Spotlight: Schwartz Rounds

In 1994 a health attorney called Ken Schwartz was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. During his treatment, he found that what mattered to him most as a patient were the simple acts of kindness from his caregivers, which he said made “the unbearable bearable.” Before his death, he left a legacy for the establishment of the Schwartz Center in Boston, to help to foster compassion in healthcare like a human just an illness.”

Schwartz Rounds provide a structured forum where all staff, clinical and non-clinical, come together regularly to discuss the emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare

The purpose of Rounds is to understand the challenges and rewards to providing care, not to solve problems or to focus on the clinical aspects of patient care.

Schwartz Rounds can help staff feel more supported in their jobs, allowing them the time and space to reflect on their roles. Evidence shows that staff who attend Rounds feel less stressed and isolated, with increased insight and appreciation for each other’s roles, in addition to reducing hierarchies between staff and to focus attention on relational aspects of care

Schwartz Rounds at Gatshead Health

Topics have included:

Covid and Me

The day I made a difference

In at the deep end

When my best isn’t good enough

Feelings of failure when things don’t work

I didn’t expect that: Managing our expectations of ourselves and our role

Heroes to Zero's A time I felt proud

From Holby City to ER – when TV medicine affects patient expectations

Schwartz Rounds are run by trained facilitators, who work in varied roles across the organisation. They happen monthly (other than a couple of scheduled breaks) and to enable as many people as possible to attend, we run them in person one month, then online the next.

Schwartz Rounds last around one hour. The first 15-20 minutes will be led by 2-3 storytellers, who will share their experiences around the theme.

Storyteller panels will ideally be a mix of clinical and non-clinical staff to help build well-rounded perspective amongst attendees. The remainder of the session will then be led by the facilitators who’ll lead an open discussion.

The focus of Schwartz Rounds is very much on reflection, and so discussion will be focused around this as opposed to problem solving All sessions are a confidential space, with patient and staff identities protected and it clearly outlined that the room is a safe space

Interested?

If you’re interested in taking part in a Schwartz Round as a participant or as a storyteller, get in touch with us at ghnt.hwb@nhs.net or go to our webpage here.