TRAVERSE CITY — A partnership between Munson Medical Center and Old Town Playhouse is helping doctors’ practices their bedside manner. Scenarios are set up with actors that step into the role of a patient receiving a terminal diagnosis. Care providers then have to walk through that conversation with empathy-as each actor is given a different personality like anger, denial or in tears while hearing the news. The partnership not only helps strengthen the hospital’s connection to their patients. But also gives work to local performers.
“It’s an emotional situation, for sure. But my job as an actor is to give the physician as much pushback, as much challenge, emotionally,” says Clover Keyes-Roy, Old Town Playhouse, Improv Actor.
“In my experience, most patients are looking for clarity and honesty from their clinicians,” says Roman Barraza, MD, PHD, “They want hope. They don’t want to lose hope. But most, patients tell me they also don’t want false hope.
Dr. Barraza also provided feedback throughout each exercise. Making sure each doctor knew their strengths and weaknesses while delivering the tough diagnosis.