Background & History – Horses for Healers
Horses for Healers got its start in April 2012 as a pilot elective course for M3/M4 medical students at UMDNJ. Spring Reins of Hope (SRoH) has continued to teach this class each semester ever since then to present. Horses for Healers remained on the syllabus through the merger into RWJMS and currently Rutgers Medical School. Each semester the class fills up quickly with rave reviews from students! Over the past 6 years SRoH has perfected this course educating medical students on one of the most important topics not covered in medical school – nonverbal communication skills as a medical provider.
AS OF 2017 SRoH has expanded to serve hospitals, medical institutions and private practices that place high value on patient satisfaction, rapport and successful cooperation of treatment plans. With the garnered award of CME/CEU accreditation (sponsored by Rutgers CE) we have refined and evolved Horses for Healers into a 1 day format (6hr credits) workshop for all licensed medical professionals!
Key Points – Horses for Healers as a CME/CEU Workshop
This Concept is NOT a NEW One – Horses helping to dramatically improve non-verbal communication in the field of medicine. The idea began in 2001 with Dr. Allan Hamilton; Chief of Neurosurgery at University of Tucson titled “From Barnside to Bedside”. In 2008, Dr. Beverley Kane began a program at Stanford University called “Medicine and Horsemanship”. Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Kane mentored Spring Reins of Hope and Horses for Healers to become the first University program on the east coast in 2012.
We Are Unique – SRoH and Horses for Healers is the first CME/CEU approved licensure course in the USA utilizing horses in an experiential model to train medical professionals for enhanced body language/non-verbal communication skills resulting in improved bedside manner.
H4H Goals and Mission
Goal #1: Provide medical professionals in NJ, NY and PA a unique opportunity to master impeccable nonverbal (body language) skills which directly result in improved ‘bedside manner’
Goal #2: Illustrate with repetitive success how Horses for Healers has a lasting positive effect to increase both intrapersonal skills and collegial support, as well as decrease the stressors of burnout
Goal #3: Earn a glowing report card – proving that Horses for Healers will raise Press Ganey/ HCAHPS scores by tracking these scores post workshop and comparing them in percentages to previous scores. This will require cooperation with our client to fulfill however that knowledge will also support the return on investment for this training
Goal #4: Ultimately to have an effect on patient care and satisfaction and with traction partner with medical insurance providers to lower malpractice rates for graduates of Horses for Healers. . Studies show that patient rapport, authentic communication skills and old fashioned trust are directly linked to more committed treatment plans, improved understanding (both verbal & nonverbal) with both patients and colleagues, higher overall public approval, and lower malpractice initiatives. The side effect of these widespread results could easily result in lower malpractice claims, lawsuits and insurance rates.
Experience
Horses for Healers has taught over 200 medical students at UMDNJ, RWJMS and Rutgers MS in a 2 day format (more intensive) since 2012. The student evaluations (available to you upon request) are all overwhelmingly positive - many who stated Horses for Healers should be a mandated requirement to graduate medical school! Since 2016 SRoH has taught a 1 day workshop for both 1st/2nd year/3rd year Residents at Capital Health Hospital which continues to repeat. Rutgers Continuing Education reported an average rating of our CME workshop with a 4.8% out of 5.
We have the mindset that you are (or employ) brilliant medical professionals who have immense expertise and capability as healers. We also realize that communication skills are not typically a focus within medical training. SRoH would like to be your partner to bridge this gap and help to capture both increased patient satisfaction and revenue as healthcare providers. Horses for Healers can fast track these goals for your medical staff. Yes, all because of horses!
Want to See What This Looks Like? Yes! We have a playlist of videos for you to view out of curiosity to give you a hint of what this formatted “horse thing” is all about. Media clips about Horses for Healers & Barnside to Bedside have been featured on NJTV News, Asbury Park Press, US News & World Report, The Today Show and more – see the playlist here: SRoH Horses for Healers Video Playlist
Next Steps - How to Sign Up for a CME/CEU Licensure Workshop?
1. Contact Us – We will work with you to create both customized goals and convenient scheduling for your team or department of medical professionals.
2. May we suggest that the institution selects a grouping of professionals where excellent bedside manner is imperative, needs improvement and/or there is increased departmental strain and stressors (for example: ER, ICU, Hospice, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Oncology…)
3. Combine efforts and create a team-building experience by sending a departmental teams who already work together. It’s like 2 workshops for the price of 1! Teams of professionals who already work together will find improved bedside manner and patient rapport, and in doing so will also create opportunities to strengthen professional relationships with tools for improved team work, collegial support and coping skills for burnout.
4. Give Us a Report Card - We welcome that you track results after completing this workshop. It may sound fun to “horse around” with us, yes and, at the end of the day what really matters is results. H4H has confidence that if you keep track of Patient Satisfaction Surveys, Press Ganey scores, & HCAHPS scores, all will be seeing improvements after completing the workshop.
5. No horse experience? No problem! Since there is no riding or horsemanship involved - very few of our clients have ever been around a horse before. This modality offers heightened experiential learning which is focused on establishing trust, safety and rapport with 1000lb animals who are sensitive to their environment and demonstrate trust (or not). In this exam room, the horses become patients and the goal is building patient rapport.
Cost
$350.00 per person (14 min / 22 max of participants per class)
Includes 6hrs of cme/ceu credits, several activities with the Herd focused on specific goals involving successful nonverbal communication & body language, intervals of discussion and lecture/class room time, state license reporting via Rutgers CE (covering all 50 United States), catered breakfast and lunch, afternoon snacks, coffee/tea. Unforgettable day with the Herd.
Rain or shine, we have indoor arena facilities in case of inclement weather.
*View the approved handout from RCE for Horses for Healers