A few years ago I was visiting a seriously ill friend in the hospital, and during my visit someone came into the room with a service dog, a greyhound, and my friend’s face lit up, and the dog climbed onto the bed and lay against her.  I could see the stress drain from my friend’s face.  It was a beautiful thing.

Just this last weekend I met a pediatric dentist who employs the same comforting approach with her patients.  She has a service dog, approved for medical use just as the greyhound was that I met years earlier.  The dog climbs onto children’s laps, and the effect is profound, as you can imagine.  I was in awe.

So my question to you is, what are you doing to make your patients more comfortable?  Because if they are less apprehensive, they are more receptive to treatment, and they also comprehend it better.  But also, it makes the experience of your practice memorable, and personal.

There are so many simple ways to put your patients at ease, such as:

• pashminas, or some similar, washable blanket (you can even have them in plastic bags like the airlines)
• hot towels
• have a panic button (the one that stops the drill–don’t know what it’s called–patients almost never use it, but it relaxes them)
• use lighted loupes instead of the overhead light shining in their eyes
• have reception beverages available
• comfortable furniture, maybe even a massage chair

I’m sure you have your own ideas, and I’d love to hear them and share them with other readers here. But be conscious that a little comfort goes a long way.  And it gives you something to put on Facebook!

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