You searched for Conversation - CLOSLER

August 24, 2022 | 2 min read

Conversations With Those Who Are Vaccine-Hesitant

By Joan Park, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Talking about vaccines with patients can sometimes feel challenging. Extending empathy, sharing your own story, and being honest about potential side effects can be helpful.

May 9, 2019 | 2 min read

Ending Conversion Therapy

By Carl G. Streed Jr., MD, MPH, Boston Medical Center

Speaking up to end conversion therapy is fulfilling one of our fundamental oaths: primum non nocere—first do no harm.

November 13, 2019 | 4 min read

The Art of Scaffolding Conversations

By Robert Trevino, MD, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Scaffolding when communicating is meeting the other person where they are in their understanding. This is essential for healthcare discussions to best meet the needs of our patients.

February 1, 2021 | 2 min read

The Emperor’s New Curtains

By Charlotte Squires, MBChB, Borders General Hospital, Scotland

Clinically excellent physicians consider the setting of private conversations with patients and families. Quiet rooms with a door that closes are ideal for sensitive discussions.

"Each person is a universe."

November 13, 2024 | 2 min read

Cada persona es un Mundo

All clinicians need to spend more time listening to patients. Not doing so limits our ability to understand patients’ perspectives and needs.

Autumn leaves

October 5, 2021 | 1 min read

The Sound of Silence

By Michelle Warncke, MBBS, MSc, North Carolina

Creating silent moments when talking with patients gives them time to process and the opportunity to share concerns that may not otherwise be spoken.

April 13, 2023 | 5 min read

Navigating Conversations About Psychedelics With Patients

By Natalie Gukasyan, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

There’s been growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. This requires that healthcare professionals be well informed and prepared to discuss this experimental therapy.

April 7, 2025 | 2 min read

The connective cure

By Allison Pugh, PhD, Johns Hopkins Univeristy

The art of genuine human interaction is a vital clinical skill that no algorithm can replicate. This building of connection can foster trust, enable healing, and facilitate holistic care.

September 6, 2018 | 3 min read

Intimate partner violence: How to start a conversation with patients and staff

By Michelle Patch, MSN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Preparing and coaching your healthcare team to have open, honest dialogues with patients about intimate partner violence is essential. Failure to screen and address this matter is dangerous, while doing so can save lives.

Conversations

August 1, 2019 | 3 min read

Mindset and the Power of Yet: A Conversation With Dr. Gurpreet Dhaliwal

By Sam Kant, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Excellent clinicians are also thoughtful mentors. Mentors are like beacons as we navigate our path forward.

June 20, 2019 | 2 min read

Be Brave Enough to Start Conversations That Matter

By Manasa Ayyala, MD, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

"Between the World and Me" is a must read. At 152 pages, it's a small investment of time that leaves a large impact. I invite you to read this book with the intent to ask curious questions, to be ok feeling uncomfortable, and to continue this important dialogue.

March 10, 2022 | 2 min read

Balanced conversations about weight

By Colleen Schreyer, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians can treat weight as simply one more piece of health information that they incorporate into a holistic care plans. This can mitigate stigma and foster empathy.

February 16, 2024 | 1 min read

Patients and politics

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patient-initiated political statements may make healthcare professionals feel uncomfortable. Thoughtful strategies, like redirection, can keep the focus on patient care.

May 12, 2020 | 1 min read

Jump-start End of Life Discussions With “Death Over Dinner”

By Katie Nelson, PhD(c), MSN, RN, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

The pandemic has created a sense of urgency around advance care planning and end of life preparations. Resources like "Death Over Dinner" can help broach conversations about death, dying, and the end of life in a non-threatening (and even entertaining) manner.

February 4, 2020 | 4 min read

How to Respond to Questions About CBD

By Ryan Vandrey, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

With the massive expansion of interest in CBD products, clinicians need to know how to address their patients' questions.

June 5, 2023 | 1 min read

Saying No With Compassion And Curiosity

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

When patients request something that is unsafe, be curious and explore their perspective before declining. This approach is collaborative and less stressful for both clinician and patient.

August 26, 2020 | 6 min read

How to Discuss Minority Stress With Patients

By Chase Anderson, MD, University of California San Francisco

If your patient identifies as part of a minority group, it could be helpful to ask if they’ve experienced stress because of this. Doing so may allow you to better understand your patient’s story.

August 16, 2022 | 2 min read

Outbreaks as Opportunities

By Jade Cobern, MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Talking about monkeypox and the return of polio can remind caregivers that vaccinating young children against other illnesses is essential.

March 5, 2020 | 3 min read

How to Talk About Miracles

By Jonathan Yeh, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Excellent clinicians can learn and practice techniques to boost the power of hope, and to incorporate the wish for a miracle into a more realistic care plan.

February 24, 2020 | 1 min read

“StoryCorps” Moments

By Sharon Solomon, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Taking the time to listen to patients' stories validates the humanity that is integral in the practice of medicine. It also can create meaning and bring joy within the patient-clinician dyad.

May 23, 2022 | 2 min read

Communication: A Chaplain’s-Eye View

By Peter Heikkinen, MDiv, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Hearing, acknowledging, and appreciating the patient’s perspective is central to effective communication.

March 13, 2018 | 2 min read

Reading Your Patient and Changing Your Plan

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We usually already have an agenda set when we see patients. However, we have to be ready to improvise by reading the patient, and be open to changing our plan.

March 21, 2023 | 1 min read

Co-Reader

By Randy Barker, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, retired

When we, or someone close to us, have a disease that we see in our patients, it’s an opportunity to more deeply understand the illness experience.

April 14, 2022 | 2 min read

“Explainaholics”

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sometimes patients and caregivers feel overwhelmed when clinicians provide too much information. When you sense this to be the case, offering clear recommendations can be helpful.

September 21, 2023 | 1 min read

Healthcare Professionals And Fatal Overdose

By Hannah Fetting, MSN, CRNP, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Colleagues with a substance use disorder deserve the utmost compassion. We can offer nonjudgmental support, just like we do for all other conditions.

April 5, 2022 | 1 min read

Playing “Out of Book”

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Unexpected statements from patients can force clinicians to improvise. As in chess, it helps to view these as challenges with potential rewards.

Anchoring bias occurs when we rely too heavily on information received up front and too little on information received later when making a judgement about the most likely diagnosis.

November 26, 2024 | 4 min read

Lessening the chances of making diagnostic errors

By Elizabeth Fracica, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To minimize common mistakes in diagnoses, clinicians must be mindful of cognitive and anchoring biases. Regularly seeking alternative explanations is one way to accomplish this.

February 20, 2023 | 2 min read

Responding to Rejection

By Joseph Carrese, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ultimately, patients with adequate decision-making capacity decide about their course of treatment. When patients choose not to follow our recommendations, find the best possible “plan B” together.

January 24, 2023 | 2 min read

Blueberry Bushes

By Marcus Maier, PA, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A patient’s main concern is sometimes not medical. It can be helpful to ask, “Is there anything we didn’t cover that you’d like to talk about?”

August 17, 2023 | 3 min read

The Hospital Playlist

By Kerry Devlin, MMT, LPMT, MT-BC (she/her), Johns Hopkins Medicine

Consider the hospital soundscape and how it may impact patients’ well-being. To create a more soothing stay, silence or turn down monitors if possible.

February 21, 2024 | 1 min read

Small talk—big issues

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Small talk can be a nice prelude to a more serious conversation. When open-ended and genuine, it may also create an opportunity for patients to bring up previously undisclosed and meaningful concerns.

"Rinaldo and Armida," 1629, Anthony van Dyke. Public domain.

September 4, 2019 | 7 min read

From Frameside to Bedside: Pauses and Perspective

By Kamna Balhara, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The art of medicine must balance stillness and motion. Making time to reflect can infuse more meaning in our interactions with patients.

April 13, 2020 | 3 min read

Social Distancing, Not Emotional Distancing

By Loveleena Virk, MD, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Medical Center, California.

Creating space to recognize and manage feelings of helplessness is critical to prevent burnout and maintain wellness during the pandemic. We share strategies in this piece to help you cope during these challenging times.

July 9, 2019 | 5 min read

Pain, Opioids, and the Constant Shadow of Stigma

By Travis Rieder, PhD, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics

When a patient reports pain, their words need to be met with listening, compassion, and a discussion of how best to address the pain.

March 11, 2020 | 3 min read

Saturdays With Mr. Hargett

By Yolonda Wilson, PhD, 2019-2020 Fellow at the National Humanities Center and 2019-2020 Encore Public Voices Fellow

Loneliness is an epidemic. Being aware of this, asking about it, and empathizing can make a world of difference.

Dr. Susan Harvey

July 10, 2019 | <1 min read

Dr. Susan Harvey, A CLOSLER Look

By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor

When talking with patients, sitting down at the same level that they are sitting can help them relax.

June 21, 2021 | 2 min read

Seen But Not Heard

By Nick Sawyer, MD, MBA, University of California, Davis

Some patients sense that their stories aren’t appreciated. Taking the time to sit and listen to patients can build trust and begin to restore their faith in the healthcare system.

April 9, 2025 | 2 min read

Feeling secure

Sometimes the most profound acts of care aren't medical interventions, but recognizing the simple comforts that anchor patients, like a cherished stuffed animal.

September 29, 2020 | 4 min read

Respecting All Patients

By Chase Anderson, MD, University of California San Francisco

Using your patient’s correct pronoun at all times is critical to supporting their mental well-being.

November 18, 2021 | 3 min read

Adequate Bandwith

By Jennifer Eitingon, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Recently, a patient dying of cancer requested CPR despite many clinicians advising against it. When it feels challenging to understand a patient’s decision, I remind myself to consider the situation from a different perspective.

July 9, 2018 | <1 min read

On Clipping Nails

By William Greenough, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Making a moment for foot care creates an opportunity to bond with my patient and strengthen our relationship.

April 26, 2019 | 2 min read

Building Authentic Rapport

By Leslie Ordal, MSc, CGC

Building rapport is about meeting patients where they are and showing that you’re putting their concerns first. Strong rapport transforms a clinical interaction into a human interaction, which is the heart of patient-partnered care.

December 4, 2023 | 2 min read

More than a “picture”

By Kittane "Vishnu" Vishnupriya, MBBS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When explaining medical procedures to patients, use straightforward terms. Also, be mindful to maintain accuracy and clearly outline any risks.

July 3, 2024 | 1 min read

More than fireworks

By Steve Kravet, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

The patient-doctor relationship is strengthened through conversation. In discussing holidays with patients, clinicians can sometimes gain valuable insights into patients’ physical, social, and emotional health.

June 5, 2024 | 2 min read

Near death

By Aurora Grutman, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Overcoming anxiety about the end of life allows one to explore concerns with empathy and openness. A willingness to learn about patients’ spiritual beliefs can help clinicians provide compassionate and holistic care.

February 28, 2022 | 4 min read

To Our Interpreters: Gracias, Shukriyah, Todah, Danyavad, Merci, Danke

By Cecilia Murach, Medical Interpreter, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Kamna Balhara, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Nathan Irvin, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When working with an interpreter, remember that they’re a person, not a machine. Saying “thank you” makes them feel like a valued member of the healthcare team.

"Imperial Purple," by Spencer Finch. Photo copyright with the authors.

July 20, 2020 | 6 min read

Art and Connection During COVID-19

By Kamna Balhara, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Sarah Clever, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In a time of physical distancing, stepping out of our comfort zone to find creative and unconventional ways to connect with patients and colleagues can bring us together.

A crowd organized by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee sang “We Shall Overcome” in Farmville, Virginia, in 1966, after a speech by Stokely Carmichael.

January 18, 2019 | 9 min read

From Clinic to Senate

By Kali Cyrus, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Advocacy does not have to mean changing legal precedents; it can also be taking a mentee out for coffee, giving feedback about your colleague’s stereotyping of a patient, or not patronizing restaurants with unfair wage practices.

October 2, 2023 | 4 min read

Exclamation Points And Exhalations

By Ajibike Lapite, MD, MPHTM, Texas Childrens Hospital

Even when lab results are normal, some patients may still have concerns. Take time to address their fears and worries.