Simpatico

Tonight I attended a short talk on "The Role of Compassion in Health Care Today" by Herb Pardes, the president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. (And no, I don't know why "NewYork" is all smushed together like that.)

After spending so much time in the throes of the medical system, it was heartening to hear someone in his position speak with great conviction about putting the care back in health care.

He opened his talk by stating, very simply and persuasively, why everyone is—or should be—invested in the state of our health-care system:

"No matter who you are, you're a patient or potential patient."

Exactly.

When he talked about his goals for health-care culture and about the qualities he wants to see in every member of his hospital staff, he used words like "humanistic," "responsive," "sensitive," "attentive," "empathic," "understanding," "caring," and "genuine."

Those are beautiful words.

He described how important it is for doctors and nurses and technicians and every other kind of caregiver to genuinely understand the perspective of the patient and of the patient's family:

"Something about being understood specifically is invaluable."

That, he said, is the key to making someone feel better.

Indeed it is.

Worked like a charm on me.