Question: What do doctors and Disneyland have in common?
Answer: Me! They both have me!
Actually, let’s be more accurate; one had me, and now the other one does.
Which one is better off is a whole other question.
I spent about 2 years there,
in the outdoor vending department.
(ODV! I’d like to flash the appropriate gang sign right about now, but there isn’t one. Maybe pixie dust thrown into the air could suffice)
I sold miscellaneous items like popcorn, balloons, and ice cream shaped like Micky Mouse. It was a carefree time (think the happy Snowman in Frozen. That was me).
But there’s so much more to my experience than just the merch. And a snowman metaphor.
I learned life lessons.
Those Disneyland years left me with invaluable skills; ones which I imagine could make the practice of medicine SO much better. Maybe even help us beat the burnout that’s infected our field.
My @Disneyland years left me w/invaluable life skills; ones which I imagine could make the practice of medicine SO much better. Maybe even help us beat the burnout that's infected our field. #SoMeDocs Click To Tweet
Front and center is the happiness factor.
The happiest place on Earth was truly exactly that. It wasn’t just a gimmick. To me, at least. It was words by which we, the cast members (that’s what they called the employees) – lived.
Just the mere name that was given to us, shows you just how inclusive it felt. We weren’t just workers. We were a part of the ‘cast’, and we were ‘members’. To consider yourself as part of a team does so much good to any person’s ego. It simply works.
But the people who visit the grounds are what truly matter to he business of Disney. And they get it right. Just stand at the entrance to the park and watch face by face light up, as each one shoves through that shiny silver turn-style.
That kind of happiness is a contagious happiness. You stand and watch, and you soak in the palpable excitement. It simply makes you feel good all around.
Just stand at the @Disneyland entrance & watch face by face light up, as each one shoves through that shiny silver turn-style. That kind of #happiness is contagious. Medicine should be delivered exactly like this. #SoMeDocs Click To Tweet
Arriving at a Magical Medical Practice:
Imagine the magical medical practice that could blossom using the very tactics I picked up at Disneyland.
In fact, don’t imagine it. I’ll spell it out for you here on the blog (in fact, I’m writing up the post this very moment!) and set the scene up for you.
We need this setup now, more than ever, with healthcare breaking into bits. Not sure why it’s breaking? Subscribe to the blog and you’ll receive tidbits of my own experience and interpretation (peppered in between the fun, carefree, and completely non-medical posts I publish).
Here’s why patients need a little bit of Disney sprinkled in to their medical visit:
A patient coming to see the doctor at the office is basically looking for compassion. They’re hoping – more than anything – for a smooth encounter, along with resolution of symptoms. No one would argue with that.
It’s basically like the visitors I welcomed into Disney. They were looking for a smooth day, filled with smiles.
Because we wanted to deliver, we adopted an attitude, as cast members, that focused on the visitors, and we stayed true to our roles throughout the day. It was all about them; our ‘guests‘. The aim was to make them not only feel good while there, but also have the best, most memorable, time.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could do that for patients visiting us at the office, too?
But now, I’d like to propose just how we can. So Stay tuned.