Have a Good Time

The segment entitled “What is Spirituality?” allows the Physician Champion to reiterate the differences between spirituality and religion. I also introduce the concept of the Spiritual Formation Field as conceived by Van Kaam. This sets the stage for understanding the following clinical vignettes as a part of the formation field. As you prepare the program, a few inquiries will turn up 3 – 4 amateur actors on the staff. The vignettes run no longer than 3 minutes and stop in mid-action with key unresolved issues. The table facilitators begin a dialogue about the issues. Because our program began with cardiovascular physicians, our whimsical acting troupe called themselves The Cabbage Patch Players. It is important to have a good time.

Linking to Patient Satisfaction

Choose an administrator for the next segment who is knowledgeable about patient satisfaction and who is trusted by the medical staff to tell the background of the program. Give data about patient satisfaction and tell what features of care are important in creating satisfaction. Remind the participants of some basic behaviors that foster satisfaction: • Let the patient know who you are. • Sit close to the patient. • Ask the patient what they want to accomplish and what they understand about their illness. • Touch the patient appropriately. When we began this program we discovered that about 75% of patients wanted their physicians to address their spiritual and emotional needs. By contrast, only 2% reported that their physician had actually done so. Tell descriptive stories about how one or two respected physicians have demonstrated spiritually fulfilling behaviors in the hospital.

Reflection Questions for the preceding scripture

Ask the participants these reflection questions leaving 15 – 20 seconds between each. Do not ask them to respond verbally, but if someone spontaneously volunteers, encourage their comment: What would it mean to be bent so that you could not straighten? What would it be like to walk, or bathe, or look out at the countryside? Where are you in this story? Are you the woman? Have you lived with infirmity? Are you the healer? Do you relieve distress? When you touch are you healing or are you healed? Are you the synagogue ruler? Are the rules important to you? Are you one of the people, delighted by the miracle? Are you Satan? Do you bind and control?

Starting Reflection

We begin by showing a video entitled: “A Woman Bent Double”. (Available from St. Vincent Seton Cove, 2425 Dugan St., Indianapolis IN 46260.) This reflection sets the tone of the conference by highlighting health issues in the context of a sacred encounter. That tone allows the participant to look for the sacred in the remainder of the program. If you do not have the video, read this passage with an unhurried pace: Luke 13: 10 – 17 “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ Then, he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’ The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.” I will include some reflection questions with my next post. Meanwhile, have a blessed Christmas.

Participant comfort

Because physicians do not stream in on time, allow 15 minutes for them to gather, make name tags and find a seat. Good dialogue occurs best in a safe, comfortable setting. Time spent orienting the participants to the facility, the agenda and their conference materials contribute to the general comfort level. The physician champion should orient the participants since he or she will be better known. The physician champion introduces the Chief Facilitator. From that point until the end, the Chief Facilitator serves as master of ceremonies and facilitates sessions of dialogue that involve the entire group.

Schedule of events

Here is an example of a program that we entitled: Spirituality & Disease Management for MD’s (4:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.) Rationale: To help physicians serve the spiritual needs of patients, families and staff. 4:30 p.m. – Participants Gather 4:45 p.m. – Physician Champion: Welcome 4:50 p.m. – Chief Facilitator: Opening Reflection – Video: “A Woman Bent Double” 5:00 p.m. – Quality Administrator: Patient Satisfaction 5:10 p.m. – Physician Champion: What is “Spirituality?” 5:25 p.m. - Cabbage patch players: Vignette #1 5:50 p.m. – Cabbage patch players: Vignette #2 6:15 p.m. – Chief Facilitator: Blessing & Dinner 6:45 p.m. – Cabbage patch players: Vignette #3 7:10 p.m. - Cabbage patch players: Vignette #4 7:35 p.m. - Chief Facilitator: “A Dying Man’s Journey” 8:15 p.m. – Physician Champion: What are the barriers to serving spiritual needs? 8:35 p.m. – Physician Champion: Closing Prayer 8:45 p.m. – Complete evaluation forms I'll elaborate on some of these entries in my next post.

Pre-conference preparation

The faculty meets thirty minutes before the participants arrive for final instructions and to pray. The faculty consists of an overall Chief Facilitator, two or three actors from the hospital staff and a table discussion facilitator for four to five participants. Include a chaplain and an experienced nurse at each discussion table. It is best if the nurses have participated previously in their staff program. Physicians who have previously participated should facilitate the table discussions. If you have never offered this program, have a special session so the facilitating physicians can experience it in advance. Because physicians facilitate small group discussions infrequently, review the mechanics of facilitation before the participants arrive.