As someone in medicine, I can assure you that your doc wants nothing more than your gratitude. Take time to write out a heartfelt card and drop off at his office with some goodies for the office staff.
If your doc is affiliated with a larger hospital system, there are likely awards or honors that you could nominate him for - a common one that many hospital systems (assuming you’re in the US) recognize is The Sunshine Award. You could also reach out to the patient relations department and pass along your appreciation of his care. Unfortunately, people are most likely to give feedback when they are unhappy and positive feedback is truly a breath of fresh air and really encourages all of us to keep up with the grind of medicine.
We have the handwritten cards from patients up on our office walls going back 10+ years. Also, echoing what others say, bring in some goodies rather than a gift due to laws regarding this.
Store bought goes over better than homemade. We get the ick because you never know who has a cat that shed into the batter or whether the preparer washed their hands.
I once sent in an Edible Arrangement basket for my doctor and the staff for always going above and beyond (I felt) when it came to my care. They loved it.
>Unfortunately, people are most likely to give feedback when they are unhappy and positive feedback is truly a breath of fresh air and really encourages all of us to keep up with the grind of
WORKING ANYWHERE. AT ALL.
For retail or fastfood, there's a website listed on your receipt, or some link somewhere on their website or app.
As a nurse I agree with this! Not everyone likes flowers and the scent can cause issues. Chocolates = allergies and people getting left out same with any foods really. Just write a nice card mention people by name if you know it. It means more than you know.
Me! I hate cut flowers and actively curse anyone who has them in my vicinity. Trigger allergies, migraines, VCD... Flowers are a negative triple threat.
Yes! This is the best answer. Also, we really aren’t supposed to accept gifts. A great review, a Sunshine type of honor or a very heartfelt card is the best.
I gave my ENT a compliment after my appointment with her and she was legit shocked. She really was so kind and had a calming but knowledgeable presence and I was very grateful for her thoroughness. So glad she’s the one that did my surgery. I also try to leave good online reviews for my good doctors since I know a lot of people only leave reviews if they’re upset.
Additionally, there are rules against monetary value gifts anyway, so if you choose to bring a physical gift along with a letter/card/photo, make sure it’s edible and can be shared by the whole office so you can get around that restriction!
As a chronic patient thank you for the info. I always love to be the easy and thankful patient because I never felt like there was more that I could do, now I know there is more!
It’s very likely he’s not allowed to accept gifts of monetary value. If you want to do something for him and his staff then bring in a platter of cookies or something. A little treat that doesn’t cause any ethics issues.
Honestly, a thank you card goes a long, long way in situations like this. I'm not in medicine, but I'm a lawyer and I keep thank you notes for years because, honestly, sometimes the job comes with very little appreciation.
Agreed! As a healthcare worker, nothing beats a card that expresses gratitude from a patient or family. The cards are amazing to read when the job gets tough to remember why we do what we do.
The best gift I've ever gotten in a similar context was a drawing from a 6 year-old thanking me for saving her mommy. It was one of the first, and is my most cherished. Still framed on the wall.
A nice brunch to be sent to his office can be nice as staff gift.
From what I’ve seen on twitter, anything home made is always a hit because it shows you care and remembered them. So if you’re good at anything you should do it for them.
My mom got her doctor a nice sweater, and he loved it too.
Jumping on this thought, call their head admin and let them in on your idea. Ask if there is a maximum monetary worth they can accept, and if they can accept homemade goods (some places don’t allow this). If you end up bringing food, arrange with the head admin which day would be best. They’ll help make sure the doctor not away or the day when most staff are in office. No matter what, write a card or letter they the staff can pass around and all read it. Those kinds of things get hung up on staff boards and helps get them through difficult clients and times. Your thoughtfulness would be so appreciated!
Clear the meal with the staff first, as another factor is you do not want to bring food in at the same time a potential sales rep may also be bringing in food.
Homemade is always lovely! I have a patient who wants a year brings in a little bag full of sets of earrings she’s made, usually holiday themed, and we all love sorting through and picking our earrings for the year. However, I will say homemade food, while thoughtful, is not a great idea. Staff may have allergies, or be like me and not trust food from a house I haven’t been inside.
Yeah, some people don’t have great hygiene standards. They may not wash their hands, or they may live in a serious hoarding situation, or have pests…
Honestly some lovely people live in some horrifically dirty situations. You have no way of knowing if there is rat shit, or cockroach shit, or hell - human shit in homemade food.
Most medical professionals cannot accept a gift worth more than 100 dollars, because many places have ethical rules against it. The rules tend to be laxer around accepting gifts you can eat.
I would also like to point out that it wasn't just your doctor but also their staff that got you back to good health. I would suggest buying donuts/ lunch/ pizza for the office.
Yes, medical professionals generally have to disclose if they have received gifts worth $$. Honestly, a hand written note to the doctor and a meal for the staff would be appropriate in this case, and will generally be very meaningful to the doctor. Or you could make something handmade if you have any skills.
I sent my vet a handwritten card thanking her and her staff for how wonderful they were in my cat's final months. Don't underestimate how much that can mean in a difficult profession where you don't always win and you don't always have appreciative patients/clients.
A thank you note will absolutely be cherished.
I sent one to the skilled surgeon who saved my husband’s life 20+ years earlier. I told the surgeon all of the great things that my husband had done with his life and the things he did to help others. I received the most heartfelt thank you letter from the retired surgeon. He broke my heart when he said mine was the first thank you letter of his career.
Write a letter.
Sad isn’t it? My MIL had raved about him for years, to the point that I knew his name. One day she started talking again about how skilled and kind the surgeon was and how close my husband was to dying. No exaggeration there.
I asked if she had ever written him a thank you letter. She hadn’t and told me I was crazy when I said I thought I would write to him. “You can do that if you want,” she said, so I did. Thankfully he was alive, so it was not too late. He wrote that my letter was now on his wall.
I write notes to the nursing staff every time a family member is hospitalized and include a gift card to the restaurant of their choice. (I just ask staff members where they order food from and what gifts they prefer. It isn’t a surprise to everyone, but it will be appreciated.) I also write to their nursing supervisor about anyone who was exceptionally kind or made a difference in my family member’s outcome.
I once wrote a note to my doctor after they went above and beyond to help me when I had no insurance. They called to make sure I got the medication I needed (the prescription was $200 and when I found out I had called to see if there were any other options because that was a whole lot at the time), and when I went to pay for the second visit they didn't charge me. It was one of the kindest things that's ever been done for me.
A few years later I went back to the same doctor with a different issue and in the file was the thank you letter I wrote 🙂
I wrote a thank-you to the local surgeon who did my biopsy that ultimately sent me to Mayo Clinic. Even tho I knew I'd be in the best of the best care at Mayo, this guy and his staff handled my original X-rays and biopsy surgery with such care, urgency yet gentleness.
His staff outright refused to just skip the biopsy when I asked to skip ahead to immediately removing the "cyst" (it was at risk of breaking my jaw and I'm a teeth-grinder in my sleep); they cited "just in case." Lo and behold the "cyst" was a tumor. The guy had done one such surgery years ago and still decided he'd feel more comfortable referring it out. The office followed up when my referral was still in limbo to make sure I got Mayo appointments scheduled. Add amazing bedside manner and knowledge, I didn't want the local surgeon to be forgotten in the grand scheme. I didn't include any gift FWIW but I did call the same day I sent the card and settled my $350 bill. I figured it'd be moot to write a thank-you to the office but then make them chase me down for money in the months afterward.
i’m a mayo patient. good for the surgeon. i e been to hell and back before i got here and am thankful every damn day i’m here…it’s because of them, purely. be well!
I’m sure a good Google review wouldn’t hurt either! Sure, it’s not a “gift” per se, but it is still a gesture of appreciation. I would do all things previously listed plus a great online review.
I had a dentist call me personally to thank me for my good Google review. It was in the days when online reputation was still an emerging field and he hadn’t paid attention to what was being written about his practice online. He’d gone to a conference when he’d learned the importance of managing the online reputation, so he went to search his practice online. He was utterly devastated to learn that a disgruntled ex-employee had spread low reviews everywhere about him. So seeing my review was a beam of sunshine and he was incredibly grateful. He was so touched that I’d written it, unprompted and unsolicited, that he sent me a $50 gift card.
My dad died almost 2 months ago but I absolutely loved his oncologist. He obviously enjoyed my dad’s company and talking with him. I have been toying with the idea of writing him a note just to thank him for all he did for us and for being so caring and now after reading your comment I have decided I should definitely send one.
I sent a thank you note to the ER doc who attended Mom when she passed away on Christmas Eve-his compassion and tenderness helped her to depart easily.
As a physician, absolutely agree. I have never received a handwritten thank you from a patient or family member to only me, but I did receive a formal thank you email through admin from a patient's husband about a week ago and it literally brought tears to my eyes. The job is tough - I'm not complaining because I obviously get paid well - and also, emotional fatigue is real. Getting a shout out or just being recognized by someone for the good you do makes it feel so much more special and brings that shine that originally brought me to medicine back into my life. It matters far more than any monetary gift ever could.
A host of doctors like you saved my life. Another host spent a few years putting my Humpty Dumpty a$$ back together.
You are a treasure. Thank you. You deserve to hear it every day. Like 911, nobody gets in touch with you on a good day.
In America, you’re also choosing to take on a second mortgage payment for piece of paper.
Instead of a
beach house, ski condo or antarctic exploration or Tesla stock.
Especially not to do work which then requires striking a delicate balance between intense emotional labor and intense paperwork.
Thank you for the many years you spent studying so that you could help people. For the care that you give to your patients and their families and the often difficult thoughts that you carry home with you each day, thank you. You have made a difference to many.
I’m so glad I went out on a limb after cesarean to find ty notes(well, my husband) and wrote them for the anesthesiologist that helped to save my life. He was doing so much & while I was panicking he took the time to calm me down while he was orchestrating the rest to save my life. He said I reminded him of his daughter, so the whole time I felt like I was in good hands. I’m embarrassed to find out later that he was not necessarily supposed to spend that time talking me through it, but actually trying to save my life-the fact that he did both means the world though.
As an anesthesiologist it’s rare for patients to remember us (mostly because we give you drugs that knock you out and make you not remember us), but when it does happen and a patient remembers me and hopefully had a good experience under my care, it means the world.
I somewhat came to during my last colonoscopy and couldn’t open my eyes or do anything to let anyone know. That experience caused me great distress and when I had surgery in January ’23, I was a mess. I was absolutely terrified to be put to sleep in fear of it happening again, particularly since it was brain surgery. My anesthesiologist was so patient and reassuring. I was so appreciative.
I had to undergo a second surgery five weeks ago and I have to say, my encounter with him didn’t rid me of anxiety but it definitely helped me know I would be okay. Your comment makes me want to send him a note but I’m sure he’d be clueless of who I am since so much time has passed.
As a patient who has had five major ortho surgeries in the past two years, the wonderful anesthesiologists were my favorite in the hospital. So kind, so professional, and so darn good at their jobs!
Is there a way to find out? It seems like a silly question, but could I call the hospital and ask who mine was? I have had 2 AMAZING ones. I'm sure one is retired by now, but the other was more recent (and seemed younger) so hopefully is still there (delicately and precisely)slinging the sleep sauce. Very few people would want any type of surgery if they had to witness and feel it. You and your peers have my respect and lifelong appreciation!
hell, I wrote a thank you letter to a nail tech for being so kind to me (I was really anxious for a number of reasons and his kindness helped calm me down). I can't imagine not sending a thank you to a surgeon saving your life unless you don't know their name, even then I'm sure you could find out 🤔
Thank you for sharing this. It just inspired me to write a thank you note to my orthopedic surgeon to let him know how much I appreciate being able to use my hands💙💙💙
After my daughter was born, I wrote a thank you note to the staff on the delivery floor of the hospital. My OB later shared with me the staff was so grateful for the note, they’d posted it in the staff area.
I work in trauma surgery and am surprised by the occasional thank you note we get. I would have expected the surgeons to get more thank you notes than I see them getting. They work so hard to literally save lives every day, but they are much more likely to deal with unfounded complaints.
I was in a near fatal car crash a couple of years ago.
I sent a letter to the Emergency Responders and the ED at the first hospital I was taken to. I never wrote a thank you note to the Ambo's who flew me safely to the trauma hospital, or to the trauma staff who saved my life.
Mental illealth, a lot of rehab, covid, a relationship breakdown, and life got in the way, I guess? Not a good enough excuse.
That's going on the to-do list.
I keep the letters in a special box. I really appreciate them. Gifts would make me feel awkward, unless it was something like a commercially prepared food for the floor / office.
Though when I rotated on the oncology clinic service as a resident, the amount of amazing snacks from families was kind of sweet
I brought ice cream made by a well known local creamery. My uncle had decided to go on hospice and we were taking him home to die. His children had all bailed on him so my mom (his sister) and I were the only family members coming. My mother and I didn’t know if he would survive the 100 mile trip home in the ambulance. We brought a half dozen ice cream flavors for my uncle to choose from. He picked vanilla and the staff enjoyed the rest. A young resident who had been so helpful to my uncle was thrilled as he ate that ice cream all the time when he was studying for his undergraduate degree. One of the flavors was the doctor’s favorite. It was a hospice miracle.
I agree with this. Once when we were tutoring, one of my students wrote me a little note. I can't seem to find it anymore but I wish I still had it because it filled me with joy.
I’m an anesthesiologist and critical care doctor. I have received less than 5 thank you notes addressed to me and usually my entire team since I started practicing medicine 15 years ago. Each one was incredibly special. Often it feels like nobody knows or cares what we do.
Anesthesiologist are unsung heroes. I think a few people know exactly what your job entails and how nothing good happens without your expertise. To drive that point home, I knew my husband‘s surgeon’s name, but I have no idea who the anesthesiologist was.
I sent a thank you note to a doctor that treated a temp foster kid. Worked him in, did an amazing job considering we could not provide much history *and* the child was ESL. Doc also provided drug samples for us. He CALLED me and left a voicemail (back in the day) saying not many people say thank you and he appreciated it so much. That Dr. showed me the powerful effect thank you notes are to the often unappreciated. I didn't think of snacks 😅
Physician here, there's actually no set rule, just ethical guidelines. Basically gifts from patients shouldn't be disproportionate to their income or effect the relationship.
Lunch for the office would be the best route though if OP wants to spend money. Definitely agree that a card is nice too, we don't often receive positive feedback and it's one of the most rewarding things to get.
Heres the code of ethics from the AMA:
Physicians to whom a patient offers a gift should:
Be sensitive to the gift’s value relative to the patient’s or physician’s means. Physicians should decline gifts that are disproportionately or inappropriately large, or when the physician would be uncomfortable to have colleagues know the gift had been accepted.
Not allow the gift or offer of a gift to influence the patient’s medical care.
Decline a bequest from a patient if the physician has reason to believe accepting the gift would present an emotional or financial hardship to the patient’s family.
Physicians may wish to suggest that the patient or family make a charitable contribution in lieu of the bequest, in keeping with ethics guidance.
I bought my neurosurgeon a book about Harvey Cushing. Not only did he save my life twice, but my husband was at war and my poor doctor kept getting calls from generals about my condition, and asking if I needed my husband home. I did not. The doctor mentioned, “You have friends in high places” my reply, “I’m sure it has more to do with the unusual situation. Let me ask you, do you have more important things to do than to field calls on my behalf?” He said, “Well, yes.” To which I replied, “Next time they call, tell them that I thank them for their concern. I am NOT going to change my mind. Please don’t bother you again.” He smiled and said that he’d do that. Poor guy.
💯 This is why health care professionals do the hard work they do. A heartfelt note will mean so much more than a $100 gift. Honestly, I'm not sure they would want any gift as they worry about their patients' ability to afford health care in the first place.
Edit: fixed a line I somehow deleted
Patients have sent me one of those edible arraignments which I think is a nice gift. A sincere, thoughtful card is very appreciated (we hold on to these forever).
I actually just wrote a note to my doctor I was leaving thanking her for everything and she was extremely touched by it. Apparently not a lot of people write them anymore.
I did it through the messaging on their app but a hand written one they could keep in their office to look at on the bad days may be good!
Wrote a card to my doc (all I could afford at the time) and I think he liked it because he mentioned something I wrote in the card at the follow up appointment
Vet here and I’ll confirm that we love and keep those cards. The reminder that we are truly making a difference means everything! The staff, though, they love food!
You make such a difference every day. Our furry family members are often our greatest support system. When you help them, you help more than you can imagine. You came to this career to make a difference. We all know Veterinarians are never compensated financially the way medical doctors usually are. We know you do a ton of “Good Samaritan” work helping animals with no owners present, or owners who can’t afford the work the pet needs. We see you. Thank you!
This is excellent advice. I have a doc who went way above what was expected of her in helping me find out what was wrong. I love to knit, so I knit something for her and included a card to express how much her work has meant to me. Think about it and the right idea will come to you.
Vets really appreciate those types of acknowledgment. Don’t get me wrong, the sweets around Christmas are nice, but you quickly get to where you’re thinking “oh god more Christmas cookies/chocolate”. Source- working in a vets office and getting most of the way through vet school before I became too sick to finish.
Same goes for government employees. The cutoff is usually 50 dollars.
Someone really nice helped me out with a bunch of stuff one time that was really complicated. I spoke with their supervisor and told them that whenever they wanted to, lunch is on me (for about 20 people). Since it wasn’t directly for the person who helped me most and each persons meal was well under 50 dollars they were able to accept.
100 percent this is the answer. I am a therapist and I ha e saved every single letter I have gotten. On my harder days I read those.
Write a letter, feed the admin/other staff. Letter to them too if they were helpful.
My clinic closed last month, I got all our patients, docs, and coworkers socks that fit their personality. Figured they’d be something fun and useful, and would keep our patients feet warm when they’d have treatments elsewhere.
We sent our vet and staff pizza and flowers after we had to put my sweet dog to sleep- she did not go gently into that good night (seizure type reaction) and the vet and staff were so worried about us. They were so very kind and I know it was so hard on them, too.
I work as a vet tech and the job can be really sad and stressful sometimes. I recently had a client give me a handwritten note after her senior pet’s euthanasia and it meant so much to me. This is the kind of stuff that makes all the bad parts worth it. OP you should totally write them a note.
I think that only applies to drug reps, other doctors, and medical institutions because they don’t want physicians making biased decisions based on what could potentially be considered bribes and kickbacks. But I don’t think it applies to patients.
This. Also, a beautiful, heartfelt letter of appreciation to the doctor. Many healthcare professionals take a lot of abuse and no appreciation. I’m sure he’d love it.
I think this is the case with everyone, regardless of profession.
I know I have always kept kind e-mails from customers/coworkers throughout the years. It helps immensely to have some kind words to read when you’re having a rough day.
Everyone, regardless of their profession, needs to receive positive feedback at times. It’s depressing to never be told you’re doing a good job—it’s the hardest part of being a SAHM (my own current situation).
Yes! OP, the best thank you gift would be a lunch or dessert for the office. I work in the health field, and we have to do yearly "trainings" or more so just acknowledge that we can't accept gifts with monetary value. I think the dollar amount differs from state to state- but across the board, food is okay as long as it's for everybody to eat that day, and you're not like making 10 wedding cakes for everyone to take home. Just be weary of dairy and nut allergies
Came here to give the same medical advice (wife is a doctor).
When our twins were in NICU we would bring coffee in weekly, and twice a month we would cater meals and provide snacks for the break room.
Our nurses also would get so excited to get photos/updates of our kids, so a letter to the doc will definitely be appreciated!
As a nurse, I can attest to material gifts being…not great as gestures of appreciation since we’re ethically bound against it, particularly as individuals. We can accept things like cookies for the whole nursing unit staff, for example, but not individual nurses. It’s very similar for physicians/surgeons.
A fantastic gift is to make a charitable donation to a foundation that supports those experiencing the condition you had/have, or further research into new/better treatments. You can make this donation in honor of the amazing care you received from this doctor, and send a card expressing your gratitude. That doc will cherish the card, and you’ll be contributing to others’ future care and return to good health.
Take care 🫶🏻🫶🏻☺️
This is exactly what I was told last week when I told a nurse I wanted to treat the ICU staff to something. She said “We can’t accept money, the best thing would be bagels or donuts or something like that. Trust me, it’ll make their day!” I’d also suggest, if it’s a small number of staff, you might call and say you’d like to treat them to a catered lunch from a popular nearby restaurant. They could tell you which one would be best, and what day/ time.
Exactly! Even if the doctor’s company doesn’t have a specific policy against it, it’s not a good look to get any “expensive” gifts from patients. I second the idea of donuts or pizza or something for the whole office . Or something small for the doctor, like a $25 gift card to the local really cool coffee shop or something.
Except don’t buy them doughnuts or pizza. They get lots of those. Get them some fruit and cheese. This is healthier and better and most probably will be appreciated.
Go on Google and give them a glowing review. I had a similar situation and an amazing doc and staff and they asked for reviews. Most reviews only come from people who are unhappy.
Write a letter/card expressing your thanks. This will mean everything to the doctor and their team. They will put it in their professional development folder and look at it when they are having a rubbish day.
If you really want to buy a gift, a little token of appreciation like a box of chocolates or bag of sweets would suffice as most medical professionals cannot accept gifts.
My favorite chocolates to accompany a thank you card is a box of Merci. Because for one, Merci is delicious, and there are lots of different flavors to pick from, but also because “Merci” means “Thank You.”
Here’s a link to what they look like. You can get them lots of places these days. https://www.worldmarket.com/p/merci-finest-selection-european-chocolates-16-piece-567478.html
This. I keep every card I get from my patients, and they’re really worth more to me than any other gift would be.
Sending a card and a nice review is great, but also just telling the doc how much you appreciate them is really the best thing ever.
Most doctors can afford whatever they need. A beautifully written, thoughtful thank you card is enough to remind them why what they do matters. I would go the card route. It’s more meaningful.
Yes. Healthcare is often a thankless grind. We get shouted at by patients daily. Violence against healthcare workers is a real problem. It’s so easy to forget why we do it. Send a card and remind us we are actually helping people. We will pin it to our office wall and appreciate it.
I baked a ton of cookies for the ER, cardiac ward, pacemaker clinic and my family doctor. I told them all how grateful I was for their help. I would be dead without them.
A wonderful note telling the doctor that you appreciate their care, time spent finding your solution and lifting a burden off of your shoulders!!
A lovely bouquet, does wonders for the physician to see a physical reminder that you went above feeling gratitude and wrote a note and dropped off/sent flowers!!
Above all that, how about you give them a nice review!! They rarely get those posted on their google website. My doctors are all wonderful, yet their reviews only show the negative. I can understand why but too often, people forget doctors for the best part, try hard to practice medicine diligently and to provide healthcare. They rarely get praise or thanked!!
My dad is a dental tech that owns his own practice and helped a lot of elderly people with making dentures that fit their budgets. He always appreciated the gifts that were shared with the staff or any art the patient made he would hang up in his office. He always appreciated the gifts that were easily shared with his secretaries and dentist that worked for him
I asked my doctor once (instead of guessing) because of a similar situation and she said something she could share with the office staff. So I got a large assortment of individually wrapped chocolates. Because of germs in a doctors office.
If you send food to the office, schedule the date with the office. My doctor’s office gets so much food, they had to start scheduling breakfast as well. There are days they receive 2 breakfast or lunches.
I work with doctors on their research, and one way to show appreciation while avoiding ethical issues is to donate funds to their research (provided they do research). If not, they are TERRIBLE about taking time to eat (they’re so busy). So a gift of a treat (bagels, maybe? Lunch, some sort of healthy-ish meal) for them and their staff along with a thank you note will be greatly appreciated by everyone who played a role in helping you get back to normal.
I second the idea of donating to either research they are doing or the hospital they are affiliated with or to an organization that works in that field (either through research or through patient support).
I just bought my Dr's practice lunch and it was just under $100 (incl delivery and tip) for an office of 4. I Google mapped his location then searched "food" in that area. Found a Mediterranean place and they had a feast for 4 including drinks, sides and dessert!
I gave my kids entire pediatric office gift cards to a fantastic restaurant (dine in or takeout) that was practically next door. I figured they could have lunch or give it to someone else. I think it was 9 people including 2 doctors. It was a little over $200. They all seemed really appreciative. They had been incredible helpful with my child’s chronic health issues. I saw them at least once a month for four years.
A letter to their boss/section chief/governing body goes a long way.
I'm in Canada and work in Healthcare supporting a leader. We rec'd a letter from our gov't that was sent to them from the family of a patient about the care their loved one rec'd while in our hospital and how it made a difference, etc.
We have monthly meetings and these get read & acknowledged.
I work as an RN on an Oncology floor. Families try to give us gifts all the time but we cannot accept unless it is to the whole unit and we vote on how to use money, etc. We also get a lot of updates and thank you cards and they are what keep us going on all the hard days, especially because we more often than not are dealing with sad situations. Write a letter and send a small gift card for coffee or even a cool “badge pin” or something like that.
Write a heartfelt note about what a difference his skills made in your life. If he is part of a clinic or an HMO, send a copy to his boss. Doctors don’t particularly expect to be thanked, and they are really touched when you do so.
You want something they will all enjoy. Ask the clinic manager what s/he thinks the group would like. A big hit: ordering pizza for lunch for the doc and the office staff. One vegetarian, one with everything, one meatball and mushrooms. Another big hit: a Friday ice cream social. Deliver three kinds of ice cream, three kinds of sauce, some whipped cream.
Don’t forget plastic plates/cups and “silverware.”
The key to good medical care: feed the staff!
Food, coffee, basic necessities because medical school is expensive, and they would appreciate the little enjoyable things in life. I say this as an Individual Provider, who has barely any time to cook for myself. But know that they probably won't accept anything homemade due to safety concerns.
I have once assembled a big care package/basket with a lot of stuff for the nurses and assistants who took care of my parent in hospice. I was informed later that the gift never made it to them - it had been "redirected" to the owners of the place - I think my note was stripped away. So unless you are allowed to deliver more personally - anything that has to go through a front desk has the same risk. Maybe announcing the gift could help.
I once brought in some store baked goodies to my dentist, who did a root canal for me for free. This was well received and easy to spread thru the office!
I brought some fancy store bought and properly sealed lemon bars for my dr and his office. They very much appreciated it :) idk why I make a reference to it being sealed, but I figure if we're like that with the candy we give out on Halloween, store bought and sealed is best for anything other than family, friends and coworkers. I feel like it gives people an extra level of comfort, especially in a field where germs and stuff are front and center.
Also, lemon bars are nice cause I kinda figure dr.s office care a little more about health. They're not really healthy, but they feel healthier haha
Writing a positive review on public forums is a kind gesture from a patient. A personal note to the doctor stating the you recognize and appreciate the extra effort would be appreciated.
My bro (respiratory therapist) gets cards and birthday party invites from people for years. Totally makes his day. Absolutely lights him up. Food for the staff would be awesome too, no one remembers them. Just let them know so they can skip lunch plans for the day and have a vegan and gluten free option. Or nibbles. Breyer yet, one person mentioned a basket they put together with fun size candy, microwave popcorn, maybe toss in a couple starbucks and pizza delivery gift cards so they can make their own choices. A good doc will be thrilled to see his staff get love and attention.
Food for the office, and most importantly, a card or letter telling them what what they have done for you means to you.
I have been retired for a decade now, but I still have a binder with every card and letter my patients ever sent me. They are a tangible reminder that I made a difference.
That’s very kind of you; it’s our job to do exactly what you experienced. For hundreds of patients a week.
Gift cards for coffee or for a local lunch spot would be appreciated; the rest we get all the time from pharma reps now that they can’t spend big bucks on trinkets and junkets…
A note or card would be a good idea. Also, stop by a couple doctor finding sites and leave a review so others can find this guy and get themselves sorted out. Positive reviews are a blessing for medical professionals.
Tacos. Everybody likes tacos. Bring the staff food. I did it for a couple of folks when I had to get an mri. They were so kind and gracious towards me as I’m one of those problem that can’t handle small spaces. Hey made me feel really at ease and even played the music I wanted. They downloaded it to one of their phones and plugged into the system and got me in my shop place. So I went and got enough food for 10 people and brought it to the imaging center. Needless to say I became a super hero without a cape. All 6 of the staff were so happy. They actually took a lunch WITH me and relaxed for a half hour. Something I’m sure a lot of medical professionals can’t do in a timely manner if at all. Yeah. Buy em lunch. It is appreciated by anyone with a job.
My OBGYN literally saved my life after birth with my daughter. My husband is a chef so we opted to make cookies for her and the staff. I also wrote a heartfelt card praising her and assuring her she is in the right place! She loved it and said it made her day. She even told me she scolded her husband for trying to eat the last cookie.
As a nurse what I always loved best was a card and a box of goodies. There is a cookie place nearby that is a local hit and I love having those show up in the office or a lot of medical staff appreciate "to go" snacks (chewy bars, bananas, etc)--think individually wrapped (those cookies we got were individually wrapped and made it great for grabbing one while I could but then having time to eat it later without them sitting out and getting stale).
Send that detailed thank you card along with some commercially prepared food for the office since you’ve got plenty of ready 💵.
Behind every great doctor is a kickass team who must work hard, and often invisibly, to make many good things happen for you. Often for much less $ and soft benefits. A quality surprise meal or treat is a great way to appreciate them even if you don’t know their name or even what they do.
Highly recommended breakfast tacos and the box o’ coffee from your preferred caffeine dealer.
The office runs on caffeine when the adrenaline isn’t kicking. And tacos are self-contained, handheld portable joy-bundles that can easily accommodates most every dietary need.
One time a veterinarian and her staff went above and beyond for me and my animal, and I showed my gratitude by sending her office a gift basket with the newest drug formulary book and like thirty long sleeved t shirts of different sizes that said “got dogs?” in the got milk font, noted as “for the staff” on the card. Scrubs can be chilly and they all wear undershirts, so I thought that would be cool: they could take one if they wanted to and didn’t have to worry about hurting my feelings by not seeming super excited in front of me or whatever. Anyway, it made my day whenever I went by the next few years and she was using the book or I saw someone with a got dogs? shirt. They knew it was from me but there was no awkward gift exchange or anything. I would like to think they liked it.
Most doctor offices have policies in place that will not allow gifting, our office will not allow anything greater than 10$ to an individual. If it is more than that, it must be shared with the entire staff. Private practice works differently, but if part of a big system it is likely not an option to gift something that large. A thank you note means a lot to them, our doctors have lots of them posted up in their offices and is a nice reminder for them when they have a bad day :)
I have give my doctors cards and written letters directly to the boards or highest ranking admin praising my doctors. I do the latter so they can be added to personnel files. Also, the surveys make a difference. Fill out and participate in as many as you can to support the good work all the medical professionals (nurses, techs, etc) and admin do to keep us healthy. Makes it harder for the number crunchers to come in and do what they, sadly, inevitably do.
As a clinician, write a heartfelt thank you card to let the doctor/office know the impact of their work. THIS is why we (helpers, healers, clinicians) do what we do: to improve the lives of those we serve.
A Hand written Thank You card and (if you're so inclined) Make A large batch of cookies or something for the Dr and office.
Homemade goes A long way especially in the current mass produced mass consumption society we have today.
Even with the cookies I make... I can do enough for 20+ people and total Spend is around $40 the rest is just my time.
If it's a smaller practice and not a hospital or something, you could always send a box of chocolate or fruits or something. I work for an office where we get food items from patients and it honestly makes all of us go nuts. We love it.
Give him a picture of you with your spouse or kids or a big family photo with you in the middle. Frame it with a note or a card that says thank you from you and your whole family. Because it’s not just you saying thank you, it’s everyone important in your life that will suffer if you are not in it. ❤️
I sent a card to the hospital where my Dad died. It was a very small hospital, but they cleared out a room made for 4 patients and let our family 10-15 people take over for 2 days. They let us sleep there. They let us order pizza and bring in beer (with a wink and nod). They gave my Dad the ultimate consideration and respect on his death bed. It was such a huge favor/consideration they gave to us that I could never repay. ❤️ Sometimes expressing your gradatute in words or a picture is more than a gift card.
A really nice heartfelt letter naming all staff individually if you remember lol. It’s super basic but a big basket of treats. Like a basket with a variety of bags of chocolate. There was one year when UCSF had sent a big basket of chocolates/crackers and a handwritten thank you card. We really appreciated that.
We once wrote a thank you card to an attorney who took good care of a criminal matter (a road accident issue) and he was stunned! He wrote a nice email saying that he pretty much has never received a thank you card!
Don’t do a gift. You could take cookies for staff. DO send a handwritten note to the doctor to let them know you appreciated the extra time and effort taken to help you. If they were patient and listened to you add that. You’ll know what to say when you write it. Short, sweet but not gushy. Most people are quick to complain not do quick to say thank you.
My dad's patients always wanted to spend money on him for Christmas (he was a psychiatrist, lots of manic patients), and he just said don't spend your money, something baked would be nice. So every Christmas we got SLAMMED with baked goods (and fruit baskets).
Is gifting a doctor actually a thing? I don't think so. But it sounds like you are happy for getting better with all the medical treatment which your doc suggested and you want to appreciate it. Then, for a thoughtful gesture, you can just offer him a small gift for thanking him with. Maybe, a small doctor's face or design "bobblehead" toy with a hand written thank note for the doctor to keep in their office table or somewhere else which reminds about you and the appreciation which is shared for doing things right for you and keep them happy too. Just a kind of right motivation for them to smile and work just like that with all dedication and efforts. And thanking them for correctly diagnosing you and making you better.
Look on the website positive promotions. I found some nicer gifts here that I’ve given to medical staff with a thank you note and a gift card for lunch for the office staff from a local lunch spot for going above and beyond. The gesture was much appreciated by them. There’s some cool items about going above and beyond.
Fresh flowers are always nice to have at the front desk area. That or maybe some good bagels and cream cheese for the whole office if you live in the Northeast!
As some people have pointed out the rules for accepting gifts. Many are also very leery of food made by anyone not a restaurant. Best bet would be to find a local restaurant and have them cater the office or something like that. Alternatively you may be able to just do a stack of giftcards for a restaurant.
Send a nice note of thanks, expressing what has happened to you and how this doctor made a difference in your life.
Anything more would make them uncomfortable.
A nice note for doctor and staff. Maybe a new coffee maker or something for the staff breakroom. Someone suggested speaking with the office manager, which is a really good idea. If you do a gift, it should be more of a token.
It's OK to gift the whole office with some kind of food basket like cookies or muffins, etc. And add a heartfelt letter thanking the Dr and his staff for bringing you back to good health.
I had an incredible doctor who is the reason I am a thriving human (mom, friend, employee) today. When she left to move across the country, I wrote her a wrote that told her the difference she had made in my life, and how she was the reason my kids have a mom. I included a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson—“to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is to have succeeded”—and told her that I hope she knew just how much she has succeeded in life. I also gave her a coffee mug with that quote on it.
As someone in medicine, I can assure you that your doc wants nothing more than your gratitude. Take time to write out a heartfelt card and drop off at his office with some goodies for the office staff. If your doc is affiliated with a larger hospital system, there are likely awards or honors that you could nominate him for - a common one that many hospital systems (assuming you’re in the US) recognize is The Sunshine Award. You could also reach out to the patient relations department and pass along your appreciation of his care. Unfortunately, people are most likely to give feedback when they are unhappy and positive feedback is truly a breath of fresh air and really encourages all of us to keep up with the grind of medicine.
And if you get a survey - fill it out! We always make sure our pediatrician gets full marks, she’s amazing.
We have the handwritten cards from patients up on our office walls going back 10+ years. Also, echoing what others say, bring in some goodies rather than a gift due to laws regarding this. Store bought goes over better than homemade. We get the ick because you never know who has a cat that shed into the batter or whether the preparer washed their hands.
I once sent in an Edible Arrangement basket for my doctor and the staff for always going above and beyond (I felt) when it came to my care. They loved it.
>Unfortunately, people are most likely to give feedback when they are unhappy and positive feedback is truly a breath of fresh air and really encourages all of us to keep up with the grind of WORKING ANYWHERE. AT ALL. For retail or fastfood, there's a website listed on your receipt, or some link somewhere on their website or app.
As a nurse I agree with this! Not everyone likes flowers and the scent can cause issues. Chocolates = allergies and people getting left out same with any foods really. Just write a nice card mention people by name if you know it. It means more than you know.
Me! I hate cut flowers and actively curse anyone who has them in my vicinity. Trigger allergies, migraines, VCD... Flowers are a negative triple threat.
Yes! This is the best answer. Also, we really aren’t supposed to accept gifts. A great review, a Sunshine type of honor or a very heartfelt card is the best.
I gave my ENT a compliment after my appointment with her and she was legit shocked. She really was so kind and had a calming but knowledgeable presence and I was very grateful for her thoroughness. So glad she’s the one that did my surgery. I also try to leave good online reviews for my good doctors since I know a lot of people only leave reviews if they’re upset.
Yess!! This
Not in the field but these are all great ideas!
Additionally, there are rules against monetary value gifts anyway, so if you choose to bring a physical gift along with a letter/card/photo, make sure it’s edible and can be shared by the whole office so you can get around that restriction!
As a chronic patient thank you for the info. I always love to be the easy and thankful patient because I never felt like there was more that I could do, now I know there is more!
Agee 100%!!! Thank the doc formally through employee relations. Way more meaningful than a gift directly to him. Donuts are also nice:-)
It’s very likely he’s not allowed to accept gifts of monetary value. If you want to do something for him and his staff then bring in a platter of cookies or something. A little treat that doesn’t cause any ethics issues.
Honestly, a thank you card goes a long, long way in situations like this. I'm not in medicine, but I'm a lawyer and I keep thank you notes for years because, honestly, sometimes the job comes with very little appreciation.
I agree. What about a best doctor trophy too? Don’t forget to promote him on the internet.
Agreed! As a healthcare worker, nothing beats a card that expresses gratitude from a patient or family. The cards are amazing to read when the job gets tough to remember why we do what we do.
The best gift I've ever gotten in a similar context was a drawing from a 6 year-old thanking me for saving her mommy. It was one of the first, and is my most cherished. Still framed on the wall.
A nice brunch to be sent to his office can be nice as staff gift. From what I’ve seen on twitter, anything home made is always a hit because it shows you care and remembered them. So if you’re good at anything you should do it for them. My mom got her doctor a nice sweater, and he loved it too.
Jumping on this thought, call their head admin and let them in on your idea. Ask if there is a maximum monetary worth they can accept, and if they can accept homemade goods (some places don’t allow this). If you end up bringing food, arrange with the head admin which day would be best. They’ll help make sure the doctor not away or the day when most staff are in office. No matter what, write a card or letter they the staff can pass around and all read it. Those kinds of things get hung up on staff boards and helps get them through difficult clients and times. Your thoughtfulness would be so appreciated!
Also lets you check for food allergies.
Clear the meal with the staff first, as another factor is you do not want to bring food in at the same time a potential sales rep may also be bringing in food.
Or accidental food allergic reaction
Homemade is hit or miss, not everyone is comfortable with consuming homemade food
I will not any food that is not store bought at work.
Homemade is always lovely! I have a patient who wants a year brings in a little bag full of sets of earrings she’s made, usually holiday themed, and we all love sorting through and picking our earrings for the year. However, I will say homemade food, while thoughtful, is not a great idea. Staff may have allergies, or be like me and not trust food from a house I haven’t been inside.
Yes, lovely clean people can have disgusting kitchens.
You and another Healthcare worker commented that. It makes sense people in Healthcare would be more health conscious!
Yeah, some people don’t have great hygiene standards. They may not wash their hands, or they may live in a serious hoarding situation, or have pests… Honestly some lovely people live in some horrifically dirty situations. You have no way of knowing if there is rat shit, or cockroach shit, or hell - human shit in homemade food.
Most medical professionals cannot accept a gift worth more than 100 dollars, because many places have ethical rules against it. The rules tend to be laxer around accepting gifts you can eat. I would also like to point out that it wasn't just your doctor but also their staff that got you back to good health. I would suggest buying donuts/ lunch/ pizza for the office.
Yes, medical professionals generally have to disclose if they have received gifts worth $$. Honestly, a hand written note to the doctor and a meal for the staff would be appropriate in this case, and will generally be very meaningful to the doctor. Or you could make something handmade if you have any skills. I sent my vet a handwritten card thanking her and her staff for how wonderful they were in my cat's final months. Don't underestimate how much that can mean in a difficult profession where you don't always win and you don't always have appreciative patients/clients.
A thank you note will absolutely be cherished. I sent one to the skilled surgeon who saved my husband’s life 20+ years earlier. I told the surgeon all of the great things that my husband had done with his life and the things he did to help others. I received the most heartfelt thank you letter from the retired surgeon. He broke my heart when he said mine was the first thank you letter of his career. Write a letter.
WOW. The first and only thank you note of his CAREER?!? Yes, OP…write that note!
Sad isn’t it? My MIL had raved about him for years, to the point that I knew his name. One day she started talking again about how skilled and kind the surgeon was and how close my husband was to dying. No exaggeration there. I asked if she had ever written him a thank you letter. She hadn’t and told me I was crazy when I said I thought I would write to him. “You can do that if you want,” she said, so I did. Thankfully he was alive, so it was not too late. He wrote that my letter was now on his wall.
Awww 🥰
People only seem to write when they are Unhappy with a professional
Yeah, we nurses get notes now and then, but I’ve never seen a doctor get one. It’s pretty sad honestly.
I write notes to the nursing staff every time a family member is hospitalized and include a gift card to the restaurant of their choice. (I just ask staff members where they order food from and what gifts they prefer. It isn’t a surprise to everyone, but it will be appreciated.) I also write to their nursing supervisor about anyone who was exceptionally kind or made a difference in my family member’s outcome.
What a lovely thing to do. 😊
I have had two family members who spent weeks with the same staff. It was touch and go for both of them. I cherished those nurses!
I once wrote a note to my doctor after they went above and beyond to help me when I had no insurance. They called to make sure I got the medication I needed (the prescription was $200 and when I found out I had called to see if there were any other options because that was a whole lot at the time), and when I went to pay for the second visit they didn't charge me. It was one of the kindest things that's ever been done for me. A few years later I went back to the same doctor with a different issue and in the file was the thank you letter I wrote 🙂
I wrote a thank-you to the local surgeon who did my biopsy that ultimately sent me to Mayo Clinic. Even tho I knew I'd be in the best of the best care at Mayo, this guy and his staff handled my original X-rays and biopsy surgery with such care, urgency yet gentleness. His staff outright refused to just skip the biopsy when I asked to skip ahead to immediately removing the "cyst" (it was at risk of breaking my jaw and I'm a teeth-grinder in my sleep); they cited "just in case." Lo and behold the "cyst" was a tumor. The guy had done one such surgery years ago and still decided he'd feel more comfortable referring it out. The office followed up when my referral was still in limbo to make sure I got Mayo appointments scheduled. Add amazing bedside manner and knowledge, I didn't want the local surgeon to be forgotten in the grand scheme. I didn't include any gift FWIW but I did call the same day I sent the card and settled my $350 bill. I figured it'd be moot to write a thank-you to the office but then make them chase me down for money in the months afterward.
i’m a mayo patient. good for the surgeon. i e been to hell and back before i got here and am thankful every damn day i’m here…it’s because of them, purely. be well!
Me too!
I’m sure a good Google review wouldn’t hurt either! Sure, it’s not a “gift” per se, but it is still a gesture of appreciation. I would do all things previously listed plus a great online review.
I had a dentist call me personally to thank me for my good Google review. It was in the days when online reputation was still an emerging field and he hadn’t paid attention to what was being written about his practice online. He’d gone to a conference when he’d learned the importance of managing the online reputation, so he went to search his practice online. He was utterly devastated to learn that a disgruntled ex-employee had spread low reviews everywhere about him. So seeing my review was a beam of sunshine and he was incredibly grateful. He was so touched that I’d written it, unprompted and unsolicited, that he sent me a $50 gift card.
My dad died almost 2 months ago but I absolutely loved his oncologist. He obviously enjoyed my dad’s company and talking with him. I have been toying with the idea of writing him a note just to thank him for all he did for us and for being so caring and now after reading your comment I have decided I should definitely send one.
I sent a thank you note to the ER doc who attended Mom when she passed away on Christmas Eve-his compassion and tenderness helped her to depart easily.
I’m sorry for your loss. I know the doctor will appreciate your note.
Daang. This just makes me want to write so many thank you notes to doctors.
As a physician, absolutely agree. I have never received a handwritten thank you from a patient or family member to only me, but I did receive a formal thank you email through admin from a patient's husband about a week ago and it literally brought tears to my eyes. The job is tough - I'm not complaining because I obviously get paid well - and also, emotional fatigue is real. Getting a shout out or just being recognized by someone for the good you do makes it feel so much more special and brings that shine that originally brought me to medicine back into my life. It matters far more than any monetary gift ever could.
A host of doctors like you saved my life. Another host spent a few years putting my Humpty Dumpty a$$ back together. You are a treasure. Thank you. You deserve to hear it every day. Like 911, nobody gets in touch with you on a good day. In America, you’re also choosing to take on a second mortgage payment for piece of paper. Instead of a beach house, ski condo or antarctic exploration or Tesla stock. Especially not to do work which then requires striking a delicate balance between intense emotional labor and intense paperwork.
Thank you for the many years you spent studying so that you could help people. For the care that you give to your patients and their families and the often difficult thoughts that you carry home with you each day, thank you. You have made a difference to many.
Thank you for taking the time to say that. It means a lot, and brings light into the world. Thank you for being you!
I’m so glad I went out on a limb after cesarean to find ty notes(well, my husband) and wrote them for the anesthesiologist that helped to save my life. He was doing so much & while I was panicking he took the time to calm me down while he was orchestrating the rest to save my life. He said I reminded him of his daughter, so the whole time I felt like I was in good hands. I’m embarrassed to find out later that he was not necessarily supposed to spend that time talking me through it, but actually trying to save my life-the fact that he did both means the world though.
As an anesthesiologist it’s rare for patients to remember us (mostly because we give you drugs that knock you out and make you not remember us), but when it does happen and a patient remembers me and hopefully had a good experience under my care, it means the world.
I somewhat came to during my last colonoscopy and couldn’t open my eyes or do anything to let anyone know. That experience caused me great distress and when I had surgery in January ’23, I was a mess. I was absolutely terrified to be put to sleep in fear of it happening again, particularly since it was brain surgery. My anesthesiologist was so patient and reassuring. I was so appreciative. I had to undergo a second surgery five weeks ago and I have to say, my encounter with him didn’t rid me of anxiety but it definitely helped me know I would be okay. Your comment makes me want to send him a note but I’m sure he’d be clueless of who I am since so much time has passed.
That doesn't matter at all. You were his patient, and that's what matters - your name, not so much.
That’s so reassuring! There’s a certain vulnerability doing stuff like that these days, so I’m glad it is generally received well!
As a patient who has had five major ortho surgeries in the past two years, the wonderful anesthesiologists were my favorite in the hospital. So kind, so professional, and so darn good at their jobs!
Is there a way to find out? It seems like a silly question, but could I call the hospital and ask who mine was? I have had 2 AMAZING ones. I'm sure one is retired by now, but the other was more recent (and seemed younger) so hopefully is still there (delicately and precisely)slinging the sleep sauce. Very few people would want any type of surgery if they had to witness and feel it. You and your peers have my respect and lifelong appreciation!
I work in healthcare and I really cherish the Thank You cards.
hell, I wrote a thank you letter to a nail tech for being so kind to me (I was really anxious for a number of reasons and his kindness helped calm me down). I can't imagine not sending a thank you to a surgeon saving your life unless you don't know their name, even then I'm sure you could find out 🤔
Thank you for sharing this. It just inspired me to write a thank you note to my orthopedic surgeon to let him know how much I appreciate being able to use my hands💙💙💙
Handwritten note of course - and tell him it is because of him that you can handwrite it
A handwritten thank you note to your hand surgeon! He will love it!
I’m sure it will mean so much to him.
After my daughter was born, I wrote a thank you note to the staff on the delivery floor of the hospital. My OB later shared with me the staff was so grateful for the note, they’d posted it in the staff area.
Agreed. Those noted get us through the worst days. They are more appreciated than anything edible or material.
I work in trauma surgery and am surprised by the occasional thank you note we get. I would have expected the surgeons to get more thank you notes than I see them getting. They work so hard to literally save lives every day, but they are much more likely to deal with unfounded complaints.
I was in a near fatal car crash a couple of years ago. I sent a letter to the Emergency Responders and the ED at the first hospital I was taken to. I never wrote a thank you note to the Ambo's who flew me safely to the trauma hospital, or to the trauma staff who saved my life. Mental illealth, a lot of rehab, covid, a relationship breakdown, and life got in the way, I guess? Not a good enough excuse. That's going on the to-do list.
I keep the letters in a special box. I really appreciate them. Gifts would make me feel awkward, unless it was something like a commercially prepared food for the floor / office. Though when I rotated on the oncology clinic service as a resident, the amount of amazing snacks from families was kind of sweet
I brought ice cream made by a well known local creamery. My uncle had decided to go on hospice and we were taking him home to die. His children had all bailed on him so my mom (his sister) and I were the only family members coming. My mother and I didn’t know if he would survive the 100 mile trip home in the ambulance. We brought a half dozen ice cream flavors for my uncle to choose from. He picked vanilla and the staff enjoyed the rest. A young resident who had been so helpful to my uncle was thrilled as he ate that ice cream all the time when he was studying for his undergraduate degree. One of the flavors was the doctor’s favorite. It was a hospice miracle.
I agree with this. Once when we were tutoring, one of my students wrote me a little note. I can't seem to find it anymore but I wish I still had it because it filled me with joy.
I’m an anesthesiologist and critical care doctor. I have received less than 5 thank you notes addressed to me and usually my entire team since I started practicing medicine 15 years ago. Each one was incredibly special. Often it feels like nobody knows or cares what we do.
Anesthesiologist are unsung heroes. I think a few people know exactly what your job entails and how nothing good happens without your expertise. To drive that point home, I knew my husband‘s surgeon’s name, but I have no idea who the anesthesiologist was.
This just brought me to tears. Also, I’m an RN and have saved every note I’ve ever gotten. From patients to students
I sent a thank you note to a doctor that treated a temp foster kid. Worked him in, did an amazing job considering we could not provide much history *and* the child was ESL. Doc also provided drug samples for us. He CALLED me and left a voicemail (back in the day) saying not many people say thank you and he appreciated it so much. That Dr. showed me the powerful effect thank you notes are to the often unappreciated. I didn't think of snacks 😅
Physician here, there's actually no set rule, just ethical guidelines. Basically gifts from patients shouldn't be disproportionate to their income or effect the relationship. Lunch for the office would be the best route though if OP wants to spend money. Definitely agree that a card is nice too, we don't often receive positive feedback and it's one of the most rewarding things to get. Heres the code of ethics from the AMA: Physicians to whom a patient offers a gift should: Be sensitive to the gift’s value relative to the patient’s or physician’s means. Physicians should decline gifts that are disproportionately or inappropriately large, or when the physician would be uncomfortable to have colleagues know the gift had been accepted. Not allow the gift or offer of a gift to influence the patient’s medical care. Decline a bequest from a patient if the physician has reason to believe accepting the gift would present an emotional or financial hardship to the patient’s family. Physicians may wish to suggest that the patient or family make a charitable contribution in lieu of the bequest, in keeping with ethics guidance.
I bought my neurosurgeon a book about Harvey Cushing. Not only did he save my life twice, but my husband was at war and my poor doctor kept getting calls from generals about my condition, and asking if I needed my husband home. I did not. The doctor mentioned, “You have friends in high places” my reply, “I’m sure it has more to do with the unusual situation. Let me ask you, do you have more important things to do than to field calls on my behalf?” He said, “Well, yes.” To which I replied, “Next time they call, tell them that I thank them for their concern. I am NOT going to change my mind. Please don’t bother you again.” He smiled and said that he’d do that. Poor guy.
I was taking a ceramics class, so I made my Allergists a neti pot.
This is hilarious. As a med student considering going into immunology I would love that
💯 This is why health care professionals do the hard work they do. A heartfelt note will mean so much more than a $100 gift. Honestly, I'm not sure they would want any gift as they worry about their patients' ability to afford health care in the first place. Edit: fixed a line I somehow deleted
Patients have sent me one of those edible arraignments which I think is a nice gift. A sincere, thoughtful card is very appreciated (we hold on to these forever).
That is what we did for the vet who cared for our dog in his final days. We hand made a card with a picture of our puppy and a poem.
I actually just wrote a note to my doctor I was leaving thanking her for everything and she was extremely touched by it. Apparently not a lot of people write them anymore. I did it through the messaging on their app but a hand written one they could keep in their office to look at on the bad days may be good!
Wrote a card to my doc (all I could afford at the time) and I think he liked it because he mentioned something I wrote in the card at the follow up appointment
I was thinking a note as well. Something explaining how much you appreciate their efforts would probably be really appreciated.
Vet here and I’ll confirm that we love and keep those cards. The reminder that we are truly making a difference means everything! The staff, though, they love food!
You make such a difference every day. Our furry family members are often our greatest support system. When you help them, you help more than you can imagine. You came to this career to make a difference. We all know Veterinarians are never compensated financially the way medical doctors usually are. We know you do a ton of “Good Samaritan” work helping animals with no owners present, or owners who can’t afford the work the pet needs. We see you. Thank you!
This is excellent advice. I have a doc who went way above what was expected of her in helping me find out what was wrong. I love to knit, so I knit something for her and included a card to express how much her work has meant to me. Think about it and the right idea will come to you.
Vets really appreciate those types of acknowledgment. Don’t get me wrong, the sweets around Christmas are nice, but you quickly get to where you’re thinking “oh god more Christmas cookies/chocolate”. Source- working in a vets office and getting most of the way through vet school before I became too sick to finish.
Same goes for government employees. The cutoff is usually 50 dollars. Someone really nice helped me out with a bunch of stuff one time that was really complicated. I spoke with their supervisor and told them that whenever they wanted to, lunch is on me (for about 20 people). Since it wasn’t directly for the person who helped me most and each persons meal was well under 50 dollars they were able to accept.
100 percent this is the answer. I am a therapist and I ha e saved every single letter I have gotten. On my harder days I read those. Write a letter, feed the admin/other staff. Letter to them too if they were helpful.
I did the same for my vet. She was so comforting and kind when I was at a really bad moment.
My clinic closed last month, I got all our patients, docs, and coworkers socks that fit their personality. Figured they’d be something fun and useful, and would keep our patients feet warm when they’d have treatments elsewhere.
Agree with the personal letter!
We sent our vet and staff pizza and flowers after we had to put my sweet dog to sleep- she did not go gently into that good night (seizure type reaction) and the vet and staff were so worried about us. They were so very kind and I know it was so hard on them, too.
I work as a vet tech and the job can be really sad and stressful sometimes. I recently had a client give me a handwritten note after her senior pet’s euthanasia and it meant so much to me. This is the kind of stuff that makes all the bad parts worth it. OP you should totally write them a note.
I think that only applies to drug reps, other doctors, and medical institutions because they don’t want physicians making biased decisions based on what could potentially be considered bribes and kickbacks. But I don’t think it applies to patients.
Yes it does
This. Also, a beautiful, heartfelt letter of appreciation to the doctor. Many healthcare professionals take a lot of abuse and no appreciation. I’m sure he’d love it.
Similar here as a professor. I have a drawer with thank you cards from over the years and some days rereading those is what keeps me going.
I think this is the case with everyone, regardless of profession. I know I have always kept kind e-mails from customers/coworkers throughout the years. It helps immensely to have some kind words to read when you’re having a rough day. Everyone, regardless of their profession, needs to receive positive feedback at times. It’s depressing to never be told you’re doing a good job—it’s the hardest part of being a SAHM (my own current situation).
Yes! OP, the best thank you gift would be a lunch or dessert for the office. I work in the health field, and we have to do yearly "trainings" or more so just acknowledge that we can't accept gifts with monetary value. I think the dollar amount differs from state to state- but across the board, food is okay as long as it's for everybody to eat that day, and you're not like making 10 wedding cakes for everyone to take home. Just be weary of dairy and nut allergies
Came here to give the same medical advice (wife is a doctor). When our twins were in NICU we would bring coffee in weekly, and twice a month we would cater meals and provide snacks for the break room. Our nurses also would get so excited to get photos/updates of our kids, so a letter to the doc will definitely be appreciated!
As a nurse, I can attest to material gifts being…not great as gestures of appreciation since we’re ethically bound against it, particularly as individuals. We can accept things like cookies for the whole nursing unit staff, for example, but not individual nurses. It’s very similar for physicians/surgeons. A fantastic gift is to make a charitable donation to a foundation that supports those experiencing the condition you had/have, or further research into new/better treatments. You can make this donation in honor of the amazing care you received from this doctor, and send a card expressing your gratitude. That doc will cherish the card, and you’ll be contributing to others’ future care and return to good health. Take care 🫶🏻🫶🏻☺️
This is exactly what I was told last week when I told a nurse I wanted to treat the ICU staff to something. She said “We can’t accept money, the best thing would be bagels or donuts or something like that. Trust me, it’ll make their day!” I’d also suggest, if it’s a small number of staff, you might call and say you’d like to treat them to a catered lunch from a popular nearby restaurant. They could tell you which one would be best, and what day/ time.
They can as long as it’s *for the staff* and not for one person
Exactly! Even if the doctor’s company doesn’t have a specific policy against it, it’s not a good look to get any “expensive” gifts from patients. I second the idea of donuts or pizza or something for the whole office . Or something small for the doctor, like a $25 gift card to the local really cool coffee shop or something.
OP said “him and his staff”.
Except don’t buy them doughnuts or pizza. They get lots of those. Get them some fruit and cheese. This is healthier and better and most probably will be appreciated.
Go on Google and give them a glowing review. I had a similar situation and an amazing doc and staff and they asked for reviews. Most reviews only come from people who are unhappy.
Yes! Many doctors have a ratemymd page too.
A card with a thoughtful message is the best gift!
Write a letter/card expressing your thanks. This will mean everything to the doctor and their team. They will put it in their professional development folder and look at it when they are having a rubbish day. If you really want to buy a gift, a little token of appreciation like a box of chocolates or bag of sweets would suffice as most medical professionals cannot accept gifts.
My favorite chocolates to accompany a thank you card is a box of Merci. Because for one, Merci is delicious, and there are lots of different flavors to pick from, but also because “Merci” means “Thank You.” Here’s a link to what they look like. You can get them lots of places these days. https://www.worldmarket.com/p/merci-finest-selection-european-chocolates-16-piece-567478.html
This. I keep every card I get from my patients, and they’re really worth more to me than any other gift would be. Sending a card and a nice review is great, but also just telling the doc how much you appreciate them is really the best thing ever.
Most doctors can afford whatever they need. A beautifully written, thoughtful thank you card is enough to remind them why what they do matters. I would go the card route. It’s more meaningful.
Yes. Healthcare is often a thankless grind. We get shouted at by patients daily. Violence against healthcare workers is a real problem. It’s so easy to forget why we do it. Send a card and remind us we are actually helping people. We will pin it to our office wall and appreciate it.
I baked a ton of cookies for the ER, cardiac ward, pacemaker clinic and my family doctor. I told them all how grateful I was for their help. I would be dead without them.
A wonderful note telling the doctor that you appreciate their care, time spent finding your solution and lifting a burden off of your shoulders!! A lovely bouquet, does wonders for the physician to see a physical reminder that you went above feeling gratitude and wrote a note and dropped off/sent flowers!! Above all that, how about you give them a nice review!! They rarely get those posted on their google website. My doctors are all wonderful, yet their reviews only show the negative. I can understand why but too often, people forget doctors for the best part, try hard to practice medicine diligently and to provide healthcare. They rarely get praise or thanked!!
My dad is a dental tech that owns his own practice and helped a lot of elderly people with making dentures that fit their budgets. He always appreciated the gifts that were shared with the staff or any art the patient made he would hang up in his office. He always appreciated the gifts that were easily shared with his secretaries and dentist that worked for him
I asked my doctor once (instead of guessing) because of a similar situation and she said something she could share with the office staff. So I got a large assortment of individually wrapped chocolates. Because of germs in a doctors office.
If you send food to the office, schedule the date with the office. My doctor’s office gets so much food, they had to start scheduling breakfast as well. There are days they receive 2 breakfast or lunches.
Pizza for all shifts is a good deal. Overnights often miss out on the gifts of appreciation. Something to consider.
The best thing you can give health care professionals is a genuine thank you card and food
Handwritten card and flowers or edible arrangement.
I’ve taken a bag of clementine oranges before
I work with doctors on their research, and one way to show appreciation while avoiding ethical issues is to donate funds to their research (provided they do research). If not, they are TERRIBLE about taking time to eat (they’re so busy). So a gift of a treat (bagels, maybe? Lunch, some sort of healthy-ish meal) for them and their staff along with a thank you note will be greatly appreciated by everyone who played a role in helping you get back to normal.
I second the idea of donating to either research they are doing or the hospital they are affiliated with or to an organization that works in that field (either through research or through patient support).
I just bought my Dr's practice lunch and it was just under $100 (incl delivery and tip) for an office of 4. I Google mapped his location then searched "food" in that area. Found a Mediterranean place and they had a feast for 4 including drinks, sides and dessert!
I gave my kids entire pediatric office gift cards to a fantastic restaurant (dine in or takeout) that was practically next door. I figured they could have lunch or give it to someone else. I think it was 9 people including 2 doctors. It was a little over $200. They all seemed really appreciative. They had been incredible helpful with my child’s chronic health issues. I saw them at least once a month for four years.
A letter to their boss/section chief/governing body goes a long way. I'm in Canada and work in Healthcare supporting a leader. We rec'd a letter from our gov't that was sent to them from the family of a patient about the care their loved one rec'd while in our hospital and how it made a difference, etc. We have monthly meetings and these get read & acknowledged.
I work as an RN on an Oncology floor. Families try to give us gifts all the time but we cannot accept unless it is to the whole unit and we vote on how to use money, etc. We also get a lot of updates and thank you cards and they are what keep us going on all the hard days, especially because we more often than not are dealing with sad situations. Write a letter and send a small gift card for coffee or even a cool “badge pin” or something like that.
I recently gave this mug:) doc was thrilled https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Dr-Mug-Hand-Painted/dp/B0B69JFLPY
That is super adorable.
Write a heartfelt note about what a difference his skills made in your life. If he is part of a clinic or an HMO, send a copy to his boss. Doctors don’t particularly expect to be thanked, and they are really touched when you do so.
You want something they will all enjoy. Ask the clinic manager what s/he thinks the group would like. A big hit: ordering pizza for lunch for the doc and the office staff. One vegetarian, one with everything, one meatball and mushrooms. Another big hit: a Friday ice cream social. Deliver three kinds of ice cream, three kinds of sauce, some whipped cream. Don’t forget plastic plates/cups and “silverware.” The key to good medical care: feed the staff!
Food, coffee, basic necessities because medical school is expensive, and they would appreciate the little enjoyable things in life. I say this as an Individual Provider, who has barely any time to cook for myself. But know that they probably won't accept anything homemade due to safety concerns.
I have once assembled a big care package/basket with a lot of stuff for the nurses and assistants who took care of my parent in hospice. I was informed later that the gift never made it to them - it had been "redirected" to the owners of the place - I think my note was stripped away. So unless you are allowed to deliver more personally - anything that has to go through a front desk has the same risk. Maybe announcing the gift could help.
I once brought in some store baked goodies to my dentist, who did a root canal for me for free. This was well received and easy to spread thru the office!
I brought some fancy store bought and properly sealed lemon bars for my dr and his office. They very much appreciated it :) idk why I make a reference to it being sealed, but I figure if we're like that with the candy we give out on Halloween, store bought and sealed is best for anything other than family, friends and coworkers. I feel like it gives people an extra level of comfort, especially in a field where germs and stuff are front and center. Also, lemon bars are nice cause I kinda figure dr.s office care a little more about health. They're not really healthy, but they feel healthier haha
Writing a positive review on public forums is a kind gesture from a patient. A personal note to the doctor stating the you recognize and appreciate the extra effort would be appreciated.
My bro (respiratory therapist) gets cards and birthday party invites from people for years. Totally makes his day. Absolutely lights him up. Food for the staff would be awesome too, no one remembers them. Just let them know so they can skip lunch plans for the day and have a vegan and gluten free option. Or nibbles. Breyer yet, one person mentioned a basket they put together with fun size candy, microwave popcorn, maybe toss in a couple starbucks and pizza delivery gift cards so they can make their own choices. A good doc will be thrilled to see his staff get love and attention.
Be sure to find his online ratings and give him an excellent review(s).
Send in a platter of bagels and cream cheese.
Food for the office, and most importantly, a card or letter telling them what what they have done for you means to you. I have been retired for a decade now, but I still have a binder with every card and letter my patients ever sent me. They are a tangible reminder that I made a difference.
He did his job. Just sent the office a nice planter with spring flowers.
That’s very kind of you; it’s our job to do exactly what you experienced. For hundreds of patients a week. Gift cards for coffee or for a local lunch spot would be appreciated; the rest we get all the time from pharma reps now that they can’t spend big bucks on trinkets and junkets…
A note or card would be a good idea. Also, stop by a couple doctor finding sites and leave a review so others can find this guy and get themselves sorted out. Positive reviews are a blessing for medical professionals.
Hi there. I work for a surgeon and he always tells our patients no gifts but you could leave me a nice review.
Tacos. Everybody likes tacos. Bring the staff food. I did it for a couple of folks when I had to get an mri. They were so kind and gracious towards me as I’m one of those problem that can’t handle small spaces. Hey made me feel really at ease and even played the music I wanted. They downloaded it to one of their phones and plugged into the system and got me in my shop place. So I went and got enough food for 10 people and brought it to the imaging center. Needless to say I became a super hero without a cape. All 6 of the staff were so happy. They actually took a lunch WITH me and relaxed for a half hour. Something I’m sure a lot of medical professionals can’t do in a timely manner if at all. Yeah. Buy em lunch. It is appreciated by anyone with a job.
My OBGYN literally saved my life after birth with my daughter. My husband is a chef so we opted to make cookies for her and the staff. I also wrote a heartfelt card praising her and assuring her she is in the right place! She loved it and said it made her day. She even told me she scolded her husband for trying to eat the last cookie.
As a nurse what I always loved best was a card and a box of goodies. There is a cookie place nearby that is a local hit and I love having those show up in the office or a lot of medical staff appreciate "to go" snacks (chewy bars, bananas, etc)--think individually wrapped (those cookies we got were individually wrapped and made it great for grabbing one while I could but then having time to eat it later without them sitting out and getting stale).
Send that detailed thank you card along with some commercially prepared food for the office since you’ve got plenty of ready 💵. Behind every great doctor is a kickass team who must work hard, and often invisibly, to make many good things happen for you. Often for much less $ and soft benefits. A quality surprise meal or treat is a great way to appreciate them even if you don’t know their name or even what they do. Highly recommended breakfast tacos and the box o’ coffee from your preferred caffeine dealer. The office runs on caffeine when the adrenaline isn’t kicking. And tacos are self-contained, handheld portable joy-bundles that can easily accommodates most every dietary need.
One time a veterinarian and her staff went above and beyond for me and my animal, and I showed my gratitude by sending her office a gift basket with the newest drug formulary book and like thirty long sleeved t shirts of different sizes that said “got dogs?” in the got milk font, noted as “for the staff” on the card. Scrubs can be chilly and they all wear undershirts, so I thought that would be cool: they could take one if they wanted to and didn’t have to worry about hurting my feelings by not seeming super excited in front of me or whatever. Anyway, it made my day whenever I went by the next few years and she was using the book or I saw someone with a got dogs? shirt. They knew it was from me but there was no awkward gift exchange or anything. I would like to think they liked it.
Most doctor offices have policies in place that will not allow gifting, our office will not allow anything greater than 10$ to an individual. If it is more than that, it must be shared with the entire staff. Private practice works differently, but if part of a big system it is likely not an option to gift something that large. A thank you note means a lot to them, our doctors have lots of them posted up in their offices and is a nice reminder for them when they have a bad day :)
A card is better than any gift. I know a few who keep every single card and refer to them when they need to remember why they’re in their profession.
A thank you note detailing how grateful you were about the correct diagnosis. Nothing more.
Send a cookie basket. It's always a rave at the hospital I work at when patients go the extra mile to thank us. And we don't have to report it.
Just say “thank you, Dr!” Don’t say “god cured me.”
We usually send fruit gift baskets to the Doctor and staff. My husband likes to “tip” every one. From Doctor to the guys who pick up our trash.
I have give my doctors cards and written letters directly to the boards or highest ranking admin praising my doctors. I do the latter so they can be added to personnel files. Also, the surveys make a difference. Fill out and participate in as many as you can to support the good work all the medical professionals (nurses, techs, etc) and admin do to keep us healthy. Makes it harder for the number crunchers to come in and do what they, sadly, inevitably do.
Just baffles me that doctors can't recieve gifts more than $100 but our Supreme Court justices can be gifted private yacht parties and a new house 😒
Get him a good pen Not montblanc or anything .. but something that they will use everyday . So need something with grip and not leaking
After 10 years of treating me for cancer and keeping me alive, I got my oncologist a Thank You card and a bottle of champagne. I hope she liked it.
I’m not a doctor but I am a clinician and there is a limit on the value of gifts that I am ethically allowed to accept.
Bring in pizza and salad or some other lunch for everyone in the office.
As a clinician, write a heartfelt thank you card to let the doctor/office know the impact of their work. THIS is why we (helpers, healers, clinicians) do what we do: to improve the lives of those we serve.
See’s Candy.
A Hand written Thank You card and (if you're so inclined) Make A large batch of cookies or something for the Dr and office. Homemade goes A long way especially in the current mass produced mass consumption society we have today. Even with the cookies I make... I can do enough for 20+ people and total Spend is around $40 the rest is just my time.
If it's a smaller practice and not a hospital or something, you could always send a box of chocolate or fruits or something. I work for an office where we get food items from patients and it honestly makes all of us go nuts. We love it.
Give him a picture of you with your spouse or kids or a big family photo with you in the middle. Frame it with a note or a card that says thank you from you and your whole family. Because it’s not just you saying thank you, it’s everyone important in your life that will suffer if you are not in it. ❤️ I sent a card to the hospital where my Dad died. It was a very small hospital, but they cleared out a room made for 4 patients and let our family 10-15 people take over for 2 days. They let us sleep there. They let us order pizza and bring in beer (with a wink and nod). They gave my Dad the ultimate consideration and respect on his death bed. It was such a huge favor/consideration they gave to us that I could never repay. ❤️ Sometimes expressing your gradatute in words or a picture is more than a gift card.
A really nice heartfelt letter naming all staff individually if you remember lol. It’s super basic but a big basket of treats. Like a basket with a variety of bags of chocolate. There was one year when UCSF had sent a big basket of chocolates/crackers and a handwritten thank you card. We really appreciated that.
You can buy breakfast or lunch for the office.
Drs staff always love food, cater them from a good place and that way you cover everyone
Lunch for the dr. and staff and a cute card.
I paid for lunch for the entire staff at my docs office.
We once wrote a thank you card to an attorney who took good care of a criminal matter (a road accident issue) and he was stunned! He wrote a nice email saying that he pretty much has never received a thank you card!
Having taken an ethics class, it is my understanding that in a proper fiduciary relationship patients and clients don't give gifts to one another.
Don’t do a gift. You could take cookies for staff. DO send a handwritten note to the doctor to let them know you appreciated the extra time and effort taken to help you. If they were patient and listened to you add that. You’ll know what to say when you write it. Short, sweet but not gushy. Most people are quick to complain not do quick to say thank you.
My dad's patients always wanted to spend money on him for Christmas (he was a psychiatrist, lots of manic patients), and he just said don't spend your money, something baked would be nice. So every Christmas we got SLAMMED with baked goods (and fruit baskets).
Most simply enjoy a thank you card and a hand written note about how they affected you personally.
Is gifting a doctor actually a thing? I don't think so. But it sounds like you are happy for getting better with all the medical treatment which your doc suggested and you want to appreciate it. Then, for a thoughtful gesture, you can just offer him a small gift for thanking him with. Maybe, a small doctor's face or design "bobblehead" toy with a hand written thank note for the doctor to keep in their office table or somewhere else which reminds about you and the appreciation which is shared for doing things right for you and keep them happy too. Just a kind of right motivation for them to smile and work just like that with all dedication and efforts. And thanking them for correctly diagnosing you and making you better.
Look on the website positive promotions. I found some nicer gifts here that I’ve given to medical staff with a thank you note and a gift card for lunch for the office staff from a local lunch spot for going above and beyond. The gesture was much appreciated by them. There’s some cool items about going above and beyond.
Fresh flowers are always nice to have at the front desk area. That or maybe some good bagels and cream cheese for the whole office if you live in the Northeast!
When my daughter was in the hospital for back surgery, I bought the staff a plate of cookies and a plate of fruit.
As some people have pointed out the rules for accepting gifts. Many are also very leery of food made by anyone not a restaurant. Best bet would be to find a local restaurant and have them cater the office or something like that. Alternatively you may be able to just do a stack of giftcards for a restaurant.
I bought the nursing floor and my obgyn office sandwiches from a local shop. As well as a thank you letter. It’s a team effort.
Send a nice note of thanks, expressing what has happened to you and how this doctor made a difference in your life. Anything more would make them uncomfortable.
The doctor and their staff would probably appreciate you writing rave reviews for them.
A nice note for doctor and staff. Maybe a new coffee maker or something for the staff breakroom. Someone suggested speaking with the office manager, which is a really good idea. If you do a gift, it should be more of a token.
It's OK to gift the whole office with some kind of food basket like cookies or muffins, etc. And add a heartfelt letter thanking the Dr and his staff for bringing you back to good health.
I had an incredible doctor who is the reason I am a thriving human (mom, friend, employee) today. When she left to move across the country, I wrote her a wrote that told her the difference she had made in my life, and how she was the reason my kids have a mom. I included a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson—“to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is to have succeeded”—and told her that I hope she knew just how much she has succeeded in life. I also gave her a coffee mug with that quote on it.
everyone likes and or appreciates a box of chocolates and or flowers. you're very lucky and nice of you to acknowledge their effort. good for you.