National Doctors Day
Today is Doctors’ Day, even though it might not say so on your desk calendar.
It’s an annual observance to encourage people to appreciate physicians who help save lives everywhere.
The holiday started in 1933 in Winder, Ga., and since then it’s been honored every year on March 30, the first anniversary of a doctor using ether anesthesia.
How well do you know your doctor? Unless you’ve been seeing him or her for a long time, you might not know much about your physician’s personal life.
Doctors tend to stay focused on their patients, not themselves, so it’s not unusual that you might not even know if your doctor is married, has children, etc.
We found some stats on the Internet that tell us a little more about doctors’ lives.
Percentage of doctors in a “committed relationship”: 82 percent.
Percentage of doctors whose spouse is also a doctor: 21 percent.
Percentage of doctors who say their religion or beliefs helps them deal with stress: 76 percent.
Number of close friends most doctors have: Between one and three.
Estimated number of doctors in the United States: 700,000.
Estimated number of hours doctors work per week: 60.
How much we spent on physician and clinical services in the United States in 2020: $794 billion.
The year that Hallmark started printing cards for Doctors’ Day: 2003.
So thank your doctor the next time you see him or her. He or she is there for you.