Empathy

Since entering private practice almost two years ago, I’ve taken it upon myself to call every surgical patient the day after their surgery.  Why?  Because most patients that I operate on have not had eyelid, eye socket, or tear drain surgery before.  It can be very reassuring to patients to have some simple questions about their postoperative course answered by the operating surgeon.  All of these postoperative patients can reach me at any point on my mobile phone.  And all calls about my patients that come through my practice’s call center after hours are directed to me, and not the doctor on call in the practice.

My responsibility as a surgeon does not end when the patient leaves the operating room, and all of my patients know that I will personally shepherd them through the postoperative process to optimize their outcomes.