Interview a patient, client or acquaintance about a patient or illness experience.
Family members are not recommended as interviewees.
During the interview, incorporate the CLEAR Whole Person Care (R) model (CLEAR.)in your interaction..

Follow the instructions below:
Paper – Part One: Recommended section header – Patient Story

In the first part of the essay, tell the story of the patient’s experience. Change the name and any specific identifying information to protect the privacy of the interviewee.

Below is an introduction to consider as you begin the interview:

My name is  ______________________ and I am studying ______________________ at ……. As part of an assignment, I am encouraged to interview a person, listen to their story and learn from that person. In other words, you would be my teacher. Please tell me the story of … (“your illness experience,” “what it’s been like to be on this illness journey”).

Paper – Part Two: Recommended section header – Self-Evaluation of the CLEAR Whole Person Care (R) Model

This is the complete Clear  whole person care model :

CLEAR Whole Person Care model (expanded)
Create an atmosphere of compassion exemplified by the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ

C:  Connect Connect with God (spiritual core), self, and others
Connect with:
o God (spend a quiet moment before interaction)
o Yourself (attentive presence, aware of own thoughts/feelings/biases)
o Others (patient, family members – What gives you joy? What are you famous for?)
G Greet with kindness
R Recognize and introduce
E Explain purpose
T Time: Provide timeframe
E Engage and invite response

L:  Listen  Be fully present in a sacred time of sharing
Listen without interrupting for at least one minute
Listen with your whole being

E:  Explore Invite whole person conversations
Concern(s) (identify primary concerns)
Explore life dimensions (areas of connect and disconnect)
o Physical
o Mental/Emotional
o Social/Relational
o Spiritual
LLUH Spiritual History
S: Sources of strength (What gives you inner strength and support?)
O: Outlook on religion and beliefs (What religion, faith group or belief shapes you most?)
U: Underlying life issues/events (What significant life events [gains or losses] do you want us to be aware of as we care for you?)
L: Links to care (What religious practices or beliefs would you like us to consider as we care for you?)

A:  Acknowledge  Empathize and communicate understanding
Care about the life and story (show empathy)
Validate the story and concern(s) (show that you have heard)

R:  Respond Share resources that affirm strength and offer hope
Affirm and empower personal resources (resources and strengths of the other person)
Refer to professional resources (treatment and referral)
Share your (responder) resources (personal stories, prayer, etc.)
Reflect together and privately (on conversation, need for follow-up, and personal impact)

CLEAR Whole Person Care model

C: Connect 
  Connect with God, self, and others
L: Listen 
  Be fully present in a sacred time of sharing
E: Explore 
  Invite whole person conversations
A: Acknowledge 
  Empathize and communicate understanding
R: Respond 
  Share resources that affirm strength and offer hope

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS WHEN YOU PREPARE YOUR STORY

1. Background to visiting the patient
a. Describe how you know this patient. Change the name, and do not provide specific identifying information to protect the persons identity.
b. What did you do to prepare for this interview?
c. How did you feel as you walked into the room?

2. Connect
a. Were you present with the patient? In what ways were you present or not present? What challenges did you experience in being present with the patient?
b. How did you attempt to connect with the patient and/or anyone else in the room? Did it work? What tells you whether you were or were not connected to the patient (or others)?
c. In what way (if any) did a connection to God play a role in this encounter?
d. In what ways was it difficult to connect with the patient (pain, capacity for connection)?

3. Listen
a. What areas did the patient choose to focus on in telling his/her story? (physical, emotional, relational, spiritual/religious)
b. What did you do that encouraged the patient to share (or not share) his/her story?
c. What did you do that seemed to cause the patient to say less?
d. What concerns did you have about the patient talking too much or too little?
e. What role do you think your listening played in the healing process?

4. Explore
a. What areas did you explore with the patient (physical, mental, social, and spiritual)?
b. What aspects of their life were the primary areas of focus?
c. Did you discover the main concern(s) of the patient? How do you know that you heard the main concerns?
d. Did you discover strengths in the patient? If so, what were they?

5. Acknowledge – In what ways did you acknowledge or validate the patients story, concerns and strengths?

6. Respond (Note: this area may be difficult to cover in your first interview)
a. Did you explore the patient’s personal resources that he/she possesses?
b. What professional resources did you share?

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALSO COVERED THIS QUESTIONS IN YOUR STORY
A. In what ways did you connect (or fail to connect)?
B. Did you listen without interrupting (what tells you whether you listened well)?
C. What areas of life did you explore (physical, mental, social and spiritual)?
D. Did you explore the spiritual? Why? Why not?
E. In what ways did you acknowledge what you heard? What was the patients/clients response?
F. In what ways did you respond (including personal and professional)? Indicate if this area did not apply in your interaction and why not.
G. Elaborate on your areas of strength in the CLEAR Whole Person Care (R) model.
H. What areas could you work on to improve connection and communication with others? I. What steps can you take to improve in these areas?