Medical students at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia are taking a class, Reflection Rounds, to enrich their spiritual lives in an effort to avoid cynicism and burnout in their professional careers, according to philly.com.
Here are five key points:
1. The class aims to prepare students for the suffering, disappointment and limitations that come with practicing medicine.
2. Studies indicate empathy drops among medical students in their third year as they move from textbooks to helping real-life patients and their families.
3. In one session, students discussed the powerlessness they experience when patients put themselves at risk by ignoring physicians' advice. Other students voiced concerns over handling the complicated relationship between patients and family.
4. The "spiritual" rounds were created through a partnership between the George Washington University Institute for Spirituality and Health and the John Templeton Foundation. The rounds have been tried at 18 schools and address burnout, depression, spiritual well-being, empathy and patient centeredness.
5. Thomas Jefferson started the program two years ago after receiving a grant. The school opted to continue the program on its own for students going through the family and community medicine rotation.
More articles on practice management:
Laser Spine receives Planetree award for excellent care: 5 notes
Physicians are people too — 5 notes on patient views on physicians
2015 pay: 8 medical specialties with largest percentage increase