NARRATIVE BASED MEDICINE

Narrative Medicine Program Narrative medicine program was founded by Dr Rita Charon in 2001 at Columbia University Medical Center. Since 2009, Columbia University is offering a 38-credit Master of Science (MS) program in narrative medicine. Elements The elements of NBM include:- * Attention - Listening to the patients' narratives, attending to their non-verbal behaviors (like pauses, silences, gestures, expressions, body positions, tones of voice) as well as making note of what was left unsaid. * Representation - Narrating the results of the discussions with the patient and reflectively telling or writing them as a story. * Affiliation - Building relationship with the patients and the people important to them as well as other healthcare professionals, promoting mutual understanding and providing care keeping the patients' expectations in full view7. The strategy to reduce healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes is benefitted much by NBM. Since patients' information is processed better, the chances of reaching a more accurate diagnosis the first time are increased and repeat appointments and re-admissions are averted.