Program Objective 1

Compassionomics is the scientific study of compassionate healthcare and its effects. The theory states that compassionate care can improve the outcomes for patients, and reduce burnout for healthcare providers. I teach compassionomics in my Care Experience (CE) education class offered weekly. Although the class targets new employees, leaders utilize the course as refresher training and performance improvement efforts. Teaching compassionomics includes delivering foundational education on the theory, encouraging all healthcare workers to embrace their ability to aide the healing process through compassionate caring. CE Education also includes tactics on how to build genuine human connections and convey empathy.

During my time as a Clinical Research Coordinator, I worked on the Mayo Clinic Convalescent plasma study, documenting its use, effectiveness, and adverse reactions. I took the lead in the Aviptadil drug trial during Covid. Aviptadil, an intestinal polypeptide, was under investigation for its effectiveness to decrease mortality in late stage Covid. The primary function was to increase the permeability of the lungs and decrease ventilator resistance. In late stage Covid our patients' lungs were fibrotic and would not respond well to ventilator assistance. As we increased the PEEP to improve oxygenation, the patient was at higher risk for a pneumothorax which occurred in many cases. I was involved with educating the front-line team members and providers on the study, consenting for participation, initiating the study protocol, coaching staff during the initiation and implementation of the study protocol, documenting patient records and adverse events noted, handling and tracking specimens to send to sponsor, following the patient post participation. The study was blinded and 2:1/drug:placebo. Due to the adverse event expected, we suspected patients whom received the drug; of those expected, all made a recovery, including a 64 year old African American on a ventilator not expected to live pre-enrollment. The drug was later approved by the FDA in the expanded access program for "compassionate use." 

I organized a retreat, inviting all service line front-line team members. Attendance at the retreat was mandatory, and we captured 100% attendance. The focus of the retreat was to understand drivers behind concerning behavior reported and observed. Drivers revealed required escalation in collaboration with ethics and compliance including front-line team member reluctance to report. The investigation revealed a breach in confidentiality, retaliation, lack of appropriate escalation, deviation from standard protocols, policies, guidelines, and bylaws. Due to the findings, I was able to create an anonymous QR code suggestion box, allowing respondents to leave comments confidentially.