Schwartz Rounds
The Mission of Schwartz Rounds is to promote compassionate healthcare and strengthen the relationship between patients and caregivers.
What are Schwartz Rounds?
Schwartz Rounds are a multidisciplinary forum where caregivers discuss the difficult emotional and social issues that arise in caring for patients. Very different from clinical or ethics rounds, Schwartz Rounds is not about what happened, but how it felt.
Rounds were piloted at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1997 and have been held there since. Currently, Schwartz Rounds are held in hundreds of sites across the US and almost 200 in UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
We hope you will find Schwartz Rounds a safe, comfortable forum where you can learn from and support each other.
Rounds were piloted at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1997 and have been held there since. Currently, Schwartz Rounds are held in hundreds of sites across the US and almost 200 in UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
We hope you will find Schwartz Rounds a safe, comfortable forum where you can learn from and support each other.
Upcoming Sessions
Sessions are open to all HSHS Physician Enterprise colleagues, physicians and providers (HSHS Medical Group and Prairie Cardiovascular). Participants are welcome to bring a sack lunch.
CMEs and CEUs can be earned by attending this session. View the disclosure information here.
O'Fallon
Thursday, May 30, 2024, 12:30 – 1 pm
Location: HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Renth Board Room
Topic: TBA
Panelists: TBA
Effingham
Tuesday, July 23, 2024, 12:30 – 1 pm
Location: HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Auditorium
Topic: Coping with Uncooperative Patients
Panelists: Nitin Kumar, MD, Shari Barnett, NP, Stacey Tebbe, NP
What others are saying about Schwartz Rounds
Here’s what HSHS colleagues, physicians and providers are saying after attending Schwartz Rounds:
“As healthcare providers, we are often solution focused beings – ‘fixers’. There is inherent conflict when we face these daily challenges of things we cannot fix. Schwartz Rounds provides an outlet to discuss that inner conflict and helps to renew strength from compassion fatigue. It was very helpful to hear others’ experiences with personal relationships with patients and family, feelings of helplessness, and other difficult situations.”
“This was a wonderful experience and very necessary. Thank you for all the work you put into planning. Fantastic first effort. Thank you!”
“This should be a requirement for all HSHS colleagues yearly.”
“Really enjoyed the experiences being shared. This is a safe space to open up.”
“As healthcare providers, we are often solution focused beings – ‘fixers’. There is inherent conflict when we face these daily challenges of things we cannot fix. Schwartz Rounds provides an outlet to discuss that inner conflict and helps to renew strength from compassion fatigue. It was very helpful to hear others’ experiences with personal relationships with patients and family, feelings of helplessness, and other difficult situations.”
“This was a wonderful experience and very necessary. Thank you for all the work you put into planning. Fantastic first effort. Thank you!”
“This should be a requirement for all HSHS colleagues yearly.”
“Really enjoyed the experiences being shared. This is a safe space to open up.”
History of the Schwartz Center
The Schwartz Center is a non-profit organization housed at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It was established by Ken Schwartz, a healthcare attorney, who died of lung cancer in 1995 at age 40. During his illness, Ken wrote a poignant account of his struggle with cancer that was published in the Boston Globe Magazine. In his essay, “A Patient’s Story,” Ken described a group of caregivers who attended to his medical as well as emotional needs –caregivers who “made the unbearable bearable.” He worried that with the financial pressures and the changing healthcare environment would take the engagement and empathy out of healthcare. Ken expressed a wish before he passed away to set up a center to focus on the patient & caregiver relationship.
Schwartz Rounds committee members
Planning committee members are happy to answer your questions about the program. Feel free to contact them if you would like to learn more or have suggestions.
- Erica Buss – Regional Manager for Physician Practice, Operations
- Lynexia Chigges – Educator - Ambulatory Clinical
- Cayti Costello – Marketing & Communications Specialist
- Brittany DeRiggi – Regional Manager for Physician Practice, Operations
- Curtis Gardner – Facilitator of Registration - Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants Springfield
- Keith Griffeth – VP of Quality
- Tammy Johnston – Practice Manager
- Dana Leefers, PharmD, CDE – Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist
- Amanda Mack – Marketing Project Manager
- Lisa Majka – Manager of Patient Experience
- Amy McNeil – Social Work Coordinator
- Holly Meyer – Practice Manager
- Amber Poettker, PA-C – Clinton County Rural Health Breese
- Barb Schauble – HR Generalist