The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) has named an article written by BCOM’s Chair of Family Medicine, Sherri Howell, DO, the 2016 OFP Paper of the Year. The article entitled, “Empathy and its Role in Primary Care,” was published in the July/August 2016 issue of the Osteopathic Family Physician journal.
In the paper, Dr. Howell exams the issue of empathy in the doctor patient relationship by answering: “What is empathy? Can we measure it? Does it affect patient outcomes? Does empathy reduce risk exposure in healthcare? Can it be learned?”
She also includes a table with words and phrases that facilitate empathy and discusses a teaching acronym developed by Massachusetts General Hospital: E.M.P.A.T.H.Y, which stands for Eye contact, Muscles of facial expression, Posture, Affect, Tone of Voice, Hearing the whole patient, and Your response.
Read the full paper including her final conclusions at: acofp.org/ACOFPIMIS/Acofporg/PDFs/open/JulAug_2016.pdf
Dr. Howell has been invited to receive her award at an author’s reception to be held during the ACOFP annual convention in Kissimmee, Florida this month.
To learn more about ACOFP and read past issues of Osteopathic Family Physician visit: acofp.org
