This month, I had the good fortune of working with 30 neurosurgeons at the University of South Florida. I was so impressed by these individuals; even though they worked on the head, they were all heart! They were eager to learn more about putting others at ease and honoring everyone they come in contact with. Co-workers, patients, families of patients, lead physicians, and support staff, the average medical professional sees a variety of people every day.
When speaking to medical teams about office protocol and professional etiquette, some of my favorite topics are:
1) Body Language – What are you saying?
2) First Impressions – Making first impressions that last
3) The Art of Greeting – Gracefully meeting and greeting patients
4) Tech Etiquette – Matching your technology with kindness
5) Professional Dress – Showcasing professionalism through your wardrobe
This month is Neurosurgery Outreach Month. For millions of school-age children, returning to school also means returning to competitive sports. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is bringing awareness to head injury prevention. As parents, coaches, and administrators, we should all be taking proper precautions to protect our children. Regardless of age, sport, or competitive level, everyone is susceptible to concussions and head injuries.
According to the AANS, 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries for American children occur during sports and recreational activities. And, nationally about 62,000 concussions occur during high school contact sports. Here are a few tips we can enforce, as parents and coaches, to protect our young athletes and honor Neurosurgery Outreach Month.
- Prioritize headgear. Don’t let children participate in the following sports without correctly fitted headgear: Football, hockey, baseball and softball (batting), cycling, horseback riding, skateboards, skiing, and wrestling.
- Check for depth and debris before diving in water. Don’t allow diving in water less than 12 feet deep.
- Avoid unpaved and uneven surfaces when skateboarding, skating, or biking.
- Dispose of protective gear that has been damaged.
- Use extra precaution when children are playing. Thousands of head injuries occur each year during recreational activities. According to the AANS the top danger zones are swimming pools (15,363 injuries), swing sets (13,918 injuries), and monkey bars (12,700 injuries).
- Instruct children not to slide headfirst when stealing a base.
- Risk of injury increases if your child is ill or tired. Communicate with your child to see if they are feeling well before heading to practice.
- Younger children often come to older siblings rehearsals, practices, and game days. Make sure to supervise younger kids around equipment that may be around.
- The highest number of head injuries among children 14 and younger are cycling, football, baseball/softball, basketball, and skateboarding/scooters.
- Know the signs of a concussion and don’t hesitate to contact your doctor if you see them in your children. Symptoms include confusion, headache, dizziness, nausea/vomiting, ringing ears, impaired balance, sensitivity to light, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating.
If you are a medical professional, you already know the importance of taking precautions during youth sports and the dangers head injuries present. As a physician, specialist, or part of an office staff, it’s important for your patients to feel safe and supported. Interactions like greeting new patients, answering phone calls, and communicating medical details are opportunities to build trust with patients. I love connecting with medical professionals and teaching simple business and social etiquette techniques to their teams! It truly doesn’t matter if your office practices family medicine, dental, or emergency care. Building a positive culture, established in trust and respect, will let your patients (and staff) know you care for them!
