In early September, 2006, about six weeks following a “routine” brain tumor removal, I was transferred from the surgical hospital to a rehabilitation facility. I had regular occupational, physical and speech therapy six days per week. My speech therapist, who exemplified the expression of empathy in healthcare, used methods to stimulate my swallowing reflex. She swabbed the back of my throat and my uvula (the thing that hangs down in the back of the throat) with cold, lemon-flavored sticks. She kept track of the number of times I swallowed during each session. The number wasn’t high, but at least I could see my progress.
While swabbing the very back of my throat didn’t “hurt”, it was uncomfortable and could cause gagging if I wasn’t relaxed. My speech therapist was able to do this valuable treatment with my full cooperation.
Why?
EMPATHY
The Undeniable Benefits of Empathy in Patient Care
Empathy is a game-changer in healthcare. Expressing it and gaining your patient’s cooperation every day will lead to longevity, greater job satisfaction and less burnout. It can change your whole experience and your career for the better. Let’s check out some of the cool things empathy can do.
Enhanced Patient-Provider Relationships
Empathy builds trust between you and your patient. When your patient feels heard, they’re more likely to open up. This makes talking easier and creates a strong team. This connection, what some call the therapeutic alliance, is key for good care.
Active listening: Pay attention, nod, and show you’re engaged.
Non-verbal cues: Smile, make eye contact, and use open body language.
During empathy workshops, I teach healthcare providers to find their patient’s “spark”, the “inspiration that will take their breath away”. Here how one provider found mine—and used it!
In speech therapy, we also worked on…speech. Michelle, the very energetic and happy speech therapist, started me off on one-syllable words, then two-syllable words, then three. She had me state the names of the whales on my poster to see if she could understand me. I remembered the names of the whales: blue whale, humpback whale, gray whale, and sperm whale. Michelle understood these whale names, and learned something new. Then I tried the scientific names: Balaenoptera musculus, Megaptera novaeangliae, Eschrictius robustus, and Physeter macrocephalus. Michelle said, “Balena—who? Mega—what?” My scientific recital was not as successful. Using my passion for whales to work on my speech was creative, compassionate, and extremely empathetic. I remembered my whale names! This gave me hope that someday, I’d return to my life as a marine biologist.
In another stunning example of empathy, Michelle thought that it would be great therapy to talk on the phone. My cousin Sari lived in England and was unable to visit me in the hospital. The only way we could communicate was by telephone. Michelle was sensitive to my fear of not being understood on the phone. She brought in a phone with a double-receiver and we talked to Sari together. This worked great! It gave me a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with Sari and work on my speech, while Michelle provided a safety net.
Reduced Patient Anxiety and Pain Perception
Empathy can calm your fears. It can also help manage pain. When someone cares, it eases your mind. Some studies have even found a link between empathy and less pain. Use our Empathy Journal to track your expressions of empathy.
"Empathy is the single most powerful tool a healthcare provider can use to connect with their patients and drive positive outcomes. By truly understanding a patient's emotional state, the provider can tailor their communication, treatment plan, and overall approach to achieve the best possible results."
The importance of empathy in healthcare
Most of my therapists were great at calming my fears and encouraging me to work hard. The only way to achieve this is by expressing empathy. I tried my hardest to complete any impossible task that my empathetic therapists asked of me. I knew that Nick (one of my physical therapists) would never push me beyond my limits and that he would always be considerate of my need to use suction to take care of my oral secretions. I knew that Mohammed (one of my occupational therapists) would never let me fall, even though I came close every day! I knew that another of my physical therapist, Dennis’ accupressure treatments might be uncomfortable, but they wouldn’t hurt. As a result, I always worked hard, giving my best effort without fear inhibiting me.
Conclusion
Empathy is powerful in healthcare. Yet, you must use it with care. Healthy empathy helps patients and providers. Prioritize self-care. Learn to handle emotions. And seek support when you need it. Let’s commit to compassionate care.
