The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare was established in 1995 to sustain compassion in healthcare. Today, in partnership with our members around the globe, we strive to further advance our mission by working to ensure that all who give and receive healthcare experience compassion. In this course, we introduce the history of the Schwartz Center, our programs and activities, and the neuroscientific basis for compassion.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the Schwartz Center’s work
• Define compassion as it relates to healthcare
• Cite evidence correlating empathy and compassion with improved meaningful outcomes for patients and staff
• Explain how the Schwartz Center fosters compassion in healthcare organizations

Who Should Enroll: New senior leaders or clinical leaders of Schwartz Center member organizations; new Schwartz Rounds^® Facilitators or Planning Committee members

Time Commitment: 1 to 1.5 hours

Schwartz Rounds were created to provide healthcare staff with a forum for interprofessional conversations about the social and emotional experiences of caregiving, and as a source of respite, support, and community. The following three courses will give participants the information and resources needed to conduct the program.

Please note Schwartz Rounds trainings are only available to members conducting the Schwartz Rounds program.

During this course we introduce the fundamentals of Schwartz Rounds: what they are, how they work, and how to structure and staff the program.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the core elements of a Schwartz Rounds session
• Match responsibilities to key roles of the Schwartz Rounds Leadership Team
• Identify the key characteristics of an effective case or topic
• Generate ideas for cases and topics

Who Should Enroll: New Schwartz Rounds Leadership Team members involved in planning or facilitating Schwartz Rounds, including Physician/Clinical Leaders, Facilitators, and Program Coordinators.

Time Commitment: 1-1.5 hours

During this course we introduce the fundamentals of Schwartz Rounds facilitation and the Narrative Flow of Schwartz Rounds.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe what it means to be a Schwartz Rounds Facilitator, including responsibilities before, during, and after a Schwartz Rounds Session.
• Identify compassionate Facilitator behaviors
• Prepare panelists ahead of Schwartz Rounds
• Navigate the Narrative Flow of Schwartz Rounds

Who Should Enroll: New Schwartz Rounds Facilitators from new and/or established Schwartz Rounds programs.

Time Commitment: 1-1.5 hours

During this course we support your plans for a first Schwartz Rounds Session.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the foundations of an effective Schwartz Rounds program
• Prepare for your site’s first Schwartz Rounds
• Access additional training and resources

Who Should Enroll: New Schwartz Rounds Leadership Team members involved in planning or facilitating Schwartz Rounds, including Physician/Clinical Leaders, Facilitators, and Program Coordinators.

Time Commitment: 1-1.5 hours

One of the highlights of Schwartz Center Facilitation Workshops is always a “demonstration” Schwartz Rounds: a session facilitated by Schwartz Center staff and convened spontaneously, with workshop attendees serving as Schwartz Rounds panelists and participants. During this course you’ll have the opportunity to observe a recording of one such Schwartz Rounds. The session, “Finding Compassion in Difficult Moments,” was facilitated by Schwartz Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Beth Lown and was recorded with permission at Greater New York Hospital Association.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the narrative flow of a Schwartz Rounds session
• Explain the roles of Schwartz Rounds facilitators, panelists, and participants

Who Should Enroll: New Schwartz Rounds Leadership Team members, including Facilitators, and anyone who wishes to observe a Schwartz Rounds session.

Time Commitment: 1.5 hours

Stress First Aid (SFA) provides a framework for self-care and peer support, with a set of supportive actions designed to identify and mitigate the negative impacts of stress at work before they impair staff health and well-being.

SFA was initially developed under the auspices of the U.S. military for implementation by the Navy and Marine Corps. It has since been successfully adapted for use by firefighters, police forces, and other first responders. The Schwartz Center has partnered with Dr. Patricia Watson, one of the original co-authors of the SFA framework, to create a compassion-informed program for our members.

Complete this brief course to determine which SFA training opportunities are right for your organization.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the Stress First Aid training opportunities available to Schwartz Center members
• Identify the staffing, time, commitment, and resources required to join a Stress First Aid Train the Trainer cohort
• Determine if the Stress First Aid Train the Trainer program is the right fit for your organization
• Submit interest for an upcoming Stress First Aid Train the Trainer Cohort

Who Should Enroll: Anyone at your healthcare organization interested in learning more about the Stress First Aid training opportunities for Schwartz Center members. This course required to submit interest in an upcoming Stress First Aid Train the Trainer program.

Time Commitment: 15 minutes

Stress First Aid (SFA) provides a framework for self-care and peer support, with a set of supportive actions designed to identify and mitigate the negative impacts of stress at work before they impair staff health and well-being.

SFA was initially developed under the auspices of the U.S. military for implementation by the Navy and Marine Corps. It has since been successfully adapted for use by firefighters, police forces, and other first responders.

To develop this course we partnered with Dr. Patricia Watson of the National Center for PTSD, one of the original co-authors of the Stress First Aid model. In it, we offer a video introduction to the core principles of Stress First Aid, as well as resources and additional learning materials to help you apply those core principles in your own workplace.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify sources of stress and stress injury for healthcare workers
• Articulate the purpose of Stress First Aid
• Describe the Stress Continuum
• Explain the “7 Cs,” or core actions of Stress First Aid including examples of when they might be needed and strategies to implement each core action
• Identify resources for further training and implementation

Who Should Enroll: Anyone at your healthcare organization interested in learning more about the Stress First Aid self-care and peer-support framework.

Time Commitment: 1 to 1.5 hours

If you plan to implement Stress First Aid more broadly at your organization, you might consider our eight-hour Stress First Aid Train the Trainer program, which includes eight modules of self-paced online instruction complemented by three live online meetings with your training cohort and Schwartz Center staff.

For more information about our Stress First Aid Train the Trainer program, please complete Stress First Aid: An Overview of Schwartz Center Programs on the Schwartz Center Member Learning Center.

COVID-19 has changed healthcare forever, with staff in all roles facing new levels of trauma that compound the many existing stressors that have long challenged the healthcare workforce. This training, based on the core actions of Stress First Aid, is intended to support our Schwartz Rounds Facilitators as they lead colleagues through difficult conversations in difficult times.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the five elements of mid- and immediate post-trauma intervention that support the recovery of people facing stress and adversity
• Describe how a trauma-informed lens can support Schwartz Rounds planning and facilitation

Who Should Enroll: All Schwartz Rounds Clinical/Physician Leaders and Facilitators involved in planning and facilitating Schwartz Rounds

Time Commitment: 1 hour

Unit-Based Schwartz Rounds (UBSR) allow our Schwartz Rounds teams to bring Schwartz Rounds to colleagues who might not otherwise be able to participate, and to create space for conversations that can help support team cohesion and team culture. During this course, we review essential considerations for planning and facilitating Unit-Based Schwartz Rounds, focusing on delivering Schwartz Rounds that meet the goals of unit leaders and accommodate group dynamics.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Define Unit-Based Schwartz Rounds
• Describe the planning process for UBSR
• Articulate the facilitation skills needed for UBSR
• Access additional information and support as needed

Who Should Enroll: Schwartz Rounds Leadership Team members, including Physician/Clinical Leaders and Facilitators, involved in planning and facilitating Unit-Based Schwartz Rounds

Time Commitment: 1 hour

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became impossible to convene Schwartz Rounds in person. Recognizing that the need for the Schwartz Rounds is greater than ever, Schwartz Center staff developed – with input from trauma experts — guidance for convening Schwartz Rounds online. During this course, we review essential considerations for planning and facilitating Schwartz Rounds on virtual meeting platforms.

Learning Objectives

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Define Virtual Schwartz Rounds (VSR)
• Describe the planning process and logistical considerations of VSR
• Articulate the skills needed to facilitate VSR
• Access additional information and support as needed

Who Should Enroll: Schwartz Rounds Leadership Team members, including Physician/Clinical Leaders and Facilitators, involved in planning and facilitating Virtual Schwartz Rounds

Time Commitment: 1 hour