CLOSLER Together

Every day, I read CLOSLER pieces alone. I reflect on the messages, mull over the takeaway, and consider how I might incorporate the ideas into the way I care for my patients. Sometimes, I’ll Tweet out the piece with my two cents. Even then, my interactions with the ideas I encounter on CLOSLER are largely an independent experience.

But, in the last couple of weeks, before two different virtual meetings (a divisional faculty meeting and quarterly meeting of a group from many different departments), I circulated a CLOSLER piece and told the participants we’d be discussing it as the last agenda item.

Wow!!! Big success.

In both meetings, most people chimed in. They shared what they learned from the piece, some of the struggles and successes they’ve had with such matters in their own experience, and how they intend to behave differently with patients based on the ideas in the piece. At both meetings, we ran out of time and I had to cut off a discussion that could have gone on much longer. The conversations about caring, supporting, and serving patients went deeper than other discussions we’ve had at our meetings.

If you’re in a group that needs a nudge to get the conversation started, here are 3 questions you can ask as the facilitator:

1. What clinical experience of your own came to mind as you were reading the piece?

2. How might the message of the piece change your approach in clinical settings?

3. How do you think the author was trying to push us toward clinical excellence?

Discussing CLOSLER pieces in groups results in a different yield from the pieces. Please give it a try and let us know how it goes!

Extra “free association” nugget:

A new wave band called “The Box,” from my home town of Montreal, has a song entitled “Closer Together.” This used to be one of my favorite songs. The lyrics reiterate the points made above:

“We should try to understand
That it’s up to you and up to me and up to all of us
To get closer together.”

Or, CLOSLER together!