Publication/Presentation Date
12-7-2019
Abstract
Patient-clinician relationships should be the heart of health care. But the demands of our system do not serve the traditional doctor-patient relationship well. Clinicians are burning out and leaving health care at alarming rates, with related spikes in depression and even suicide. Meanwhile, patients are talking separately about how they too feel burned by the system. The third conversation brings these groups together and gives them the space and the freedom to connect in a new way that builds empathy and appreciation for each other's humanity. The experience is designed to boost clinician and patient wellbeing. In a facilitated conversation, patients and clinicians sit knee to knee and talk about working in the system and receiving care. They explore each other's lived experiences and identify what they want to do individually and together to create change. Nearly 8 in 10 of all participants reported feeling more hopeful and more able to positively impact the health care system as a result. We observed that patients had empathy for clinicians and wanted to help. Clinicians found relief in connecting, being vulnerable and sharing openly. Ideas for change emerged that were practical and achievable.
Published In/Presented At
Bren, D. Sogor, E. (2019, December 07). The Third Conversation: A Promising Pathway for Improving Wellbeing for Clinicians and Patients. Poster Presented at: (STFM) Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Conference on Practice and Quality Improvement , Phoenix, AZ.
Department(s)
Department of Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine Faculty
Document Type
Poster
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