Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston has opened SharingClinic, an interactive screen featuring stories told by physicians, nurses, patients, family and friends, in its Paul S. Russell Museum of Medical History and Innovation.
According to a WBUR CommonHealth report, SharingClinic currently houses more than 100 clips viewable on an interactive screen within the museum. Listeners can select stories based on diagnosis, perspective or theme, according to the report. The database of stories is continually growing, as trained staff will soon start gathering new stories in scheduled clinics.
"My hope is that SharingClinic will fundamentally transform the culture of the hospital by encouraging and facilitating storytelling," Annie Brewster, MD, an MGH physician and mastermind of the SharingClinic, said during its opening, according to WBUR. "Hospitals can be cold, scary, lonely places. SharingClinic aims to build community and lessen this sense of isolation."
Additionally, research suggests that when patients share their story, it can help them feel more in control of their diagnosis, according to WBUR.
In the video below, see Dr. Brewster explain the importance of storytelling in healthcare and the beginning of SharingClinic.