Articles
Loving-kindness meditation may extend life expectancy
A study in the journal Pscychoneuroendocrinology and reported in Inc. finds that a mediation technique that encourages you to open your heart to others can slow telomere attrition.
Kindness: an underrated currency
From the British Medical Journal, an editorial discussing recent research into the transformative power of kindness in healthcare, and argues for qualitative measures and outcomes to be equal to the quantitative when considering "our core purpose of delivering the best care possible".
Can doctors learn from super chickens?
Associate Professor David Brewster and Dr Malcolm Clark refer to William M Muir's "super chickens" research to point out the importance of teamwork over individual performance, and share the view that breaking down our culture focusing on individual acclaim can address the ongoing reality of bullying in the healthcare workplace.
Why being kind can help you live longer
UCLA's recently founded Bedari Kindness institute applies scientific rigour to the study of a normally more emotive topic. Their studies include anthropologists examining how kindness spreads between people, sociologists analysing how those who behave unkindly could be persuaded to be kind, and psychologists researching how kindness can improve mood and reduce depression symptoms.
Incivility Hurts
This article from wrapem.org by ED physician Dr Ellen Meyns, FACEM discusses the impacts of disrespectful treatment of medical staff by their colleagues, and the ripple effect felt by other staff, teams, patients and families. Often unintentional, simple incivility can impact decision-making and contribute to burnout.
Applying Community Organizing Principles to Restore Joy in Work
This article from NEJM Catalyst by Jessica Perlo, MPH and Derek Feeley, DBA suggests "Caring and healing should be joyful activities, not sources of stress" and share their experience of using a community organising approach to foster joy in the healthcare workplace.
For Leaders, Decency Is Just as Important as Intelligence
Most leaders understand the importance of both intellectual and emotional intelligence. This article by Bill Boulding from Harvard Business Review argues the modern-day case for a third quality: decency.
Download the pdf
Creative health: the arts for health and wellbeing
British All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing Inquiry Report. Download this very informative and thought-provoking document discussing the ways the arts can be employed to improve health in the community, workplace and care environments.
Negative workplace cultures and patient care
Professor Johanna Westbrook, Director of the Centre for Health System Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University, writes in the Sydney Morning Herald about the impact of workplace culture on patient care and even safety.
Kind doctors have healthier patients
A new book “Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence That Caring Makes a Difference,” provides evidence that doctors who practice kindness and compassion have better patient outcomes.
Prof. Catherine Crock AM and Lucy Mayes at the IHI/BMJ Conference, Melbourne September 2018
Professor Catherine Crock AM, founder of the Hush Foundation and Gathering of Kindness, and Lucy Mayes, author of Beyond the Stethoscope: doctors' stories of reclaiming hope, heart and healing in medicine will be at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare in Melbourne, 10-12 Sep, 2018, organised by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and BMJ.
Soft Skills will improve our health system
In this article from the Sydney Morning Herald, Hush Foundation board member and passionate supporter of Gathering of Kindness Dr Frank Daly, and Chairman of North Sydney Local Health District Trevor Danos, explain how training in compassion and empathy can profoundly impact the health system.
Health Professional Radio - Building Better Relationships Among Patients and Health Professionals
Dr Catherine Crock AM discusses the concerning culture growing in the medical industry the past few years where the patients and health professionals don’t communicate properly and never see eye to eye.
Falling Through the Cracks: Greg's Story
This new film explores the journey of Greg Price, a 31-year-old Alberta man, who died in 2012 of complications from surgery for testicular cancer. Initiated by Greg's family, it uses Hollywood-style storytelling to help educate medical students about treating patients as people.
Read an appraisal by Dr Brian Goldman here .
Learn about the film and the Greg's Wings charity here.
by Rachel Callander
Gathering of Kindness 2017 presenter and thought leader Rachel Callander has created this insightful and accessible white paper on communication that cares for everyone involved in the healthcare process.
Effective Communication in Healthcare
