The Antidote to Suffering: How Compassionate Connected Care Can Improve Safety, Quality, and Experience

Every so often a book comes along that completely shifts the way one looks at the world. This is such a book. Prior to reading it, I had bought into the shibboleth that pain is mandatory but suffering is option. I now appreciate that suffering is the primary reason, indeed perhaps the only reason, that empathy is so vitally important in healthcare.Dempsey convincingly argues that we must recognize the fact that there is inevitable suffering that goes along with being ill or injured, and also the unnecessary suffering that is inflicted upon both patients and caregivers by ineffective systems and processes. Masterfully interweaving her own personal experiences and her work as a senior executive at Press Ganey; extensive research from the literature; and practical strategies (what works and what does not work) from real world organizations, she defines the problem and offers solutions. She presents a model of Compassionate Connected Care at the caregiver level, the leadership level, the organizational culture level, and the level of the entire industry.In her last chapter, Dempsey reminds us of why we do what we do. And her book is the answer to that question – we are in healthcare not just to fix bones and cure disease, we are in healthcare to alleviate human suffering. I am recommending this book to all of our clients at Values Coach and if you are engaged in the healing professions in any way, I am recommending it to you as well.

Christina Dempsey has written an engaging and thought-provoking book challenging her readers to recognize and rectify unnecessary suffering endemic within the healthcare industry. Dempsey candidly shares stories from personal and professional experiences that will hook you in the first two pages. She thoughtfully pushes her readers to explore, not only the patient suffering that comes from physical and emotional pain (inherent suffering), but also the suffering caused by our healthcare delivery (avoidable suffering).As Chief Nursing Officer for Press Ganey, Dempsey offers solid data throughout the book that gives a nice balance between the head and the heart of compassionate, connected care. Her compassionate, connected care model gives the reader the art and the science needed to reduce suffering for both patients and the people who care for them.At a time when employee engagement is at the fore throughout the healthcare industry, Dempsey shares solid data on the value of improving engagement as a business imperative.I highly recommend this book for healthcare leaders at all levels.

First of all, this book is a truly mind-stretching and concretely helpful book, not to mention also a page-turner. My response to every page? A resounding YES!! Christie Dempsey weaves in compelling personal stories as patient, family member and friend as they experience the healthcare system and uses these masterfully to build the case that relieving suffering should drive our mission as healthcare professionals. Christie goes on to distinguish between inevitable suffering and unnecessary suffering. Inevitable suffering comes with illness, injury and life changes that you didn’t want. Unnecessary or preventable suffering occurs when patients and families are on the receiving end of ineffective systems, processes and communication failures or missed opportunities. She then presents a care model she calls Compassionate Connected Care ™ and proceeds to share practical tools and processes that help organizations enact this model by:• Identifying and measuring suffering throughout the organization• Creating a system in which every clinical response is informed by compassion• Operationalizing staff behavior to promote meaning and purpose• Increasing productivity by building a culture of collaborationChristie concludes that reducing human suffering isn’t just a moral imperative for healthcare providers. It’s a practical way we can improve our organizations and fix our broken systems―while treating patients, families and each other with the respect, dignity, and compassion we all deserve.

"The Antidote to Suffering, How Compassionate Connected Care Can Improve Safety, Quality and Experience" offers a compelling message for anyone involved in healthcare today. Both pragmatic and aspirational, the data, evidence and real life examples provide a rich understanding of what matters most for patients, families, providers and teams to bring about the best possible outcomes for everyone involved.While Christina outlines the current realities in healthcare, she also provides hope. By embracing and implementing the Compassionate Connected Care model, each of us can play a key leadership role in improving our overall healthcare delivery system.Reading this book caused me to pause, and consider what actions I can take to alleviate suffering by showing compassion and empathy to enrich the lives of those I engage with every day. The recommended framework, models and approaches are relevant in many settings, including beyond healthcare. When people are treated with compassion, empathy and genuine care and concern, they feel valued. A great way to live and work, enabling others (and ourselves) to thrive in today's complex world.

A very good and very true book - I just don't happen to be a nurse