THE VALUE OF HUMAN CONNECTION IN HEALTHCARE

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and navigate our return to normal, I have been reflecting on the valuable information gained over the last three years. Of the many learning opportunities presented during the pandemic, most prominent was the call of healthcare providers to increase our emphasis on providing human-centered care. We know that the interaction between provider and patient has a significant impact on health outcomes, and we should be asking how we can incorporate more human connection into our daily practices.

Dignity Health maintains clinics in the Roseville area and serves many Placer County patients in our Carmichael hospital. At Dignity Health and Mercy San Juan Medical Center, we know human-first care can have a long-term impact on the overall health of our community. We believe human connection is the catalyst for healing—body, mind and spirit.

Creating an effective meaningful connection with patients can be as simple as maintaining eye contact, asking more questions, interrupting less and remaining curious during interactions. Our hello humankindess slogan is more than just a catchy tagline. Recently, at Mercy San Juan demonstrated our commitment to human connection in our Emergency Department when one of our physicians recognized a patient who was in need of shoes upon his discharge from our care. This provider removed his shoes and gave them to the patient to ensure he could have what he needed as he left our care. This level of caring and compassion is at the core of our mission.

The word “dignity” defines what we stand for and why we do the work we do. Dignity means utilizing the most advanced medical technology; Mercy San Juan is home to a Level II Trauma Unit and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It means offering clinical expertise from top doctors and nurses; Healthgrades has named Mercy San Juan as the number two Pulmonary Care Hospital in California as well as top 100 in the Nation. Dignity means safely caring for our patients so they can lead healthy, meaningful lives. And it means delivering high quality, compassionate care that is accessible to all.

The adversities of the pandemic required us to put our mission into action to improve the health of the community we serve. Within the last two years alone, Mercy San Juan cared for the most Emergency Medical Services (EMS) patients in Sacramento County for trauma, STEMI (heart attack) and stroke.

As we move forward, let us reflect on and incorporate what we have learned from this journey. Healing is about caring for the whole person, and human connection is the way forward.