An indispensable guide to reducing the suffering―of patients and caregivers alike―and to improving healthcare delivery for all In our efforts to treat patients, cure illness, and manage institutions, healthcare professionals too often overlook the fundamental purpose everyone in the industry shares: to alleviate suffering. Press Ganey’s Chief Nursing Officer, Christina Dempsey, has worked everywhere in healthcare, from the ward floor to the hospital boardroom. She has also experienced the system as a patient and as a family member of a critically ill patient. In The Antidote to Suffering , this 30-year healthcare veteran and patient-experience thought leader argues that the key to improving healthcare is to reduce the suffering―physical, psychological, and emotional―of patients and caregivers alike through Compassionate Connected CareTM. Drawing on her 360-degree perspective, Dempsey offers a comprehensive, detailed, evidence-based plan that addresses the clinical, operational, cultural, and behavioral dimensions of care that every patient and caregiver experiences, in every setting. When suffering decreases, Dempsey argues, outcomes improve for patients and those who care for them. A virtuous cycle takes hold, leading to increases in morale, loyalty, and productivity and results in a culture that drives quality, safety, and value. It paves the path for creating a new national healthcare culture―one that values compassion, fosters efficiency, and drives innovation The Antidote to Suffering is the first book to explore the pervasiveness of suffering in our healthcare system, and to provide the strategies and tools to: * Identify and measure suffering throughout your organization * Create a system in which every clinical response is informed by compassion * Operationalize staff behavior to promote meaning and purpose * Increase productivity by building a culture of collaboration Reducing human suffering isn’t just a moral imperative for healthcare providers. It’s a practical way to improve organizations and fix our broken system―without sacrificing the respect, dignity, and compassion we all deserve. “This work is a gift of learning and awakening to all health professionals, informing, affirming, and inspiring our understanding of and sensitivity to suffering from the inside out and outside in. It also offers an effective practice model of Compassionate Connected Care™, which aligns compassionate care with safety, quality, and deep personal experiences. A must for all health practitioners!” — Jean Watson , PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN , Founder and Director, Watson Caring Science Institute, and Distinguished Professor and Dean Emerita, University of Colorado Denver “What begins as a painful reminder of the challenges facing patients and caregivers today unfolds with a framework for addressing these issues and a vision of a care model that delivers compassionate connected care reliably and efficiently. This model relies on caregivers, teams, and institutions to deliver excellence in clinical outcomes and operational efficiency, through the intentional focus on reducing patient suffering, addressing caregiver burnout, and advancing team diversity and organizational culture.” — Jessica C. Dudley , MD , Chief Medical Officer, Brigham and Women’s Physicians Organization, and VP of Care Redesign, Brigham Health “In The Antidote to Suffering , Christina Dempsey tells the story of nursing in today’s healthcare reality. This book is a must-read for nursing students, new graduates, and seasoned nurses, as well as other providers. It reminds us of our humanity, commitment and most of all, the power of caring for others and how compassion can help transcend boundaries and barriers.”  — Karen S. Hill, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN , Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Nursing Administration ; and COO and CNO, Baptist Health Lexington “Healthcare is challenged on so many fronts for both patients and those privileged to participate in their care. This deeply personal work weaves stories with powerful analysis, providing us with a prescription to ease suffering for us all. Compassionate, connected care reminds us of our sacred mission and offers practical guidance to enable us to fulfill our promise.” — Michael Bennick, MD, MA, AGAF, FACP , Associate Chief of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and Medical Director of the Patient Experience, Yale-New Haven Hospital “In this deeply moving account of her family’s journey through the healthcare system, Dempsey has put a face on the very real suffering of patients and caregivers. The Compassionate Connected Care framework offers actionable strategies for everyone, from individuals to organizations to address and reduce the hardships involved with this very real issue.” — Lee Woodruff , Cofounder, Bob Woodruff Foundation “Christy compassionately tells the story of suffering by weaving her passion, knowledge, experience, and data into proven solutions for improvement.