Takeaway
When stars align and you can speak with patients in their native language, it’s a beautiful thing. When you can’t, use professional interpreters and compassionate nonverbal cues to build rapport and improve communication.
Connecting with patients | March 30, 2026 | 2 min read
By Lucia Ponor, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
It was a late at night on call and the last admission of a long shift. It was a patient whose native language, Romanian, was the same as mine. I hurried to meet her and say hello in our shared language. The spouse’s face softened with relief, and the patient seemed momentarily stunned. She’d never met a physician from her country before and never had the chance to speak in her own language with a healthcare professional.
The conversation flowed effortlessly. What could have been fragmented was whole. We built a clear care plan together. I could feel her wanting to stay a little longer in a space where she felt safe and understood, instead of being scared and confused.
I’m fortunate to have interpreter services readily available at my hospital, and they’re essential—mandatory, in fact—when language barriers exist. But language concordance offers something more. It’s a bridge between clinical care and human connection. When patients hear their own language, they don’t just understand more—they feel understood. They read our inflections, our pauses, our body language.
The impact of shared language
In that alignment, something shifts. Fear softens. Trust emerges. Dignity is restored. Language carries values, family roles, beliefs, and emotions. Speaking the same language with a patient helps to see them as a whole person—not just the diagnosis, not just the symptoms, but the human being in front of us. It was such a special night for all of us, bringing pieces from home, and making a fragile moment forever remembered.
Practical approaches when you don’t share a language
When you don’t share a language with a patient, medical interpreter services are essential and nonnegotiable for accurate history-taking and informed consent. But beyond translation there are practical ways to convey respect and alleviate fear. Small gestures, like making eye contact, help bridge the language gap. Here are a few practical tips:
1. Use professional medical interpreters whenever possible.
2. It’s helpful for the interpreter if you use plain language and pause frequently.
3. Attend to nonverbal communication—an open posture and gentle eye contact convey warmth and respect across cultures.
4. Learn and use a few key phrases in the common languages of the community you care for. This can include greetings, “I’m listening,” “You’re safe,” and “Thank you.” This can soothe and build rapport.
5. Confirm understanding with teach-back. Ask the patient via the interpreter to repeat the care plan in their own words to ensure comprehension and invite questions.
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.