making room for relationships
By CHCM

Making Room for Relationships

by Kary Gillenwaters, MA, OTR/L


In a recent medical appointment of my own, I was struck by how often the initial collection of vitals and other information during an office visit is a rote process, not only guided by a checklist, but seemingly dictated by it.
I perceived this as an opportunity to collect required information in a more relational way—one that is more fulfilling for patients and care providers alike. 

Certainly, overdependence on a checklist is a choice that can be made by a clinician. But I realized quickly that the core problem wasn’t “overdependence on checklists,” it was “a lack of relational competence during the collection of vitals.”  

What if, rather than focusing on alleviating overdependence on checklists, we simply added relational content to our checklists? What if we recognized that there is purely relational content that also counts as vital? 

You might consider asking any one of these questions: 

  1. What is the most important thing you’d like to have happen today as a result of this appointment?  
  2. If I could alleviate your worries or fears today, what would you like to address? 
  3. Are there any changes you’re currently working on making in your life that I might be able to help you with? 
  4. If you could have a “sticky note” of information you’d like all members of your health care team to know without us having to ask, what would you want us to know?  

When collecting vitals or completing a routine task, try one of these questions to build relationship with your patients and families. You’ll notice that connection increases satisfaction for all involved, and as a bonus, you might find more joy in routine tasks. 

Relationship-Based Care: A Model for Transforming Practice

The result of Creative Health Care Management’s 25 years experience in health care, this book provides health care leaders with basic concepts for transforming their care delivery system into one that is patient and family centered and built on the power of relationships.

I2E2: Leading Lasting Change

In I2E2: Leading Lasting Change, Jayne Felgen shares her in-depth and elegantly simple formula for inspiring and leading real change at all levels of any organization.

Advancing Professional Nursing Practice: Relationship-Based Care and the ANA Standards

The result of Creative Health Care Management’s 25 years experience in health care, this book provides health care leaders with basic concepts for transforming their care delivery system into one that is patient and family centered and built on the power of relationships.

Primary Nursing: Person-Centered Care Delivery System Design

Primary Nursing describes a model of care delivery that while being nearly 5 decades mature, continues to provide the highest level of person-centered care for thousands of patients and their loved ones.

A Quick Guide to Relationship-Based Care

A Quick Guide to Relationship-Based Care is a 68-page booklet outlining the basics of Relationship-Based Care®. This valuable resource is ideal for orientation of the entire workforce in organizations implementing Relationship-Based Care.

Commitment to My Co-Workers© Health Care Card

Recently edited and redesigned to increase clarity, they are used by thousands of health care workers around the world.

Advancing Relationship-Based Cultures

Advancing Relationship-Based Cultures explains and expands a fundamental and often overlooked truth in health care: It is the confluence of relational and clinical competence that advances relationship-based healing cultures.

Relationship-Based Care: A Model for Transforming Practice

The result of Creative Health Care Management’s 25 years experience in health care, this book provides health care leaders with basic concepts for transforming their care delivery system into one that is patient and family centered and built on the power of relationships.

I2E2: Leading Lasting Change

In I2E2: Leading Lasting Change, Jayne Felgen shares her in-depth and elegantly simple formula for inspiring and leading real change at all levels of any organization.

Advancing Professional Nursing Practice: Relationship-Based Care and the ANA Standards

The result of Creative Health Care Management’s 25 years experience in health care, this book provides health care leaders with basic concepts for transforming their care delivery system into one that is patient and family centered and built on the power of relationships.

Primary Nursing: Person-Centered Care Delivery System Design

Primary Nursing describes a model of care delivery that while being nearly 5 decades mature, continues to provide the highest level of person-centered care for thousands of patients and their loved ones.

A Quick Guide to Relationship-Based Care

A Quick Guide to Relationship-Based Care is a 68-page booklet outlining the basics of Relationship-Based Care®. This valuable resource is ideal for orientation of the entire workforce in organizations implementing Relationship-Based Care.

Commitment to My Co-Workers© Health Care Card

Recently edited and redesigned to increase clarity, they are used by thousands of health care workers around the world.

Advancing Relationship-Based Cultures

Advancing Relationship-Based Cultures explains and expands a fundamental and often overlooked truth in health care: It is the confluence of relational and clinical competence that advances relationship-based healing cultures.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Telegram
LinkedIn

Table of Contents

Subscribe to our eNewsletter


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Creative Health Care Management, 8500 Normandale Lake Blvd, Bloomington, MN, 55437, https://www.chcm.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email.
© 2021 Creative Health Care Management. Privacy Policy.
Connect with us