>> TANE: I'VE BEEN TEACHING IMPROV COMEDY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES I'VE HAD IS TO TRAIN DOCTORS, NURSES, AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN IMPROV.
I'LL ACTUALLY START LEADING AN EIGHT-WEEK CLASS FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS AT THE MAYO CLINIC LATER THIS MONTH.
PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHEN I TELL THEM I'M TRAINING DOCTORS IN IMPROV.
"WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU TEACHING THEM?"
>> JOY: ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE START TODAY'S OPERATION, CAN I GET A SUGGESTION?
WHERE SHOULD WE MAKE THE INCISION?
JUST SHOUT IT OUT.
>> TANE: I PROMISE, IT'S NOT THAT.
IT'S ALSO NOT ABOUT TRAINING DOCTORS AND NURSES TO CRACK JOKES OR TO BE PATCH ADDAMS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
NO.
IMPROVE IS ABOUT TEACHING US TO BE A REALLY GOOD ISTENER, AND TO BE PRESENT IN THE MOMENT.
AND THAT'S INVALUABLE TRAINING FOR ANYONE IN HEALTH CARE.
I'M GUESSING A LOT OF US HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES WITH DOCTORS WHO DIDN'T EXACTLY MAKE US FEEL LIKE THEY WERE LISTENING... >> JOY: ALL RIGHT, HELLO MISTER, MISTER -- I CAN'T READ THAT ON THE CHART.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT A...
PAIN IN YOUR CHEEK?
CHEST?
CAN'T READ THAT EITHER.
DOCTOR'S HANDWRITING, AM I RIGHT?!
ANYWAY, HERE'S A PRESCRIPTION.
IF THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER IN TWO WEEKS, AND YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, CALL THE MAIN NUMBER.
WE CAN PROBABLY GET YOU BACK IN IN THREE, FOUR MONTHS TOPS.
- GOTTA GET TO MY NEXT APPOINTMENT!
>> TANE: IMPROV TRAINS US TO BE COLLABORATIVE.
TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING WE COULDN'T DO BY OURSELVES.
AND WE LEARN WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE JOY IN MEDICINE, WHICH HELPS PREVENT BURN-OUT AND EXHAUSTION.
LISTENING.
COLLABORATION.
JOY.
IMPROV MAY SOUND LIKE A FUNNY HEALTH CARE TRAINING BUT THOSE ARE EXACTLY THINGS WE WANT ALL OUR CARETAKERS TO PRACTICE.
>> JOY: THANK YOU FOR TALKING THROUGH HOW YOU'VE BEEN FEELING WITH ME.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING, AND I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON.
>> TANE: YOU DO?
>> JOY: YES, AND YOU REALLY CAN'T HAVE ANY TACO BELL IN THIS ARENA, IT'S DOING DAMAGE.
I THINK IT