Schwartz Center Rounds
The Schwartz Center Rounds evolved from the legacy of Kenneth B. Schwartz, a health care attorney who died of cancer in 1995. Deeply appreciative of the compassionate care he himself received during his terminal illness, he instituted the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center to promote compassionate care for others.
In February 2004, thanks to funding from the Rabb, Cahners, and Goldberg families, BIDMC launched Schwartz Center Rounds to continue Ken Schwartz's legacy. The rounds have served as a “interdisciplinary forum” where caregivers discuss difficult emotional and social issues that arise in caring for patients. The rounds provide immediate support and information for caregivers and help to enhance the patient-caregiver relationships. Sample topics from 2008-09 included:
- We Usually Do Things Differently Here...: Friction and Surprises in Delivering Care to a Christian Scientist Mother
- Was Everything Done? Bringing Family Members Into the Room During a Medical Code
- Taking Away the Keys: Who's Gonna Be the Bad Guy?
The BIDMC Schwartz Center Rounds have become the best-attended regular interdisciplinary conference in the medical center, averaging nearly 100 attendees each month. Regular feedback from participants provides additional confirmation that the rounds are successfully meeting their objectives and addressing important needs of the BIDMC community.
Continuing education credits are available to doctors, nurses and social workers.
The 2009-2010 BIDMC Schwartz Center Rounds Steering Committee:
| Leonor Fernandez, MD (Physician Leader) |
Judi Hirshfield-Bartek, RN |
| Frank McCaffrey, LICSW (Facilitator) |
Julie Knopp, RN, NP |
| Mary Buss, MD |
Ronnie Marcus, MD |
| Julia Dunbar, MDiv |
Catherine Parker, MD |
| Lachlan Forrow, MD |
Grace Peters, MA |
| Thomas Geraty, LICSW, PhD |
Chanel Bryant-Alexander, Program Coordinator |
Schwart Center Rounds are generally held at BIDMC on the first Tuesday of each month (September-June) from 12:15p-1:15p. Rounds are open to all BIDMC employees. Outside guests may be allowed with the permission of the BIDMC Schwartz Center Rounds Steering Committee. If you would like more information regarding Schwartz Center Rounds please contact the office of Ethics Support Service at 617-667-3095.
For more information about Ken Schwartz and the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center , please visit
http://www.theschwartzcenter.org/
