Improvised caregiving or how a famous comedy theatre found itself in health care

Abstract

For more than 60 years, The Second City has used the techniques of improvisation to train some of the world's funniest and most famous people-among them Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jordan Peele, John Belushi, and Joan Rivers. The same skills that generate laughter are just as powerful and potent in any situation that requires human beings to navigate complexity, solve problems in group settings, and listen with the intent to hear. Collaborating with Caring Across Generations, Cleveland Clinic, and other organizations, The Second City has developed training modules that give individuals and groups more agency in the health care space. This article details how the program was developed, provides key insights into the benefits of such training, and offers takeaway exercises readers that can use with their teams and students.