Overthrowing barriers to empathy in healthcare: empathy in the age of the Internet
"Introduction
Empathy-based medicine re-establishes relationship as the heart of healthcare. Practitioners often complain that their capacity to practise empathically is undermined by ‘tyrannical guidelines’,1 insufficient time and an ever-increasing burden of paperwork.2 Clinicians often see this system as lacking empathy – uninterested in practitioners’ perspectives, health or welfare. Within this context, it is unsurprising that NHS staff have significant work-related stress and ill health.3 As a result, patients suffer, claiming clinicians do not communicate adequately, often leaving their needs and concerns insufficiently addressed.4"
Benefits
"A growing number of trials show that enhanced practitioner empathy can
reduce pain and
anxiety,
while improving general quality of care.8
Empathic care also increases patient satisfaction, and can benefit the growing number of multimorbid patients,9
increase practitioner wellbeing while reducing stress and burnout,10 and diminish medico-legal risks.11"
"Empathy-based medicine promises to improve patient outcomes, reduce practitioner burnout and save money"
"The new paradigm: celebrating the therapeutic benefits of empathy
In this new paradigm the heart of the consultation is the human relationship, and the following are fundamental:"
Definition
Interventions/Training
Role modelling
Exploiting existing technology
Training and development
References