Vignettes & Dialogue

The program was originally entitled “Spirituality and Disease Management”, but “Bedside Spirituality” describes it better. Participants scrutinize critical physician relationships in the hospital, namely the relationships with patients, patient’s families, other health workers, and other physicians. They explore spiritually depleting physician behaviors, namely proselytizing, addictions, staff abuse, and the use of medically futile treatment. Staff members act out short vignettes. Then questions and dialogue bring out stories that teach the best behaviors. Physicians, like most people, tend to modify their behavior toward the group norm. Since physicians rarely have conversations like this, they are not clear on the group norm or even what one or two other physicians are doing. These conversations accomplish much. A seasoned facilitator is a must.