Do Delhi doctors need a lesson or two from air-hostesses?
BY Tania Ameer4 Nov 2013 4:43 AM IST
Tania Ameer4 Nov 2013 4:43 AM IST
Or if the doctor could have smiled at you once while charging such exorbitant fee for common cold? Well, a renowned hospital in Delhi has now hired air-hostesses to train doctors and other staff members for a special induction course to be held weekly. The course focuses on teaching them how to handle patients, make them feel better when they come in to get treated. But there’s a hitch. Doctors are detesting this!
Medical practitioners in the national capital’s premier hospital Fortis are undergoing this compulsory induction programme. They are being trained by former air-hostesses who have worked at private airlines and are now teaching them to put their best behaviour forward while dealing with patients.
A general physician with Fortis in Gurgaon expressed shock at this induction course. She has recently joined the hospital. Dr Neeti Singh (name changed) said: ‘This induction course takes place for all new employees in the hospital. This includes doctors, nurses, human resource professionals, lab attendants and even technicians. It is done in batches over a period of two days from 9 am to 6 pm. For me, as a practising doctor, to have an air-hostess train me seems surreal. Also to be clubbed with other employees such as HR professionals is bizarre. We would rather have someone from the field of medicines to deliver lectures.’ ‘The main aim of this induction course is to advise us how to handle patients better. There are also lectures on how we should present ourselves to them,’ said the doctor.
These induction courses are organised in the hospital by a former air-hostess who has worked with two different airlines and also been with an air-hostess training academy. There are around 27-30 employees who attend this course weekly.
‘We also have other speakers who deliver lectures on management and other subjects. The main topics that are covered include – introduction to Fortis culture and behavioural aspects that are important for employees while dealing with patients,’ said Dr Singh.
When contacted, the agency handling media for Fortis refused to comment. Their representative said: ‘It won’t be possible for us to participate in the story’.
Medical practitioners in the national capital’s premier hospital Fortis are undergoing this compulsory induction programme. They are being trained by former air-hostesses who have worked at private airlines and are now teaching them to put their best behaviour forward while dealing with patients.
A general physician with Fortis in Gurgaon expressed shock at this induction course. She has recently joined the hospital. Dr Neeti Singh (name changed) said: ‘This induction course takes place for all new employees in the hospital. This includes doctors, nurses, human resource professionals, lab attendants and even technicians. It is done in batches over a period of two days from 9 am to 6 pm. For me, as a practising doctor, to have an air-hostess train me seems surreal. Also to be clubbed with other employees such as HR professionals is bizarre. We would rather have someone from the field of medicines to deliver lectures.’ ‘The main aim of this induction course is to advise us how to handle patients better. There are also lectures on how we should present ourselves to them,’ said the doctor.
These induction courses are organised in the hospital by a former air-hostess who has worked with two different airlines and also been with an air-hostess training academy. There are around 27-30 employees who attend this course weekly.
‘We also have other speakers who deliver lectures on management and other subjects. The main topics that are covered include – introduction to Fortis culture and behavioural aspects that are important for employees while dealing with patients,’ said Dr Singh.
When contacted, the agency handling media for Fortis refused to comment. Their representative said: ‘It won’t be possible for us to participate in the story’.
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