-
Oct 20, 2024 | 
kevinmd.com | Susan Levenstein |Beth Boynton
If you had an assistant who helped you do your work faster, more efficiently, and more precisely, would you fear it? With artificial intelligence (AI) at the forefront of virtually everything today, two of the most common questions I hear in my daily practice are, “Do you use AI?” and “What does AI do for you?” For some, these questions stem from a desire to access cutting-edge tools, while others express concerns about its rapid advancements.
-
Oct 20, 2024 | 
kevinmd.com | Naomi Tweyo Nkinsi |Ellen Rand |Beth Boynton
Imagine waking up one day with a white patch somewhere on your body. It’s not painful or itchy, but over time it grows and changes, with more patches appearing almost daily. In a short space of time, these patches have fundamentally altered the appearance of your skin and your interface with the world. This is the reality for over 1.5 million Americans living with vitiligo.
-
Oct 19, 2024 | 
kevinmd.com | Beth Boynton |George Mathew |Steven Siegel |Ronald A. Paulus
An excerpt from The Medical Improv Toolkit: 10 Simple Activities to Promote Safe Care, Healthy Workplaces, & Rewarding Careers!“Were there none who were discontented with what they have,the world would never reach anything better.”~Florence NightingaleThe expectation for dedicating time to playful activities can seem like a waste of time, especially with relentless clinical priorities and limited resources.
-
Jul 18, 2024 | 
kevinmd.com | Beth Boynton |Peter Ubel |Lashawnda Thornton |Laura Spiegel
I’ve been using experiential activities from improvisation as a modality for teaching communication-related skills for about two decades. Because they are based on a “YES AND” philosophy, which requires everyone’s participation, they are inherently inclusive and social. One such activity is called “I am _____________.” It can be used in any meeting, class, or workshop and only takes about ten minutes.
-
Nov 21, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Beth Boynton |Jennifer Lynn |Clarissa C. Ren |Sara Hurley
High incidences of burnout, quiet quitting, suicide, workplace violence, excessive and relentless stress, and chronic staffing shortages reveal a huge need for resilience among health care workers. Resilience is a complex competency involving flexibility of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in response to adversity. Adversity, especially when it comes to working in health care, involves individuals and the cultures they work in.
-
Oct 27, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Beth Boynton |Edwin Leap |Sheila Nazarian |Brittany Ladson
In Daniel Goleman’s model of emotional intelligence (EQ), there are two main competencies: Personal competency, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation; and social competency, which includes social skills and empathy. We can think of both competencies in terms of communication. Personal competency relates to our abilities to identify and value our needs, wants, limits, etc., and to express them respectfully, i.e., speaking up.
-
Oct 25, 2023 | 
bethboynton.com | Beth Boynton
YES AND is the golden rule of improv and there are hundreds of activities that can be practiced using it. The rule requires listening and speaking up, is inherently collaborative, and promotes positive relationships. All of which we need in healthcare and mental health care! And once you dip you toe into a YES AND experience you can, if you are so inclined, dive in to the world of applied or medical improv.
-
Oct 2, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Beth Boynton |Wendy Hind |George Mathew |Steven Siegel
In a recent podcast conversation with Kevin Pho, MD, we talked about the importance of assertiveness in health care, including the ability to say “No” and the significance of culture in supporting it. One of the topics we touched on was the influence of both top-down and bottom-up factors, which I want to elaborate on here. Organizational culture refers to how and why things are done at work and the rules that guide them.
-
Sep 16, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Beth Boynton |George Mathew |Steven Siegel |Ronald A. Paulus
Three nurses are at the nurses’ station. Two are talking about managing a patient’s pain, and a third, Donna, is reviewing a patient’s lab results and finding it difficult to concentrate. Which is Donna’s best statement? 1) Shhh, stop talking!2) I’m frustrated with your talking. It’s hard to concentrate, and I’d appreciate it if you would quiet down. Answer: It depends on the relationships and Donna’s preferences. If Donna has a positive history with them, #1 is probably fine.
-
Aug 30, 2023 | 
kevinmd.com | Beth Boynton |Mattie Renn |Thomas Pak |Corey Feist
Setting limits, asking for help, delegating, or even saying “no” are important assertiveness skills. Health care professionals should be proficient in assertiveness because of the potential impact on patient safety, patient experience, workforce health, and cost-effectiveness. Assertiveness examplesHow might these assertive statements influence outcomes?
