Karen Hickman
Karen Hickman is a health care executive.
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Physician voices

While visiting a family member in the hospital recently, I noticed the unkempt attire of one of the lab people coming in to draw blood. As she knelt down to better reach my family member’s arm, I noticed her scrub…
While visiting a family member in the hospital recently, I noticed the unkempt attire of one of the lab people coming in to draw blood. As she knelt down to better reach my family member’s arm, I noticed her scrub pants were frayed and dirty from her walking on them.
Shortly after I made note of this, one of her co-workers came in the room to see …
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What is essential professional dress in health care?
Physician voices

Patients forming an opinion of your practice are doing so in a matter of seconds. And some of the latest research on first impressions, suggest that it may even be within the blink of an eye. Regardless of the length…
Patients forming an opinion of your practice are doing so in a matter of seconds. And some of the latest research on first impressions, suggest that it may even be within the blink of an eye. Regardless of the length of time, first impressions are powerful and very difficult to reverse. So, if a patient has formed a bad opinion of you and your staff, during the first point of …
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Make a good impression on your patients. Here’s how.
Patient voices
There are a lot of frustrated and unhappy people out there when it comes to their perception of health care today. The contemporary practice of medicine is changing, rapidly, and those changes have been a challenge for patients and physicians…
There are a lot of frustrated and unhappy people out there when it comes to their perception of health care today. The contemporary practice of medicine is changing, rapidly, and those changes have been a challenge for patients and physicians alike. The list of reasons for this is lengthy. Certainly physicians and hospitals are finding it difficult at times to meet all the changes and demands put on them, by …
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Be your own patient advocate. Here’s how.
Physician voices

A few years ago I was engaged by the director of a residency program in my community to teach the program residents table manners. Now, you may wonder why medical residents need to know how to navigate a dining table…
A few years ago I was engaged by the director of a residency program in my community to teach the program residents table manners. Now, you may wonder why medical residents need to know how to navigate a dining table gracefully. But good table manners are a must for professionals in any arena.
The director of the program stated that she felt some …
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Table manners for physicians: 30 tips for better dining etiquette
Patient voices
Over the years, many people have shared with me their disappointment at the lack of acknowledgment from their physician when their loved one died. Especially, when their loved one had been a long time patient of the physician. In fact,…
Over the years, many people have shared with me their disappointment at the lack of acknowledgment from their physician when their loved one died. Especially, when their loved one had been a long time patient of the physician. In fact, many people have shared that they switched physicians because of what they perceived as a slight.
When people go to a physician for many years, especially the family physician, it is …
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What to do when your patient dies
Patient voices
I believe that when people are in a crisis situation small things can become magnified; good and bad, and especially in the healthcare field. A perceived small rudeness may just be the tipping point that causes a patient to leave…
I believe that when people are in a crisis situation small things can become magnified; good and bad, and especially in the healthcare field. A perceived small rudeness may just be the tipping point that causes a patient to leave a practice or go to another hospital. On the other hand, a smile, a kind word or gesture can impact someone more than you will ever know and leave a …
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