How Do You Measure Compassion?

This question has plagued me for years. Recently, I settled on an answer. I wish to propose that we measure compassion by the extent to which we are able to prevent damage to or are able to mend damage from a broken human-spirit.

However, I would like to point out that this task requires the broad cultivation of the following three things:

1) generosity-of-spirit;

2) open-heartedness; and

3) gentle-loving-kindness on the part of the caregiver.

While it may be difficult to imagine these are all measurable factors that significantly influence a person's capacity to love themselves and others, and to effectively cope with mental, physical and spiritual health issues. They also appear to greatly affect the extent to which a person is likely to remain resilient, motivated and compliant with their discharge treatment plans as recommended to them by a hospital's clinical care professionals.

In the absence of unconditionally responsive, supportive and therapeutic care the entire community of healthcare is likely to continue to fail, and along with it individual health outcomes. As a result, patients will return to local hospital emergency departments with the same recurring chief complaints/symptoms which contributes to further escalating costs for the federal government, state, and individual taxpayers.

Based on personal experience as a volunteer, an employee, and a patient in the hospital emergency department setting, I firmly believe that were a more earnest effort made to consistently create an atmosphere of gentleness and warmth along with the application of a standard of practice that looks, feels and performs more like what we wish to see in those who come to us when anxious, broken, fearful, hungry for love, ill, troubled, and weakened in so many respects that this would actually do more in identifying and positively contributing to more successful outcomes. Furthermore, it quite possibly could prove more cost effective over the long-term than what is typically accomplished today.

The Sinclair Compassion Questionnaire (SCQ)

What is compassion and how can we measure it?

What is the Most Valid and Reliable Compassion Measure in Healthcare?

Where Does Compassion Come From?