Freakonomics Radio

How Do You Cure a Compassion Crisis? (Ep. 444 Replay)

Nov 25, 2021
In this engaging discussion, Steve Treziak, chairman at Cooper University Health Care and co-author of Compassionomics, teams up with Harvard psychiatrist Helen Reese, an expert in empathy training. They tackle the alarming lack of compassion in healthcare, linking it to significant issues like provider burnout. Discover how enhancing empathy could transform patient experiences and improve healthcare outcomes. They even delve into the economic benefits of compassionate care, reminding us that a little kindness can go a long way in medicine and beyond.
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ANECDOTE

Recorded Colonoscopy

  • A patient accidentally recorded his colonoscopy, capturing disparaging remarks from medical staff.
  • The anesthesiologist was ordered to pay $500,000 for her lack of compassion.
INSIGHT

Missed Opportunities

  • Doctors miss 60-90% of opportunities to show compassion.
  • They interrupt patients at the 11-second mark, hindering communication and empathy.
INSIGHT

Burnout Crisis

  • The U.S. healthcare system prioritizes throughput over patient connection.
  • This contributes to physician burnout, with rates double that of other fields.
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