[BALINT GROUP AS A-MEANS FOR BURNOUT PREVENTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THERAPIST-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IN A GENERAL HOSPITAL - THE SOROKA EXPERIENCE]. 
Balint group (BG) is an experiential discussion group which deals with the various aspects of the therapist-patient relationship.  BG was found to be effective for stress and burnout prevention among medical professionals.  Burnout is expressed by emotional fatigue, de-personalization and sense of failure.  Recent articles found connections between burnout and personal and systemic factors such as: workload, work conflicts, and work-life conflicts.  Burnout can lead to medical mistakes, loss of empathy for the patient, coronary disease, and leaving work.  Until now, BGs were held in community settings.  We first describe organizing and leading BG for physicians and nurses in the Nephrology-Dialysis department.  We present the process of group setting and leading as a procedure that also takes into consideration the organizational limits of the hospital setting.  Conclusions and future suggestions will be presented.