title: Patient-Centered Care and the Mediator's Skills.
abstract: Bioethics mediation training offers knowledge and skills valuable for clinical ethics consultants who are engaged in high conflict situations. Furthermore, clinicians with this training can support organizational efforts to create a culture that is centered on the values, needs, and care preferences of patients and their families, rather than on those of the clinician or organization. Patient-centeredness is a hallmark of quality and an essential component for patients' safety. Clinicians with mediation training have the communication skills to address the myriad needs of patients and their loved ones, needs that are challenging to meet in inpatient hospital settings. The author illustrates principles of mediation such as validating patients' emotions, revealing the interests of all stakeholders, and shaping a shared solution to demonstrate how these skills have broad applicability in patient care settings.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA. Mary.walton@uphs.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D003142:Communication; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D004644:Emotions; D026822:Ethicists / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017008:Negotiating / Q000379:methods*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D019727:Proxy