In a thoughtful viewpoint for AAMCNews, Dr. Wynne Morrison, a pediatric critical care and palliative care physician, offers advice on how hospitals can create opportunities for providers to heal and honor the lives of the patients they served.
Some of the effective practices at hospitals around the country include: one final “round” to give providers an opportunity to talk about the patient who died; virtual debriefings (even by email) to alert relevant providers who may not be working on the day of a patient’s death; monthly “grief rounds” to help cope with recent losses; as well as steps like brief ritual pauses immediately after a patient’s death.
Dr. Morrison notes, “Providers need the opportunity to acknowledge [patient] losses. It’s not realistic — or humane — to expect them to simply pick up and move on to treat the next patient, and then the one after that.”
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Stephanie Weiner
Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
Association of American Medical Colleges
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