“She was crying and I was shocked her room,” Dr. recalls. Shaik.
Despite her long -term condition of diabetes with many complications, the patient was usually optimistic and usually had a radiant face. The patient’s toe was amputated because of an infection that caused unbearable pain and Dr. Shaik, a neurology that supervised her care was delivered.
But to her surprise, her patient said between Siks: “She … names … my hair binding! First my toe … and now my hair is … a mess!”
A problem that she felt she could easily solve, Dr. R. Shaik to a nearby store between seeing patients and got her a lot of hair bands. “Her face flowed from gratitude and joy through this little act,” she recalls. It was an eye opening moment.
Friendliness in industry
Consumer -oriented industries have often searched for ways to promote kindness and can sometimes serve as models. An example is Southwest Airlines. In 2021 they launched their One Million Acts or Kindness initiative that challenges both his employees and customers to perform and share friendly actions (such as planting a tree, painting a school, sharing candy). This campaign encouraged a cycle of positivity that strengthened their marketing as ‘the airline with heart’.
Compassion in health care
Can we bring this kind of compassion to our health systems, where it can influence a patient who suffers from disease? It seems that some hospitals have successfully included these meaningful actions. One model is the practice of cancer patients who call at the end of their treatments. What started as an expansion of an American naval tradition has since been expanded all over the world with many patients, after often complex treatments, look forward to marking this milestone before they go home.
Can empathy make a difference?
In reality, empathy Clinicians can actually influence the progression of a disease. In a study of 891 patients for a period of 3 years, patients from doctors who were assessed with ‘high empathy’ lay through a standardized scale, a better control of hemoglobin A1c, than patients of doctors with lower empathy scores (40%, p <.001).
Unfortunately, some patients who have been admitted cannot return home. The 3 Wishes project was started to perform at least three last wishes for the dying patient. These include things such as decorating the room, celebrating important holidays and preparing Dendens. The majority of these requests are, while most wishes do not cost money at all, they are invaluable. Patients found that their lives were being celebrated and that their loved ones appreciated to create these cherished memories. An unexpected advantage is that the doctors and nurses who treat these patients at their last moments were also raised by fulfilling their wishes and felt a deeper feeling of goal and meaning. This bidirectional benefit is intriguing; A small study of 32 residents of the First Aid showed fewer characteristics of burnout associated with patient observed higher empathy.
Inspired by patients and stories such as this, an initiative was started by Dr. Noor Shaik and her co-founder, Dr. Rogan Magee Bij Penn Medicine called Pennhopes (help our patients smile)The medical team surprised patients with something to brighten up their day. These gifts include the favorite food of a patient, downy blankets, a puzzle to endure the time and more. Just like the 3 Wishes project, both patients and their medical teams share heart -warming experiences.
A small key ring kit
In one case, a patient with a long stay in the hospital was given a key ring braid kit and exclaimed: “Oh my God, this is exactly what I used to do with my grandmother!” and became tearful; He immediately started making key chains. In another case, after having surprised a young patient with a stuffed animal, the doctor also became emotional and said: “I think it is great that this initiative inspires us to think creatively about how we can reach our patients.” These and more examples helped Pennhopes distributed to hospitals in the system.
As mentioned by Dr. Magee: “Because of the power of positivity, these initiatives can breathe new life into the hospital as a place of hope instead of despair.”
Just like the ringing of the cancer bell, such programs resonate past the hospital wall and remind us of the power of personal connection and kindness in action. These efforts all start small, but perhaps with hope, inspiration, volunteering and motivation, this can grow to every health community to make a difference in the lives of a patient.
Written by Noor F. Shaik, MD, PhD, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, co-founder Pennhopes