Medical Improv
In 2016, the Mayutica Institute launched ImprovDoc.org, an educational resource to support medical professionals interested in improving communication through improvisational skills
Visit ImprovDoc.org to learn concepts, access training resources, follow the blog, and find out about upcoming events.
Why Medical Improv?
The practice of medicine is unpredictable.
Every day, clinicians must communicate with an ever-changing cast of colleagues and patients, in ever-changing environments, circumstances, and conditions. To practice good medicine in this uncertain environment, clinicians must constantly adapt and change, think on their feet, cope with uncertainty, create strong relationships in the most difficult situations, and care for themselves while caring for others.
In other words, clinicians must improvise.
Medical Improv is the adaptation of improvisational theatre training methods to the healthcare context, to promote collaborative patient care through improved communication, cognition, and wellbeing.
Through experiential learning, Medical Improv teaches core communication skills such as spontaneity, adaptability, listening, presence, resilience, emotional awareness, and comfort with uncertainty. Empowered by these skills, clinicians can address the complex communication challenges that pervade the practice of medicine.