Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a terrible hospital experience. Ever felt ignored or neglected as a patient?
Now I realize that hospital staff, like teachers, are unfairly expected to act as if every person’s problems is the most critical, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea for some hospitals or hospital staff to examine themselves and consider if they are using proper etiquette and social skills when dealing with patients. Sylvia Stulz, my friend’s step-mother, pushed hospitals and doctors to do just that.
Sylvia passed away this summer. Her life’s work involved working with autistic children, but towards the end she turned her energy towards hospitals and their reception of patients. I appreciate that she took the time and energy to express herself eloquently to hospital administrations again and again to affect change for all of us. There is a lovely article about Silvia in the Washington Post here.