Patient experience has changed tremendously over the years. Early in Quint Studer’s career, some 80 percent of C-suite people were unaware of their results in this area. Today, in part due to Quint’s work in the field—he connected patient care to the concept of customer service, and has been credited with putting patient experience “on the map”—it is now a vital part of healthcare. Even so, with budget reductions, restructuring, and other challenges, many organizations…

Do small gestures and personal touches make a big difference—or at least some difference—when serving customers? I feel the answer is yes. In fact, in a world that’s increasingly automated and impersonal, they are more noticed and appreciated than ever. I was on the way to a workshop in Austin, Texas. My presentation was scheduled for day two. I decided to arrive early so I could attend the afternoon session for day one. My plane arrived around…