ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF CARING

Caring is fundamental to competence in medicine. Expressions of humane ness in the relationship between doctor and patient foster bonds of tr ust, enabling doctors and patients to communicate in ways that enhance diagnosis, treatment, and compliance. To be effective, a caring attit ude must be adopted by all persons involved in the delivery of health care. Components of caring can be specified, learned, and incorporated into routine medical practice. Through their impact on stress managem ent and coping, as well as morale and job satisfaction, the organizati onal and administrative practices surrounding health care encounters d ecisively impinge on caring. The organizational and financial arrangem ents for enhancing the humane delivery of health care are examined.