Physician Compassion Associated with Improved Patient Outcomes

Patients with life-threatening emergencies benefit from physician compassion, as suggested in one study that showed fewer post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among patients treated with compassion.⁶ A study of surgical patients demonstrated that compassion delivered by nurses or doctors just prior to surgery resulted in patients anxiety in patients, easier sedation, less need for postoperation opioids, and shorter hospital stays.⁷ A review of physician-patient communication, including compassionate care, and health outcomes in 21 studies demonstrated an association between compassionate care and symptom resolution, function, physiological measures such as glucose control, pain control, and emotional health.⁸ The more compassionate behavior is used by physicians, the more likely patients are to trust their advice, comply with treatment recommendations, take medications, and follow discharge instructions.⁹

Physician Compassion Associated with Decreased Medical Errors, Physician Burnout, and Litigation

ACEP staff is thinking constantly of our members and the health care heroes in emergency departments worldwide. We are so proud of your brave and selfless work to combat this virus. Communications Manager Jordan Grantham captured our sentiment and support with this artwork. Stay safe and know that ACEP is here for you—today and every day.
Jordan Grantham

While depersonalization is a coping mechanism for emergency physicians, it is a sign of burnout, along with emotional exhaustion. Physicians who score in the highest tier of depersonalization and emotional exhaustion commit the most medical errors, and those with high empathy scores have more job satisfaction and less burnout.^10,11 Compassionate care makes us feel good as it gives us a “helper’s high,” the feeling of reward that comes from helping others.¹² Complaints and litigation may be curbed by improved physician compassion.¹³ This is eloquently demonstrated in an ED waiting room study that randomized patients to watch either a simulated physician-patient discharge conversation that included two empathic statements (the physician recognizes that the patient is concerned about their symptoms and that the patient knows their typical state of health better than a physician seeing them for the first time so they did the right thing by seeking evaluation) or one that did not. The group who watched the video that included the empathic statements had significantly fewer thoughts of litigation and complaints about the physician.¹⁴

Physician Compassion Associated with Lower Health Care Costs, Improved Resource Utilization

Patients who receive compassionate care not only tend to recover faster from their illness but are more likely to have fewer visits, tests, and referrals.¹⁵ Furthermore, compassionate care is associated with fewer unnecessary admissions and lower total health care costs.¹⁶ A randomized trial of compassionate care for homeless patients in an urban emergency department found that compassionate care decreased repeat visits to the emergency department.¹⁷

Here are some tips to help improve your compassion: