Takeaway
Providing holistic care often involves deviating from the standard of care to honor the patient’s preferences.
Connecting with Patients | May 28, 2025 | 2 min read
By Prem Kurra, MBBS, Johns Hopkins Observership Program, with Amy Yu, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Ms. S was a quiet, gentle woman in her 80s. She had been admitted for severe aortic stenosis and a lower GI bleed. Because of the bleeding, a colonoscopy was scheduled—and with it, the need for bowel prep. I remember seeing her after two failed attempts at completing the prep, each ending with a syncopal episode. She was terrified.
The medical team was focused on one thing: getting her through the procedure. Ms. S complied with the recommendations of the team, but beneath that compliance, I think she was hoping—longing—for just one person to hear her. To acknowledge her fear.
Then walked in Dr. M and sat down next to Ms. S. In that quiet moment, doctor and patient simply looked at each other—and both seemed to understand what was truly best. Dr. M reminded her that she was not alone, and that everything being done was meant for her benefit—not just her body, but her whole being. In a calm and deliberate move, Dr. M canceled the colonoscopy. And just like that, a smile returned to her face. Ms. S felt seen, heard, and understood.
Many patients live in a state of uncertainty, burdened by illness, in an unfamiliar hospital setting where nothing feels like home. They’re surrounded by a rotation of strangers, most of whom pass through bound to a shift schedule.
What soothes a patient’s spirit? During training, I had the privilege of rounding with a few extraordinary attendings who showed me something invaluable. They had the rare ability to transform a sterile hospital room into a sanctuary—with nothing more than presence, words, and warmth. In those rooms, the clinical faded. For a few minutes, it felt like we were simply sitting together in a living room, maybe sharing a cup of tea.
In those brief encounters, patients weren’t just seen by a physician—they were visited by someone who truly cared. They shared a few precious minutes that felt more like home. These doctors weren’t just treating diseases. They were comforting and caring for the whole person. They were healers in the truest sense.
I’ll end with a quotation that’s stayed with me, by Dr. Francis Peabody:
“One of the essential qualities of the clinician is interest in humanity, for the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.”
Here are two things I learned from witnessing these encounters:
1. Be predictable in your kindness.
When patients know you’ll check in after lunch, or you always adjust their blanket just right, they start to feel safe.
2. Sit down, even for one minute.
A seated healthcare professional communicates calm, presence, and attention. It says: “I’m not in a rush. I’m here for you.”
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.