Programs vs. Place

The place for educational programs is simply an auditorium or conference room with appropriate audiovisual equipment. The more spiritual the program, the more self-revealing physicians are asked to be, the more the chosen place needs to be insulated from clinical activities, including the electronic intrusions of portable communications gear. Program participants can be asked to silence their cell phones and pagers as they would in a concert or theater. A meeting room in a non-clinical area works well for spiritual, self-revealing programs. Often hospital administration offices include a suitable meeting room. It should have minimal hallway traffic, a table, chairs that can be moved, comfortable air handling, and good lighting, preferably with a dimmer switch. Projection equipment, a sound system and a window to the outside are optional but useful.