THE SIDNEY PROJECTTM IN SPIRITUALITY AND MEDICINE AND COMPASSIONATE CARE

Steele Auditorium

Objective. This on-going program provides training in humanism of medicine and offers tools for residents at various Nova affiliated hospitals. Participants learn strategies for self-care, compassion, "breaking bad news", and how to offer medicine with heart. The program offers participants opportunities to engage in meaningful discussion in a culture that often negates the value of compassionate/spiritual care. They learn how to engage patients in the holistic dimension of a human being; mind, body and spirit. Background. The Sidney ProjectTM in Spirituality and Medicine and Compassionate Care began as a pilot program at two local hospitals for residents from various disciplines participating. The program was created to honor my father. The program has now expanded to 9 hospitals participating. Methods. Participants filled out questionnaires before and after the program to measure the efficacy of the program. Through lectures and discussion, residents learn skills in spirituality and medicine and compassionate care as well as self-care. At the end of the program residents presented papers on any area of interest in spirituality and medicine/compassionate care and were awarded certificates. Results. Results : Residents valued the program and believed that they were practicing more compassionate medicine. The themes will be presented during the podium presentations. Conclusion. The data indicates that there is both a yearning and a willingness to integrate spirituality and compassionate care into medicine in a focused, acknowledged approach. "Patient knows that I care about them as a whole and not just as a person with an illness that needs to be treated." Grants. Submitted a grant but no response yet.