Narrative medicine, a model of clinical governance: The experience of the Local Health Authority of Florence in Italy

Aims: Modern medicine has recently faced the need to consider the existential qualities of patients during the process leading to diagnosis and choice of therapy, in addition to relying on technological progress. Materials & methods: Narrative medicine has gradually entered the routine of clinical work, aiming at improving patient-physician relationships and adherence to therapy and reducing direct and indirect health cost. Results: The Local Health Authority of Firenze (Italy) has launched an innovative process for the integration of narrative practices into the health services. This initiative's aim was to spread the culture of narrative-based medicine among health professionals and increase the quality and appropriateness of care (NaMe project). Conclusion: This article describes the experience through which a model of narrative medicine was implemented into the clinical practice.