Schwartz Center Rounds^®

At John Dempsey Hospital, UConn Health Center

Kenneth B. Schwartz died of lung cancer in September 1995. Shortly before his death he founded the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, which is dedicated to strengthening the relationships between patients and caregivers. For more information, visit the Schwartz Center website.

We are happy to announce that John Dempsey Hospital is now part of a network of hospitals throughout the country that participate in “Schwartz Center Rounds.” Schwartz Center Rounds were created to provide a multidisciplinary forum where clinical caregivers have the opportunity to discuss their experiences, thoughts and feelings. The Rounds, which differ from medical or ethics Rounds, offer caregivers a safe, open and relaxed place where they can share their concerns and fears, both for their patients and themselves. The premise is that caregivers are better able to make personal connections with patients when they have greater awareness of, and insight into, their own responses and feelings. The Rounds provide a scheduled time and place where caregivers focus on the social, emotional and personal aspects of patient care.

The Schwartz Center Rounds are a unique and highly effective forum for improving the relationships and increasing the understanding between patients and clinical caregivers by:

• Exploring the human dimension of health care;
• Enhancing communication among caregivers;
• Promoting teamwork among caregivers;
• Providing support to caregivers; and
• Giving caregivers knowledge and insight into the non-clinical aspects of patient care

Benefits to participants:

• First and foremost – you are not alone in your feelings and fears;
• Second, feel closer to your team and lessen barriers to effective communication, too;
• Third, learn new ideas and insights into the issues of daily life; learn effective language to use in difficult situations;
• Fourth, appreciate the expertise of your colleagues in different disciplines;
• Fifth, when all of the above blend together, caregivers find life more fulfilling and patients become the beneficiaries.

Audience

A broad range of professionals participate in the Rounds, including physicians, residents, nurses, nursing assistants, administrative personnel, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, physical therapists, clergy – AND students in all disciplines. Attendance is said to depend on the size of the institution and varies from 30 to 150 caregivers, who attend each session. There are always "regulars" who return each month as well as newcomers. We hope to reach the upper end of the range.

Topics

Rounds are based on the discussion of a patient case that raised specific issue(s) for the caregivers. Participants benefit from the Rounds by discussing the case and specific ways to improve communication skills and interpersonal sensitivity in similar situations.

Sample Topics

• Managing team conflict around how to treat a patient
• How to tell a patient it may be time to stop treatment
• When your own issues of mortality come into play
• Caring for a colleague
• How to discuss a Do Not Resuscitate order with a patient and family
• Pain management: comfort v. lucidity
• Breakdown in communication between patients and caregivers
• Sexuality and illness: conversation comfort zone
• Are we connecting with our patients or are we too busy?
• Delivering bad news
• Children dealing with the death of a parent
• Pain management in the addicted patient
• Death during the holidays
• Losing faith in God: dealing with spiritual crises with patients
• How it feels when a patient "fires" you
• Medical mistakes
• Dealing with unexpected loss
• Allowing a good death

Getting Cases – The Most Important Task

Cases come from our own community. As a start, we hope to use the following methods of recruitment. We are looking forward to receiving suggestions from nurses, social workers, physicians, case managers and committee members.

To suggest a case, e-mail Susan Philo at philo@nso.uchc.edu or call her at 860-679-5495. She will forward the suggestions to Dr. Civetta.

Continuing Education Credits

Physicians, nurses and social workers will be able to receive continuing education credits by attending the Rounds.