The Power of a Smile in Medicine

It was the first week of fully implementing the new electronic medical record system in our hospital. No matter how prepared you are, there are always going to be unexpected challenges not anticipated. Starting a new system is not easy. There is a lot of preparation and practice involved. Some people are resistant to change. Some people prefer to avoid change by calling out sick or taking time off.

For me, this is the most challenging system change to date. Probably because the EMR programs are built with more and more sophistication. Perhaps I am limited by my suboptimal skills in technology. Whatever it is, the initial change is usually hard.

I decided to face the new EMR head on – not avoiding it; instead, I decided to do my best to know the EMR well. I have the experience of using different EMRs in the past. Thankfully, there are people from EMR support stationed in our office to help us as we need. If I need help, all I have to do is to find someone to show me.

One EMR staff member told me that she loved my smile. She would walk by my room an extra time just to see me greet her with a smile. Smiling has become such a part of me that it is natural for me to smile at people I see, including strangers. In the office, it is a habit for me to greet whoever passes my room. Smiling is my expression of appreciation. I am grateful for the EMR staff stationed at our office. Although I get a basic knowledge of the new EMR, I am sure there are many more things to learn, little shortcuts to streamline things, and other tricks to master the program.

It is possible to smile at challenging times. Besides appreciation and gratitude, smiling is also a reflection of peace within. You think of something that allows you to feel those emotions, and those emotions make you smile. I believe that the act of smiling itself can enhance those same feelings. The starting point is what you think and how you think of a situation. With my situation of the new EMR, I focus on the thought that I can do hard things, and the EMR staff is here to help me.

Smiling allows us to experience more peace, gratitude and abundance. The more we smile, the more we generate pleasant thoughts. This in turn decreases our stress level. Smiling reminds you of something you enjoy or something you appreciate. The act of smiling alone can decrease your stress level.

When you are at work, with many things coming at you simultaneously, it is easy to think that there are too many things to handle and you feel overwhelmed. When this happens, take a pause. Smile. Examine the situation in an objective way. Remind yourself what is going well despite challenges. When you are in a lighter mood, it is easier to focus on the task at hand. You also get to be more creative and come up with innovative ideas to solve problems.

A genuine smile is contagious. When you smile at someone, you are acknowledging their presence and appreciating them. Smiling lightens the atmosphere and it is a great way to start a connection. Smiling enhances trust between two people. Besides feeling more calm, smiling promotes collaboration and teamwork.

Smiling is a simple gesture. When you are facing difficulties, remind yourself of what is going well and smile. Smiling allows you to appreciate more things in life. Smiling has a calming effect. Smiling is contagious and it can infect the whole room of people with more light-heartedness, less stress, more focus and better teamwork.