To Antler or Not To Antler

She was a peppy, middle-aged blonde woman who spoke mostly in buzz words, and was there to teach our practice how to take ‘customer service’ to the next level. And even though such seminars can’t help but take a turn towards cheesy street (“we’re creating Magic Moments for patients!”), I still love them. I think it’s the same part of me that likes QVC and Infomercials.

But when she started taking about professionalism, she said something that made me go, ‘huh’? In discussing how we need to be professional in our presentation, she mentioned that she’d seen a car in the hospital parking lot that had reindeer antlers affixed on the sides of the car. Seeing as it was Christmas season, I didn’t think this was particularly odd.

“Which is fine,” she said, “but if I saw that my doctor was riding in that car, I might start to wonder..you know...” And her voice trailed off.

I was left to think, “No, I don’t know. What do you wonder? Where else is my doctor wearing reindeer antlers?”

I wished I’d taken the time to have her clarify. “So, you’re saying reindeer antlers is to a car as what is to a doctor?” Inappropriate levity? I’m not sure what she was getting at.

Then I started thinking that it was a good thing she hadn't been at our office a few weeks prior. There was this time when I was having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad hair day. Post-partum hair woes? Don’t get me started. So as I rushed around in the morning, trying to look put together and make it out the door on time, I knew I needed help. My outside-work accessory collection leans toward whimsical. But I’m conscious of what I wear here and what I where there.

As I surveyed my headband collection, though, the one that would cover the most fly-away surface area was a black & white number with a flower/bow on top. Not a super showy flower, but you know…a touch of whimsy. And as I grabbed it and put it on my head, I thought, “to heck with it! My patient’s won’t care if I have a bow in my hair.”

But sitting in my customer service meeting, I had to re-think that. Surely someone who takes exception to antlers on a doctor's car might think similarly of a bow on a doctor's head!

And then a few weeks later, while shopping for the residents’ Christmas presents with fellow female faculty members, one of them mentioned that a resident had seen such headband and cited me as her inspiration to wear more feminine hair accessories at work. Great. “I take no responsibility for anyone else’s fashion decisions,” I laughed. “Besides, it was just a bad hair day.”

Was I leading a poor, unsuspecting resident down the road to doctor fashion faux paus? Away from professionalism? Upon further consideration, I think not!

I understand the basic principles of professionalism and of course I endorse modesty, respect and avoidance of extreme clothing in the workplace. But when I walk into a room I like to think that whatever headgear I have on, or whatever I choose to put on my car, my patients know that I’m serious about my doctoring. That the way I carry myself, the questions I ask, the way I listen, and the advice I give are the things that determine a patient’s assessment of my doctoring skill. And I hope that my patient's know that I always take them seriously, even if I don't always take myself so seriously. Meaning, not so serious as to be opposed to a bow in my hair or flowers on my ears. Or, the occasional sassy pair of shoes.

So if I had my comment card to fill out again, I might politely suggest a different example for her professionalism lecture. Thigh-high boots or tie-dyed shirts perhaps?

But antlers on a car (not even a head!) as a cause for concern? Come on now, doctors should be allowed to have a little fun.

**I’d love to hear your thoughts...if you’d seen your doctor in that festive car, would you have high tailed it outta there?**