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C L O S L E R
Moving Us Closer To Osler
A Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence Initiative
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Creative Arts in Medicine
Connecting with Patients
Passion in the Medical Profession
Lifelong Learning in Clinical Excellence
Topic Search
August 2, 2023 | 2 min read

The Art of Communication

By Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Often, concise notes to patients or colleagues can suffice. Other times, a conversation —either virtual or in-person—is much better.

March 10, 2021 | 2 min read

Communication PEARLS

By Catherine Washburn, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When speaking with patients and colleagues, use a respectful tone and convey empathy. Clear communication is the basis for effective and trusting relationships with patients and coworkers.

May 20, 2019 | <1 min read

Mindful Communication

By Neda Gould, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Before and during difficult communication, ask yourself: Are my words King TUT? Is what I am saying kind, true, do I even need to say it, and, finally, is this the best time to say it?

December 2, 2019 | 2 min read

Improving Communication Between Inpatient Teams and PCPs

By Stephen Berry, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

While it's not always easy, hospital-based providers need to find a way to connect with the healthcare professionals who will continue their patient's care.

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. 

October 5, 2020 | 3 min read

How to Talk About Your Patient’s Electronic Communication

By Leslie Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Asking patients to show you their social media posts may give unique insights into their mental well-being and improve care.

"Primary Colors Ascending," by Janice Greenberg.

December 17, 2024 | 5 min read

The portal paradox   

By Megan Gerber, MD, MPH, Albany Medical College

Communicating with patients electronically presents both benefits and challenges. I’ve cherished when patients have shared creative works with me—both in person and via the portal—although I recognize this may add to my message count. 

September 27, 2021 | 2 min read

How to Communicate Clearly About Medication Directions

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Always use simple language with patients when giving directions about how to take medication, and check for understanding.   

February 10, 2025 | 2 min read

The weight of words, the power of presence 

Effective care includes explicitly communicating empathy and compassion. This includes overcoming language barriers between patient and clinician by collaborating with a medical interpreter.

December 16, 2024 | 2 min read

Navigating vaccine discussions  

By Erica Prochaska, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By understanding and addressing patients' concerns about vaccination, healthcare professionals can foster trust and promote informed decision-making. Every conversation is a chance to educate and empower. 

September 23, 2021 | 2 min read

Best Practices for Cross-Cultural Communication

By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University

When caring for patients with limited English proficiency, always use a licensed interpreter. Remember to direct your speech and body language to the patient. 

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. 

November 9, 2023 | 1 min read

Filling Shoes

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

When assuming care of patients whose clinician is retiring or departing the practice, the priority should be establishing rapport and trust. It may take time for patients to gain comfort with a new approach and treatment recommendations. 

November 7, 2023 | 3 min read

Speaking Our Patients’ Language

By Abbey Becker, LMSW, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians must meet patients where they are. Determining their health literacy levels is a critical part of care that sometimes gets overlooked. 

Soller, Mallorca, Spain

February 26, 2025 | 2 min read

Kindly words 

By Jonathan McFarland, Medical Humanist, Autonomous University of Madrid & University of Pompeu Fabra

As Osler advised, offering a "sympathetic look" and a "cheerful greeting" can transform everyday encounters into moments of healing. We all possess the capacity to uplift others. 

October 4, 2022 | 3 min read

How The Pandemic Made me a Better Doctor

By David Aronoff, MD, Indiana University

Caring for patients through the COVID crisis, I improved my communication. It reminded me how we all need to distill and convey complex ideas in a straightforward way. 

October 23, 2023 | 3 min read

Sharing in Caring

By Anne Walsh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Connecting with a patient’s other doctors improves health outcomes. Effective communication with colleagues is one key to successful comanagement. 

August 4, 2021 | 1 min read

Best Practices When Working With an Interpreter

When caring for a patient with limited English proficiency, understand that you’ll need to collaborate effectively with an interpreter. Speak naturally in the first person and maintain eye contact with your patient, not the interpreter.

June 23, 2020 | 1 min read

Connecting Despite Physical Distance

By Carey Roesler, PA-C, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Telemedicine visits are an opportunity to hone our listening skills, thus improving the care of our patients.

July 23, 2019 | 3 min read

Engaging Care Partners in Communication

By Antonio Wolff, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Jennifer Aufill, BA, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Jennifer Wolff, PhD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Families and friends are valuable resources. These partners in care can help clinicians improve quality of care and patient outcomes.

A team of sled dogs works together just like a healthcare team.

March 16, 2023 | 2 min read

Communication And Collegial Care

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We can be more effective communicators by understanding and appreciating the expertise of all members of the healthcare team. 

January 3, 2020 | 2 min read

Malcolm Gladwell’s “Talking to Strangers” Applied to Patient Care

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Miscommunications are common, particularly with individuals that we don't know well. Five tips from Gladwell's "Talking to Strangers" are presented here that may be helpful when interacting with patients.

February 22, 2023 | 1 min read

“Doctors Are From Mars, Patients Are From Venus”

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Physicians and patients need to work on their relationship. If doctors work on their listening skills and patients learn to be better self-advocates, we can build trust and become better healthcare partners. 

September 9, 2019 | 6 min read

Patient Interviewing Gems

By Thomas Gracie, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Excellent clinicians make the time to learn about their patients as people and connect on a personal level, building relationships that can last years, decades, or even a lifetime.

May 21, 2018 | 3 min read

Listening and Communicating

By Justin McArthur, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The clinical mission and values statement of a neurologist, sharing thoughtful tips on listening and communicating with patients and their families.

"How did you and your partner first meet?"

December 2, 2020 | 1 min read

5 open-ended questions to learn more about your patient

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Asking patients open-ended questions can reveal their fears and worries. This might help you better address their concerns.

Practicing humility can improve team-based care.

November 10, 2020 | 2 min read

Moving From Empathy to Humility

By Barret Michalec, PhD, Arizona State University

Acting with humility is granting someone else a higher status than one claims for themselves. This acknowledgement of respect is critical to being an effective healthcare professional.

June 28, 2018 | 1 min read

Reciprocating At Esperanza

By Randy Barker, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, retired

Making an effort to learn words in the patient's first language can make a huge difference in the physician-patient connection.

October 30, 2024 | 1 min read

More than words 

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

As depicted in the drama “From Scratch,” body language may often transcend words as expressions of empathy. Healthcare professionals should remain aware of how expressions, postures, and gestures can affect the ongoing conversation.  

May 15, 2019 | 3 min read

Prescribing Less Screen Time

By Mark Lewis, MD, Intermountain Medical Oncology, Murray, Utah

We need to turn our attention away from our screens and toward the people we serve.

June 29, 2023 | 1 min read

Practicing Cultural Humility

By Sherifatu Abu, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for patients with whom you don’t share the same cultural background, open-ended questions may help disclose their goals-of-care. 

April 10, 2025 | 2 min read

Full disclosure  

I wrote this poem to highlight the profound impact of truly listening to patients. This may be especially critical when patients are suffering and the diagnosis remains a mystery.

August 21, 2024 | 2 min read

Confessions of a non-flosser 

By Kyra Reu, medical student, University of Pennsylvania

When I told my dentist I didn’t floss regularly, it reminded me of a patient who shared she was not taking her medication as directed. Careful questioning of how the patient is actually taking their medication should be done before modifying the treatment. 

September 18, 2023 | 3 min read

Do you “need” to say it that way? 

By Gina Piscitello, MD, MS, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Using the word “need” to describe a treatment option may mislead patients and loved ones into believing it should be pursued. Prioritizing patient values and preferences may help reduce this risk.  

October 8, 2024 | 4 min read

Trust is a must

By Samuel Durso, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patient trust is built through eye contact, active listening, and conveying empathy. These actions demonstrate caring and respect which may promote positive health experiences. 

April 11, 2022 | 6 min read

Effective Partnering With Medical Interpreters

By Cecilia Murach, Medical Interpreter, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A medical interpreter can support successful communication between limited English proficiency patients and the other clinical team members. This collaboration helps build cross-cultural connections with patients and improve care. 

"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. 

"Studies of the Fetus in the Womb," Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1511, Royal Collection of the British Royal Family, United Kingdom, public domain.

June 18, 2019 | 5 min read

Stepping Away From Stories

By Nadia Jajja, MBBS

Journalism and medicine have both taught me the privilege of having a voice and knowing when to use it.

Hippocrates featured in the interior of the old town hall in Gõttingen, Niedersachsen, Germany. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

February 20, 2020 | 3 min read

“Life is short, and art long”

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

The art of honest and empathetic communication is fundamental to being an excellent clinician. And, it can be improved with intentional practice.

Clinician self-disclosure must be done thoughtfully if it is to strengthen the root of the patient-doctor relationship.

January 18, 2021 | 5 min read

The Pros and Cons of Clinician Self-disclosure

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinician self-disclosure, if done thoughtfully, may help some patients feel better understood and strengthen the patient-doctor relationship.

August 27, 2019 | 3 min read

Letting the Laughter In

By Michelle Gyenes, MS, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

Excellent clinicians know that laughter can be a powerful tool in enhancing communication and building trust, particularly when working with older patients.

October 10, 2022 | 3 min read

“What Else?”

By Matthew McEvoy, MD, Houston, Texas

Asking these simple two words and showing genuine concern can bring out a richer story and promote healing. 

August 6, 2020 | 3 min read

5 tips for supporting people with autism

By Roma Vasa, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It’s critical to make time to understand how your patient communicates best, learn their strengths, empathize with their challenges, and give them as much autonomy and choice as possible.

April 25, 2023 | 1 min read

A Common Goal

By Diane Ghanem, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Playing soccer taught me skills that are applicable to medicine. I learned how to listen and work collaboratively with the entire care team. 

February 14, 2023 | 3 min read

Caring For Patients by Listening

By Shari Lawson, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Treat every patient with respect and address all their concerns.

The author with teammates.

August 30, 2018 | 1 min read

The Importance and Psychology of Facial Expression

By Patrick Byrne, MBA, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Carefully noting your patient's facial expression consciously helps you "be" with your patient more effectively, to meet them where they are in their emotional state.

November 11, 2022 | 2 min read

Is that so?

By Sarah Radtke, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Patients and families may share experiences that we feel are inaccurate, improbable, or impossible. Discussing their statements nonjudgmentally helps to form trusting relationships.  

Painting by David Kopacz, copyright with the artist.

July 11, 2023 | 5 min read

Partial Listening is Partial Medicine

By David Kopacz, MD, University of Washington

Sometimes we hear only what we're listening for, and if we divide attention, we can miss critical information. We must strive to Iisten with the "third ear" to hear not only what's said, but also what's unsaid. 

July 5, 2023 | 3 min read

What brought you in today?

By Hailey Haffey, PhD, University of Utah

Asking my patients open-ended questions about how they physically traveled to the appointment can reveal important information.

February 4, 2021 | 2 min read

The Clinician as Patient

By Neha Pidatala, MD, New York, New York

When you’re a patient, use your medical knowledge to clearly communicate your goals of care. When treating a patient who works in healthcare, consider their unique perspective to facilitate meaningful discussions.

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