Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine

Summary

No one goes into healthcare with the intention of hurting people, or wanting to come off as callous, cold, or unfeeling. Fortunately, most people working in healthcare understand that kindness and compassion are key, even foundational to success in the care they provide to patients and families. And yet, all too often, there are instances when contact with healthcare is tainted by experiences ranging from vaguely annoying or abrasive to outright emotionally assaultive. Patients may confront experiences that chip away at their sense of pride and personhood.

Dignity in Care provides listeners with what they need to know about the humanity and tone of care, and how they can engage in these facets of care in a thoughtful and meaningful way that will satisfy their patients' needs to be seen and appreciated as "whole persons." The author explores how the humanity of care can get overlooked and how to avoid this happening. It teaches how to communicate better with patients, helping them to feel not just cared for, but cared about. Sir William Osler said, "The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease." Dignity in Care applies this outlook to all of healthcare, because many people can gain technical competency, but success within healthcare requires more.