ABSTRACT Veterinary team wellbeing is being increasingly prioritised , especially in light of the extra pressure placed on individuals and teams by the Covid-19 pandemic . There is a myriad of advice and literature available on interventions , but they can be difficult to implement in a busy veterinary practice . Schwartz Rounds are multidisciplinary forums , within which staff can address the emotional aspects of delivering care , to support their wellbeing and foster compassion . Originally developed for human healthcare teams , Schwartz Rounds have now been used for 4 years at a busy UK veterinary practice . This article discusses how implementing Schwartz Rounds alongside other organisational offerings can support the wellbeing of the veterinary practice team .
Keywords Schwartz Rounds , wellbeing , team
Introduction
Working in a busy veterinary practice can sometimes cause us to lose sight of our purpose and neglect our wellbeing . Preventing this , while also balancing practice commitments in a fast-paced and volatile world , can be challenging . Taking time to reflect on why we entered the profession can help support our wellbeing and renew our sense of purpose .
There are many ways to support staff wellbeing in veterinary practice , but it can be difficult to know which will have the most beneficial impact when team members all have differing needs . With limited time and resources , and no generic solution for supporting mental wellbeing , group-based options are worthy of consideration . Given that there is still stigma around poor mental health and a reluctance to admit coping difficulties , providing a culture in which teams can discuss any difficulties within a supportive environment should be a priority . Experiencing validation by a group can be enormously powerful . It can also help remove blind spots and contribute to an environment of psychological safety .
Schwartz Rounds are multidisciplinary forums through which teams can reflect on the emotional and social aspect of delivering healthcare . Findings 1 indicate that Schwartz Rounds offer team members a safe environment in which to explore the human element of their work , enhance team working and provide a sense of shared purpose . Originally developed in the USA for teams in human healthcare , Schwartz Rounds have more recently been implemented in a UK veterinary practice . Based on a licensed model from the Point of Care Foundation , other veterinary practices can now also be supported to implement and run Schwartz Rounds , with preliminary findings suggesting beneficial effects on team members .
Learning outcomes
• What are Schwartz Rounds ?
• How to run Schwartz Rounds
• Why run Schwartz Rounds ?
• Benefits of Schwartz Rounds
What are Schwartz Rounds ?
Schwartz Rounds , or simply ‘ Rounds ’, are multidisciplinary forums for healthcare staff to come together once a month to discuss the emotional and social aspects of caring . Rounds were first set up in the USA by Kenneth B . Schwartz , a medical attorney who developed terminal lung cancer . Through the course of his treatment , he realised it was the moments of compassion and the human touch shown by healthcare professionals that mattered most to him . However , it was apparent to him that , in order for healthcare staff to provide compassionate care to patients , they needed support themselves .
‘ The smallest acts of kindness made the unbearable , bearable ’
KENNETH SCHWARTZ
Jocelyn Cornwall and Joanna Goodrich , in their quest for evidence on patient-centred care , discovered Schwartz Rounds and transferred the concept to the UK , setting up the Point of Care Foundation to support the implementation of Schwartz Rounds . They work with healthcare settings to implement and develop Schwartz Rounds by providing facilitator training and ongoing support , and licensing the Schwartz Rounds model .
The model requires trained facilitators to provide a safe , confidential space and dedicated , uninterrupted time for the Round , as well as the provision of food . The Round focuses on listening to , and reflecting on , stories and experiences . It can take some time to get used to this way of meeting because the Round focuses entirely on the emotional and social aspects of delivering care ; acknowledging the person in the professional . It is also important that non-clinical staff are very much part of the Round . Rounds are not forums for problem-solving or changing organisational issues , although this can be an outcome of the ripple effect created by team members listening to each other ’ s stories .
Volume 37 ( 5 ) • November 2022
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