Note from the CCDS Coordinator: Do you know who I am?

by Penny Richards

Scenario: You find yourself in the company of a physician you haven’t formally met, but for whom you have left queries (or may in the future). You’re in line behind the doc in the cafeteria or riding the elevator together, and you’re aware this is a great opportunity to say “Hello” and introduce yourself. What should you do?

I hope you put your hand out and start a conversation.

You don’t have to turn it into a big teaching moment. In fact, this might be the wrong moment to try that. Chances are the physician in front of you is lost in thought. Instead, make it a pleasant exchange.

“Hello, you’re Dr. Murphy, right? I’m Penny Richards, I work in the CDI department. I’ve sent you a few queries in the past. I just wanted to introduce myself and say ‘Hello’!”

Make eye contact. Smile. Don’t ask for anything business-related. Don’t ask the status of a pending query.

Keep this first face-to-face meeting upbeat and positive.  If the physician transitions to a business conversation, then by all means, follow—but let him or her take the lead.

Pass your few moments together with light conversation. End your time together with something simple, such as “I’m glad I had a chance to meet you. I look forward to talking with you again.”

Remember: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Ask yourself how you’d like to be greeted? With “Do you know who I am?” or with “Hello, you may not know me, I’m Penny Richards and I’m happy to meet you!”

This easy-in-easy-out greeting style is a great way to establish yourself with the clinical team as someone who is non-confrontational and open to having a conversation rather than an argument.

It’s also a great way to set yourself up to roll out your “Five-Minute Speech” at your next encounter. More on that in a future post.

Editor's note: Richards is the CCDS Coordinator for ACDIS. Contact her at prichards@acdis.org.