Institute for Research on Humanism in Medicine Created by Gold Foundation as ACA Moves Forward

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the Gold Foundation, dedicated to enhancing the doctor-patient relationship announces the creation of a unique research and resource institute focused on professionalism and compassion in healthcare

Englewood Cliffs, NJ (I-Newswire) July 24, 2012 - The Arnold P. Gold Foundation (www.humanism-in-medicine.org) is developing a first of its kind institute for research on humanism in medicine. Concerned that implementing the Affordable Care Act could divert attention away from key elements of the doctor-patient relationship, this new institute is designed to facilitate and disseminate research to better define the role of compassion, altruism, and respect in the delivery of high quality health care. Currently in development, the institute is seeking financial support, including a naming opportunity.

The institute will provide a source of funding and technical assistance for investigators interested in expanding our understanding of how humanistic care contributes to patient outcomes. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of validated measurement tools for evaluating the personal care provided by individuals and teams of healthcare professionals. The institute will also assemble relevant research results from elsewhere and will serve as a central resource for updated information about humanism in medicine for the public, journalists, and policymakers.

“Substantiating the impact of compassion, empathy, good communication, and cultural awareness on the outcomes of care is critically important as we embark on fundamental reforms of our healthcare system. We must not lose sight of these invaluable aspects of high quality care as we explore more efficient and less costly models of healthcare delivery,” said Gold Foundation Board Chair, Jordan J. Cohen MD, immediate past President of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

“Now, more than ever, evidence of the impact of humanistic, relationship-centered methods and models of healthcare must inform how we practice and educate the next generation of health professionals,” said Elizabeth Gaufberg, MD, MPH, Gold Foundation Professor and an Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance. Dr. Gaufberg will serve as the institute’s founding director.