• Hearing each other’s stories can help panelists in developing their narrative and provide them with an opportunity to connect in a more intimate setting around their shared experiences of caregiving.
• Helps to establish a relationship of trust with you and provides an opportunity for them to ask any questions or raise any concerns they have.

• Allows you to determine the order in which panelists will speak, essential themes for the session, and prompts for discussions. Some stories may work best in chronological order, where others may be better suited for an “emotional order,” moving from the least intense story and progressing to those that are more intense.
• Gives you time to clarify the purpose of Schwartz Rounds and each panelist’s role in the session.
• Enables you to consider how you will navigate the themes and issues that arise during the session as you listen to their stories.
• Helps you plan for any emotional triggers that may arise for you in their stories and how you will manage your own emotional response.
• Allows you to draft some discussion prompts in advance to open and build the discussion after the panelists speak.
• Provides time to coordinate with your co-Facilitator if you have one, so that you’ll have a shared understanding of your respective roles.
• Helps to establish a relationship of trust with your panelists and provides an opportunity for you to address any questions or concerns they have.

A prep session with all panelists will sometimes prove impossible to convene. If needed, schedule a separate call or meeting to ensure that each panelist is prepared.

During Schwartz Rounds, each panelist will have three to five minutes to share their story about what it felt like to care for a given patient or family. It is important to note that some panelists may not feel comfortable with public speaking. Being a panelist, and speaking about emotions, entails allowing oneself to show vulnerability, and this will feel uncomfortable for some panelists.

• Describe the physical space in which they’ll be speaking, and the number of people you expect to be present.
• Foster a sense of safety by letting panelists know about the boundaries of the conversation.
  • For example, you will not allow participants to ask panelists about the “whys” behind their medical decision-making. When participants pose questions unrelated to the social and emotional aspects of care or that are potentially harmful to the panelist, your role is to reframe those questions, remind participants of group expectations, and turn the discussion back to the group.
• Let your panelists know that if there are any topics they don’t wish to discuss, you’ll redirect related comments or questions.

If a panelist expresses an excessive fear of public speaking despite your assurances, you might consider inviting them to participate in another capacity — perhaps as a “discussion catalyst,” sharing their story as a Schwartz Rounds participant, to minimize their discomfort or even trauma. Prepping for panel participation doesn’t need to mean committing to the role.

• To develop panelists’ stories, prompt them with these questions:
  • What did it feel like to care for this person?
  • What was it like to be you at that moment?
  • What has stayed with you about this experience?
• ​Consider using nonverbal cues with the panelists. Make sure to let your panelists know if you plan to use nonverbal cues. Some examples include:
  • Tap on your watch to indicate that the panelist is approaching their time limit for speaking.
  • Pat your chest with your right hand to remind panelists to speak from the heart.
  • Put a hand on the panelist’s shoulder to indicate it’s time to move onto the next panelist’s story. Be mindful of your panelists’ comfort with touch. Be aware of religious, cultural, and gender norms that may make panelists less comfortable with touch.

Panelists may be inclined to share the clinical aspects of their story, a natural narrative for healthcare workers. A key part of your role is to help panelists talk about social and emotional experiences. Remind panelists:

• Tell your story.
• Use feeling words and first-person statements. For example, “I felt sad.” versus intellectualizing with, “The situation was really sad.”
• Remember, it’s not about the clinical story or what happened, but the result or impact and how it made you feel.