Walls or Bridges: “No Gobbledygook”: The International Psycho‐Oncology Society 2017 Sutherland Award Lecture

Abstract

Illness, health, and wellness happen in social contexts. The present political environment is highly divisive and plays to the most primitive fears of people. Never have the stakes been so high. History is replete with putative leaders who create walls that separate people in ways that inevitably leads to dehumanization, suffering, and eventually violence. Timely and openly shared psychosocial insights by experts in mental health into the evil consequences of "wall builders" are essential to the physical, mental, and spiritual health of individuals and nations. For health care professionals (in particular) to ignore the dangers posed by the ill equipped self-serving leaders who now dominate the news and exploit the dark psyche of the world stage would be at the very least unethical and at worst collusion in repeating the sins of the past. This article first recognizes the impact of leaders who, at great personal costs, have built bridges (with relentless compassion and courage) where only chasms existed before. Although international politics may seem like a universe away, in which people may (erroneously) feel powerless to influence change, our home health care settings can be dramatically improved and humanized by the application of universally accepted humanistic values. Health care, as it is practiced today, is an anachronism at multiple levels. Supportive care in general and psychosocial values specifically offer a more inclusive and realistic alternative. Based on an inclusive staff leadership model, a strategic, hands-on, practical, and compassionate approach to creating and implementing supportive care programs of excellence is described. Finally, potentially fruitful areas in which supportive care and psychosocial values can provide leadership as bridges to more accessible, affordable, and humanistic care are provided for contemplation.

Witnessing unnecessary suffering: A call for action and policy change to increase access to psycho‐oncology care

“…This situation is unlikely to change without greater advocacy for institutionally funded positions–similar to other oncology professionals. The Values‐Benefits‐Outcomes Strategic Model can support dissemination and growth across institutions 18 . Specifically, clinicians and administrators meet together and openly recognize Shared Values (i.e., excellent, safe medical care), Benefits (cost savings to institution, personal benefit of financial bonus), and Performance Outcomes (increased revenue, reduced lengths of stay, patient engagement, differentiator in the market place).…”