With his ādeeply informed and compassionate bookā¦Dr. Epstein tells us that it is a āmoral imperativeā [for doctors] to do right by their patientsā (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 greatāmore accurate diagnoses, fewer errors, and stronger connections with their patients. This made a lasting impression on him and set the stage for his lifeās workāidentifying the qualities and habits that distinguish master clinicians from those who are merely competent. The secret, he learned, was mindfulness.
Dr. Epstein āshows how taking time to pay attention to patients can lead to better outcomes on both sides of the stethoscopeā (Publishers Weekly). Drawing on his clinical experiences and current research, Dr. Epstein explores four foundations of mindfulnessāAttention, Curiosity, Beginnerās Mind, and Presenceāand shows how clinicians can grow their capacity to provide high-quality care.
The commodification of health care has shifted doctorsā 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 āa concise guide to his view of what mindfulness is, its value, and how it is a skill that anyone can work to acquireā (Library Journal).