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In This Issue:
The body language of clinicians often speaks louder than words to palliative care patients and their families.
“Most of the time, we don’t even realize how little things like crossing our arms or looking at our watches can affect patients and families,” said Namrata Patil, MD, MPH, director of the Thoracic Intermediate Care Unit. “Since end-of-life care is an emotionally-charged time for patients and families, they might perceive these gestures in a way we don’t mean.”
To educate clinicians, Patil, Maureen Lynch, NP, and Janet Abrahm, MD—with support from Selwyn Rogers, MD, MPH, chief of Trauma, Burns and Surgical Critical Care, and Chief of Thoracic Surgery David Sugarbaker, MD—put together a series of workshops on the 7CD Surgical Intensive Care Units and the 11C Thoracic Intensive Care Unit using funds from a 2006 Thomson Compassionate Care scholarship. The workshops include role-playing so nurses, residents, fellows and attending physicians can see how families might perceive their body language and choice of words.
For example, said Patil, sitting back in your chair with your arms at your sides implies that you are not in a rush and that you have time to talk with the family, whereas standing with your arms folded implies that you are authoritative.
“Try not to answer pages or check your watch constantly when with patients or families,” Patil added.
Clinicians also should choose words carefully and say them in a gentle manner. “Most of the time, it’s not the words, it’s how they’re said,” Patil said.
Patil, Lynch and Abrahm have received requests for additional workshops on the topic and plan to offer them soon.
The eighth annual Dennis Thomson Leadership Award and Compassionate Care Scholar Awards will be presented March 28, at 4 p.m., in the Bornstein Amphitheater. Matt Fishman, vice president for Community Health at Partners HealthCare, is the keynote speaker.
Kathleen Gallivan, PhD Chaplaincy Seminars
Lisa Preston, RN, and Eileen Mann, RN Educating Nursing Staff on Compassionate/Palliative Practices
Joyce T. Browning, RN, and the Diversity Nursing Team Enhancing Compassionate Care through Diversity at BWH
Mary Antonelli, RN, MPH, and Team Enhancing the Safety of Patients Experiencing Delirium
Beth McManus, PhD, MPH, PT, and Members of the Fragile Feeding Group Feeding: Recognizing the Unique Experience for Each Premature Infant