it is that we never know when, how, or whom a serious illness will strike. if and when it does, each one of us wants not simply the best possible care for our body but for our whole being.”
kenneth b. schwartz, schwartz center founder
Dear Friends,
Thanks to supporters like you, the Schwartz Center continues to advance compassionate care as a vital element in every patient-caregiver interaction. During the past year, we have seen areas of our world devastated by natural disasters and senseless violence. Many of our own healthcare members were impacted. Our work has never been more important.
Our pioneering programs improve communication between patients and caregivers, promote compassion and empathy, influence caregiver training, improve interdisciplinary teamwork, and encourage the dissemination of best practices.
Some of these initiatives include:
Our Schwartz Rounds® program, which enables caregivers at more than 610 healthcare organizations in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand to come together to discuss the most challenging emotional and psychosocial issues they face in caring for patients and families. This program has helped caregivers heal in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, the Aurora and Newtown shootings, Hurricane Sandy, and the violence in Charlottesville.
Our inaugural Compassion in Action Healthcare Conference, which brought together more than 500 clinicians, system leaders, patients and families to learn about cutting-edge programs, strategies and tools to create and sustain compassionate care.
Our new report, “What Happens to Compassion During an Opioid Epidemic?” which discusses the staggering impact of the opioid epidemic on caregivers, and how the Schwartz Rounds program can help.
In 1995, the Schwartz Center was born from the experience of one patient, Ken Schwartz, who had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. His vision was a healthcare system in which all patients receive compassionate care and all caregivers are supported by their healthcare organizations to provide it. We are working to turn his passionate legacy into a national movement.
As we look to the future, we hope that you will join us as we implement new programs, strengthen our existing ones, expand our reach, and support our healthcare family who continue to serve as beacons of hope and healing. Together, we are leading the movement to make compassionate healthcare a national priority.
Warmly,
Ellen R. Cohen
Board President
Ruth L. Kilduff
Board Chair
How can caregivers and families work together to provide the best possible care for the smallest victims of the opioid crisis?
Learn how one hospital rethought their entire care program to better support newborn babies born dependent on opioids - and their mothers.
Also hear Chief Medical Officer Beth Lown, MD, describe what the Schwartz Center is doing to help support caregivers caring for patients with substance use disorders.
Doctors and nurses remember the patients that changed everything for them - the ones who helped them understand the importance of compassion and the special bond it forms between patients and their caregivers.
At our recent annual dinner, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker discussed the devastating opioid epidemic and the role that compassionate healthcare can play in treatment, recovery and support.
“Everyone talks about compassion, but the Schwartz Center does something about it,” says Steve. “The Schwartz Center has made me a better person. I want to help them do that for others as well.”
steve corman’s story
A combination of five personal cancer diagnoses and two end-of-life parent journeys inspired Steve and his late wife Betsy to lend their financial and intellectual support to the Schwartz Center to help ensure compassionate care for both patients and caregivers at healthcare institutions.
Part of Steve’s gift helped establish the Corman IMPACT Honors at our inaugural Compassion in Action Healthcare Conference. This new recognition program highlights Schwartz Center healthcare members who are creating and leading programs or initiatives that promote compassionate, collaborative care within their organization or system.
read morecaregivers reached through our programs
people attended our events, workshops, conferences and webinars in 2017
healthcare organizations have adopted our Schwartz Rounds® program in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
2017 National Compassionate Caregiver of the Year Award Recipient Rana Awdish, MD, discovered the significance and power of compassion and communication in care when she was faced with her own healthcare crisis.
of the attendees at our 2017 compassion in action healthcare conference said they would make changes in their clinical, teaching, research, or other work as a result of acquiring new skills and knowledge.
Our inaugural Compassion in Action Healthcare Conference brought together more than 500 clinicians, system leaders, patients and families to learn about cutting-edge programs, strategies and tools to create and sustain cultures of compassion.
learn moreof our webinar participants said that they would recommend the webinar they attended to a colleague.
Amidst the rapid changes in healthcare, how can healthcare professionals and staff sustain and deepen the caring and compassion that draws them to this profession? How can caregivers most effectively engage patients and each other to improve the quality of care and achieve better outcomes?
Learn more about our webinar series on Compassionate, Collaborative Care – “The Triple C.” Participants learn concepts and skills that are essential to providing compassionate, collaborative care in ways that matter to patients, to families and to themselves.
learn more
Philanthropy remains the primary source of revenue for the Schwartz Center. Our membership program, now in its fourth year, comprises 26% of total net revenues.
During Fiscal Year 2017, 73% of all spending was directed to mission-specific programming. Fundraising and administrative costs represent the remainder. Our program investments for Fiscal Year 2017 resulted in a planned deficit of $0.5M.
20,000+ people stay informed about the
patient-caregiver relationship through our communications.
