Compassion in Health Care - Contemplation By Design Summit 2017, Stanford University | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Stanford University panelists discuss the importance of cultivating and maintaining compassion in healthcare, highlighting the need for self-renewal, addressing burnout, and creating a positive practice environment.

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🏫 Compassion in healthcare is both innate and taught, requiring nurturing and cultivation.
• ❓ Stanford University implements various programs and initiatives to support compassion, such as Educators for Care and CI Care.
• 🧑‍⚕️ The healthcare environment can pose challenges to sustaining compassion, but efforts are being made to address these, including reevaluating the impact of electronic health records and promoting cultures of safety and compassion.

Transcript

Stanford University good evening we'll begin and I want to thank each of you for being here at the second event of the 2017 contemplation by design summit my name is dr. Tiye rich and I have the pleasure of coordinating and directing contemplation by design and it is a great honor to be hosting this panel discussion with you this evening on compass... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Is compassion innate or can it be taught?

Compassion is both innate and taught. While individuals may have an innate capacity for compassion, it needs to be nurtured and cultivated through observation, example, and education.

Q: How does Stanford University sustain and cultivate compassion among its students?

Stanford University focuses on creating a positive learning environment, offering programs like Educators for Care and CI Care to support the development of compassion. Mentoring, role-modeling, and facilitating connections with patients and their families are also crucial components.

Q: How can the healthcare environment be improved to prevent the decline of compassion among healthcare professionals?

Efforts are being made to address these challenges, such as reducing the hassle factor associated with the practice of medicine and reforming the electronic health record system. Additionally, institutions like Stanford are working to create cultures of safety, quality, and compassion through programs, surveys, and awareness.

Q: How does self-compassion play a role in sustaining compassion in healthcare?

Self-compassion is vital for healthcare professionals to prevent burnout and maintain their capacity to provide compassionate care. Taking care of oneself, engaging in mindfulness practices, seeking support from mentors or coaches, and fostering connections with colleagues and loved ones all contribute to self-compassion and overall well-being.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Compassion in healthcare involves opening oneself to the feelings and needs of others, manifesting compassion through behavior and relationships, and maintaining a sense of self-worth and well-being.

• Stanford University implements various programs and initiatives to support compassion in healthcare, such as the Educators for Care program, the CI Care program, and the Well-Connect program.

• The healthcare environment plays a crucial role in sustaining compassion, and efforts are being made to address challenges such as electronic health records and the overall culture of the healthcare system.