Recognizing Good Deeds

Awhile back I attended a "mandatory" meeting at the corporate office. This was one of those meetings where The Authorities waste an entire day telling us stuff they could have easily emailed or faxed or handled in a "mandatory" conference call. 

Since they've made everyone come to these meetings, they find things to use up the time allotted. One thing they do to fill up the day is recognize a few people and pat them on the back for a job well done. And I suppose that's a good thing, especially for the ego of the people getting the recognition.

"We'd like to recognize Dr. Mary Goodypharm, the staff pharmacist out in Ruraltown. A recent email from a customer writes how Dr. Goodypharm went out of her way to deliver a medication to a customer who couldn't come down to the pharmacy. This is exactly the kind of pharmacists we need at Goofmart Pharmacy. Let's all give Mary a round of applause."

The Authorities went on for a good 15-20 minutes highlighting the good deeds of various pharmacists in our state's Goofmart network. People applauded. We're all one big happy fleet.

And you know what, they are good deeds. They deserve recognition, for sure.

But it also occurred to me... for every story and good deed I heard that day... every instance and example of going "up and beyond" the normal call of the pharmacist... well, not to toot my own horn, but I've done all the same things myself at my pharmacy. None of my patients (to me, they're patients, not customers) sent in a thank you for my good deeds, and that's ok because I wasn't seeking recognition anyway. It's just part of my job.

The real point I'm getting at is that The Authorities must not be aware that we have all gone out of our way in one way or another for our patients. I'm not anyone special. I'm just your regular old boring pharmacist like most every other boring pharmacist out there. I've stuck my neck out for people, delivered medications to homes of elderly ladies who can't drive. I've driven all over town to pick up a medication at another Goofmart for someone in dire need. I've opened early. I've stayed late. I've called and fought with doctors and insurance in behalf of patients. I've personally saved lives, and sometimes without the patient even knowing it. And so has every other pharmacist and pharmacy technician.

We all need recognition as professionals, as part of a healthcare team, as the final and crucial step in the safety chain to protect and counsel patients. If you're a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, I know you've done a lot more than you've been asked to do.

We all deserve recognition. So let me say THANK YOU for all that you do, in secret, behind the scenes, or without any other recognition.