PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS EXTEND BEYOND THE CHAIR

PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS are what make me the optometrist I am today. I have built many during my 24 years of practice. Each one important. Each one changing how I continue to practice. Each one making me a better optometrist. Each one making me a better person.

My goal in practice is to have a connection with each and every patient. It’s because of these connections that I do what I do. The following is about one of these patient interactions.

GUARDIAN ANGEL

Recently, I had a gentleman and his grandchildren present for comprehensive eye examinations. While I was talking to him during case history, he said he hadn’t had an exam since his son was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010. He disclosed that his son was a United States Marine who was killed during his deployment in Operation Enduring Freedom. The gentleman’s son sacrificed his life for my freedom. A noble act. At this point, I found it necessary to tell him a brief story about my son.

I explained to him that my 17-year-old son, Reilly, enlisted in the Marine Corps in June. I said that Reilly is very patriotic and has a passion to serve. He is attending the Aerospace Academy at his high school and was a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. Reilly is scheduled to ship to Parris Island July 8. An instant connection was made.

After the exam, the gentleman told me he wanted to give something to my son. At that moment, he removed the ever-so-familiar chain around his neck that contained his son’s dog tags. He explained that he wanted Reilly to have them. He said my son would have a guardian angel.

That night I repeated the story to Reilly, and the first thing he did was put the chain around his neck. He is proud to wear them; so proud that he researched this young marine and found that he is buried at the National Cemetery in Jacksonville. Reilly explained to me that he wanted to visit the cemetery and pay his respects.

INDELIBLE IMPACT

I do what I do because of this story and thousands of others like them that I have heard throughout my career. Sometimes, these connections can go beyond the exam room. We may have an impact on our patients, but our patients certainly have an impact on us. I could not imagine doing anything else. I have explained to each one of my sons that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. OM

DR. HAY is an optometrist at Crystal Clear Eye Associates of Florida, P.A., in Jacksonville, Fla. Dr. Hay is a member of the AOA and the Florida Optometric Association and enjoys writing about optometry. He graduated from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis.