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The Autopsy of Melinda J. Smith, a play in two short acts, follows a new medical student from medical school into her Emergency Medicine residency where she struggles to maintain her professional identity under the stresses of work life and complex patients. Following the multi-media production, consultants facilitate a focused dialogue that includes practical strategies for addressing team communication, burnout, unprofessionalism, and patient care breakdowns. The play is designed to speak to a wide variety of roles, including nurses, medical students, faculty, residents, and hospital administrators.
An overwhelming amount of literature stresses poor communication and work culture as the fundamental ingredients for - or primary cause of - medical errors. Regardless, most hospitals continue to rely on systems, checklists and protocols as a remedy to this national problem. At The New Theater of Medicine, we recognize that new tools and approaches are needed to holistically examine individual and systems factors, including the impact of bias and the strengths of diverse teams. The Autopsy of Dr. Melinda J. Smith is a specialized intervention that gives participants the necessary skills to examine work culture and improve individual and team communication. Evaluations have highlighted a new understanding of ways to reduce medical errors, improve patient satisfaction, and contribute to a positive organizational culture.
