Attending

Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity

By: Ronald Epstein M.D. M.D.

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

With his “deeply informed and compassionate book…Dr. Epstein tells us that it is a ‘moral imperative’ [for doctors] to do right by their patients” (New York Journal of Books).

The first book for the general public about the importance of mindfulness in medical practice, Attending is a groundbreaking, intimate exploration of how doctors approach their work with patients. From his early days as a Harvard Medical School student, Epstein saw what made good doctors great—more accurate diagnoses, fewer errors, and stronger connections with their patients. This made a lasting impression on him and set the stage for his life’s work—identifying the qualities and habits that distinguish master clinicians from those who are merely competent. The secret, he learned, was mindfulness.

Dr. Epstein “shows how taking time to pay attention to patients can lead to better outcomes on both sides of the stethoscope” (Publishers Weekly). Drawing on his clinical experiences and current research, Dr. Epstein explores four foundations of mindfulness—Attention, Curiosity, Beginner’s Mind, and Presence—and shows how clinicians can grow their capacity to provide high-quality care.

The commodification of health care has shifted doctors’ focus away from the healing of patients to the bottom line. Clinician burnout is at an all-time high. Attending is the antidote. With compassion and intelligence, Epstein offers “a concise guide to his view of what mindfulness is, its value, and how it is a skill that anyone can work to acquire” (Library Journal).

Being an attendant, being resilient is discussed

Being an attendant, being resilient and being mindful in a physician practice is so essential not because of doctors job but also because of being a human.
I would recommend it for all doctors up there, and it is a pity that those truths have not been thought in medical school.

Amazing!!

Should be required reading in all med schools and residencies. I will be a better doctor because of it.

Every physician should read this

As well as hospital administrator. Nurses as well. You know what just make everyone in healthcare read it.

useful

it makes something unspoken, that every clinician feels, real. clinical practice isn't easy and it's not without emotional cost. this book address that topic in a hopeful way.

Better if he had insisted on the technical support

It has beautiful stories but I would have loved it if he had been insisted on the parts of his strategies for achieving mindfulness. I think that he was a bit superficial in those parts.