Last year in my post The Power of the Personal (Aug 2018) , I discussed how personal photos or other home memorabilia can provide comfort to hospitalized patients and also remind providers that there is so much more to their patient than their current illness. My belief is that this promotes empathy and understanding, beneficial to both providers and patients alike.
A recent story on NPR’s Morning Edition profiles an innovative program with a similar premise. But it goes much farther. This program was created by a medical resident, who wanted to find a way to help providers easily learn about their patients as a whole person.
thus began: My Life, My Story
Hospital volunteers interview patients and then write up a ~1000 word life story. This document is then added to the patient’s medical record so anyone who comes in contact with the patient has access. In this way, providers can easily get a better understanding of the person they are caring for. And there’s evidence this can help improve patient care.
It’s a wonderful way to try to address a common problem many patients have when receiving care in our US healthcare system. The hollow feeling that “nobody knows who I am”. Now’s there’s an effective fix.
it’s worth listening to: My Life, My Story
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