The Schwartz Center Compassionate Care Scale is a research-based and peer-reviewed framework developed through decades of work by the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare. It defines the core components of compassionate care. 

The importance of compassionate care is well established: research consistently shows that compassion improves patient outcomes, strengthens trust, and reduces burnout among care teams. Explore the broader research on compassion in healthcare

In addition, there are more than 100 peer-reviewed studies documenting the benefits of the Schwartz Rounds^® program. Explore the Schwartz Rounds research

The Scale serves as the foundation for Monigle’s Compassion Index — a model that translates compassion from aspiration into measurable, actionable behaviors. In Monigle’s study of more than 3,000 healthcare consumers, the Compassion Index was examined through the lens of prioritization: not just what matters to patients, but what matters most. The findings revealed that being treated as a person rather than a diagnosis, and having providers spend adequate time, are the most critical drivers of a compassionate care experience.

Please note that this toolkit is meant for researchers; Schwartz Rounds leaders should visit theschwartzcenter.org/programresources to find tools for evaluating their own Schwartz Rounds sessions.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@theschwartzcenter.org.