! My pysch doc has already agreed to fill out papers with me together at our next appt....she works out of a huge beautiful home on a river...she is one of a kind...but i was thinking maybe best to do the card thing, and or depending on your relationship with the office and staff go from your heart. I don't want to appear bribing either...it is a tough time....good luck to you! I am in Md. I heard parts of California had new guidelines for ssdi they are testing in areas as well as some other states...hope your'e not in that group! I always do want to thank people who help me....and lately its been the medical profession. They know me by name at our local xray/mri place!

When i was a nurse the candy kept me awake and moving. (Nightshift)
ER got very busy at night,i promise we never had the time to eat over
your sweet Aunty. But it helped when we didn't have time to eat.energy.
I wouldn't ant anyone to drop a candybar in or on me. Sue

My doctor knows what I do for a living,and my parents. As a result he charges me the "long" consultation fees even if I have been there just 10 minutes.

I turn a blind eye because he's a really good doctor,but I know he thinks I make money.

I only need show him my mortgages,and I'm sure that would correct his behaviour.

for all the responses and ideas everone... I'm getting it does seem to make a difference on the circumstance... I notice a difference in my docs offices staff and the "climate" - some staffs are very loyal and have no turnover - others super high turnover and when you see that - usually mean not getting motivation they need to continue in the jobs...

The review I'm going thru I received very short notice (on purpose) - and I've had to contact every doc I have - and I've made sure to thank every person verbally that handled my records and got them to me so quickly..... and they know I appreciate it.... and I dont want to seem to try to influence the doc statements in any way (they are separate forms that have to be filled out only by doc) so its a tight line..... and right now I'm being very careful to not do anything like that.... going forward though will think of maybe little occasional "treat" and t-u note to doc when someone does go above and beyond.....

As for hospital situations - I've had frends show up to visit me in the hospital with food for the whole staff (their idea) and it was gobbled up asap.... but thats a different type atmosphere and in my case anyway, was well received (I'm sure the docs never knew about it)......

Sounds to me therefore like the circunstances really can dictate the gratitutdes extended....

I never regarded any one who brought treats or gifts negatively. I didn't regard people who did not bring treats or gifts negatively.

If it makes YOU feel better, I think that is what is important....hungry staffers snarf up any treats; and cards and balloons or however you choose to show your appreciation, is appreciated too.

A simple thank you on a bad day can make a huge difference!