Dr. Stephen Trzeciak on Compassionomics and the Evidence That Caring Makes a Difference

Could a patient's chance of getting off a respirator depend not only on how much their nurses know, but on how much they care?

In Compassionomics, physician scientists Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli present data suggesting compassion could be a wonder drug. Dr. Trzeciak joined me to walk through the evidence.

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Originally aired September 19, 2024 as Episode 102 of The Trusted Guide Podcast (then The Delighted Customers Podcast).

What we cover

• Why compassion in healthcare has measurable benefits, not just moral ones

• Research showing even a 40-second compassionate intervention can reduce patient anxiety

• The return on compassion, and what it means for customer experience investment

Evidence for caring

Many leaders treat compassion as a soft value. Dr. Trzeciak makes the case with data, and the lessons carry well beyond healthcare.

Related episodes

• Episode 79: Dr. Judy Wolfe on Lessons from an ER Doctor at Cleveland Clinic

• Episode 95: Dr. Rachel Hitt on Improving the Patient Experience Through Effective Communication

About the guest

At the time of this episode, Dr. Stephen Trzeciak was Chief of Medicine at Cooper University Health Care. He is a TED speaker and co-author of Compassionomics.

If this conversation was useful, you'll find more like it in The Trusted Guide Newsletter: practical insights on trust, influence, and leading change.