Schwartz Center Rounds is a multi-disciplinary forum for discussing emotional issues that arise in caring for patients. The program aims to improve patient care by promoting better communication and compassion among healthcare providers. Modeled after Schwartz Center Rounds, Jeff-CHAT was created atThomasJeffersonUniversityin 2011 as a novel opportunity for students from various health professions to share their experiences during their clinical education. Therefore, Jeff-CHAT strives to promote reflection and foster compassion among future healthcare providers.
The monthly, lunchtime rounds are organized and facilitated by students, with the support of a multi-disciplinary group of faculty. The rounds begin with student panelists from three different disciplines who share a personal vignette related to a chosen theme (e.g., “A difficult patient…”). Open discussion, which is facilitated by a student, constitutes the remaining time. A debriefing with the panelists and leaders follows the rounds.
Eight Jeff-CHAT rounds have taken place with attendance ranging from thirty to seventy students. Based upon review of evaluations, Jeff-CHAT has been well received by students from all disciplines. Overall, students have reported that Jeff-CHAT has increased their understanding of common experiences and emotions among students from other disciplines. Additionally, students have expressed that Jeff-CHAT is a good environment for expressing feelings, and that more students should participate. Almost all students have rated each rounds “excellent” or “exceptional”.
The multi-disciplinary aspect of the rounds has emerged as the strength of the program. Open sharing and discussion of challenging topics allows students to discover the common humanism and ideals amongst the disciplines, while learning about the training of each discipline. The non-classroom, student-run format creates a safe, open environment for students to learn about each other in a novel manner. Similar opportunities should be made available to students in all settings, particularly at multi-disciplinary training institutions.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to identify how programs like Jeff-CHAT improve inter-professional education.
2. Participants will be able to incorporate student-run programs into their inter-professional activities