Clinician Lauren S. is keenly aware of the sense of isolation many patients feel when they come to the health center for on-site abortion services during the pandemic. She makes sure they feel a bond with her as their health care provider, even though COVID-precautions prevent her from having the kind of connection she’s used to establishing right away.
“I’m also a midwife, and I know how important it is to provide human touch for calm and reassurance,” she said. “With masks covering our faces, it’s hard to show emotion -- but there are still many ways to show empathy, and it makes such a difference.”
Lauren makes sure to sit down with each patient and show she is listening carefully to them. “Sometimes showing empathy is just about giving them room to say what they need to say and letting them know they’re in a safe place,” she said. “One patient I had recently began by talking about her pelvic pain, but she ended up talking about her current difficult life situation. We were able to discuss how important counseling will be for her during this time.
“When she came back for her follow-up appointment, I could see how relieved she was. She said really appreciated knowing why she had been feeling pain. It was another reminder to me of why I do this work.”
Tags: abortion_care, PPE, empathy