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.

November 21, 2022 | 3 min read

The Angry Daughter

By Bill Bachman, MD, Albany Medical College

When working with patients or loved ones who are confrontational, recognize your own feelings, try to understand theirs, and know when to ask for help from colleagues. 

February 18, 2020 | 3 min read

4 negotiating tips from “Never Split the Difference”

By Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We regularly negotiate with patients en route to shared decision making. Tips from Voss' book "Never Split the Difference" can improve your communications with patients.

December 3, 2020 | 4 min read

The Other Side of the Glass

By Michelle Sharp, MD, MSH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Having a loved one in the ICU is one of the hardest things someone can experience. Timely and compassionate communication from clinicians to families is invaluable.

September 28, 2020 | 2 min read

Practicing the Art of Listening

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Listening is essential for humanistic patient care. Listening without interrupting may strengthen the patient-clinician relationship.

September 17, 2020 | 3 min read

5 Tips for Talking About Autopsy Results With Your Patient’s Family

By J. Stephen Nix, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Managing loved ones’ expectations before the autopsy is critical. Ensuring there's ample time to privately review and explain the results can help bring meaning and closure to their loss.

January 11, 2022 | 1 min read

How to Share Disappointing News

By Simone Lescott, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When sharing bad news with patients, acknowledge their response and validate their emotions. Allow for time to address concerns and answer questions.    

October 1, 2020 | 3 min read

3 Tips to Improve Your Body Language

By Adam Koenig, Medical Student, University of Toledo

To build a strong patient-clinician relationship, position your body with an open posture and make good eye contact.

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.

August 11, 2020 | 3 min read

Insights From Practicing Telemedicine

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

To make the most of video visits, stay attuned to your patients' nonverbal cues and avoid any background distractions in your environment.

June 22, 2018 | 2 min read

Ars Medica: The Art of Medicine

By Javier de la Maza, MD, Johns Hopkins University

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can be used to shape our reality and reconnect with our patients. Building meaningful relationships with our patients reminds us the importance of the human experience in providing clinically excellent care.

February 27, 2018 | 2 min read

On Discrimination, Transparency, and Mutual Respect

By Anika Hines, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Patients' past experience with discrimination may influence how they interact with you. Acknowledging this may improve communication and patient care.

June 8, 2023 | 3 min read

The Swiss Army Knife

By Cory Rohlfsen, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Sometimes clinicians’ wellspring of empathy runs dry. Unfolding a few simple tools—like mirroring patients’ nonverbal communication—can improve therapeutic relationships and allow us to provide compassionate care even when we are not at our best.

June 10, 2020 | 2 min read

6 Lessons Learned From One Month as a Journalist

By Heather Kagan, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians—like journalists— must communicate in an open and straightforward manner.

August 22, 2019 | 3 min read

Leveraging Your Patient’s Strength

By Keri Bischoff, MA, WellBeing Coach partnering with Johns Hopkins, Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Excellent clinicians discover their patients talents to best deliver both recommendations and personalized care.

June 20, 2024 | 2 min read

Don’t touch me 

While caring for a patient who was agitated, I witnessed the power of communicating gently and compassionately. In helping a patient to feel safe and respected, healthcare professionals can gain a more complete understanding of patients’ needs. 

August 6, 2019 | 2 min read

3 Lessons From Your Patient’s Impatience

By Iro Filippaki, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The excellent clinician acknowledges their patient's impatience and frustration. In doing so, relationships with patients and clinical outcomes may be improved.

January 20, 2021 | 3 min read

How to Repair Patient-Clinician Relationships

By Shara Nauth, MD, Western University, Ontario, Canada

To rebuild a patient-clinician relationship, apologize and acknowledge your patient’s feelings.

February 28, 2023 | 1 min read

Mitigating social isolation

By Mfon Umoh, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

All medical specialties need to screen for isolation. Asking patients who their social supports are and who they feel close to is a good starting point.  

May 4, 2020 | 2 min read

Connecting With Teens Via Telemedicine

By Michelle Munson, LMSW, PhD, Nadia Jenefsky, MPS, LCAT

Suspending judgement is critical to building a trusting relationship, especially with teens.

April 13, 2022 | 2 min read

The Role of Disclosure in Medicine

By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University

Carefully considered clinician self-disclosure can forge a more personal connection between patients and healthcare professionals.     

April 7, 2020 | 3 min read

The Personal Responses Tour in Medical Education

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Arts-based medical education improves fundamental clinical skills, including ambiguity tolerance, reflective ability, bias awareness, and empathy. It can also enhance the well-being of healthcare professionals.

November 16, 2020 | 5 min read

Breaking Bad on Video

By Mark Taubert, MD, Cardiff University, Wales

Traditionally, grave medical news is shared in person; we're now having to do so virtually. During such conversations, try to infuse as much warmth and compassion as possible.

July 12, 2018 | 1 min read

Storytelling in Medicine

By Susan Lehmann, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The ability to learn your patient’s story from their words is the essential skill for developing a comprehensive understanding. This is crucial for accurate diagnosis and for establishing a therapeutic bond with each patient.

February 19, 2025 | 3 min read

Respecting boundaries  

By Sarah Kim, medical student, Cooper University

Earning and maintaining patient trust can be accomplished through consistent check-ins to ensure they feel heard and understood. Equally important is clear communication related to all aspects of the physical examination. 

April 22, 2021 | 2 min read

Making Condolence Calls

By Maria Carney, MD, Northwell Health, New York

When a patient dies, reaching out to the family can help them with closure. It may also be beneficial for clinicians.

October 27, 2022 | 2 min read

Connections Accelerated

By Jamie Schwartz, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Some clinical encounters require establishing a patient-doctor connection quickly. Providing emotional support may improve your ability to create trusting relationships. 

September 14, 2020 | 3 min read

The Unexpected Benefits of Seeing Patients Virtually

By Susan Lehmann, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Telemedicine allows patients and clinicians to see and respond to each other’s facial expressions. Plus, clinicians are offered deeper insight into their patient’s world.

January 4, 2022 | 2 min read

Welcome to The No-Judgment Zone

By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University

After lying to my own doctor because I feared her judgment, I learned to invite all patients to be open and honest. Earning the patient’s trust will allow us to give the best care. 

October 21, 2020 | 3 min read

Show Me

By Jared Rubenstein, MD, Baylor College of Medicine

Asking patients to share photos and videos can give clinicians a deeper understanding of their lives. This may allow us to give better person-centered care.

October 19, 2022 | 2 min read

Do Not Miss

By Matthew McEvoy, MD, Houston, Texas

While volunteering in a chaplain’s office as an undergrad, I learned that patients can gain strength from many sources. As a clinician, I ask all patients, “How can we support your spirituality within the healthcare system?”  

January 14, 2025 | 3 min read

The vinyl sessions 

Uncover and leverage patient passions—from Abba to Zappa—to enhance treatment. Personalizing care fosters deeper patient engagement and improved outcomes. 

April 6, 2021 | 2 min read

How to Respond to Unexpected Things Your Patient Tells You

By Shireen Heidari, MD, Stanford University

When a patient shares something that really catches you by surprise, listen closely and ask open-ended questions to fully understand their perspectives.

January 7, 2025 | 3 min read

“Hope is the thing with feathers” 

By Karen Abernathy, CRNP, MSN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

By acknowledging patient emotions and actively listening without judgement, clinicians can improve communication barriers. This can build trust and may be especially important for those who are resistant to our care recommendations. 

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.

March 4, 2021 | 2 min read

Clear is Compassionate

By Jillian Bybee, Michigan State University

Always be honest and transparent when talking with patients, even when sharing bad news.

November 10, 2021 | 5 min read

Reading Between The Lines

We don’t always say what we’re thinking, particularly in difficult conversations. Sharing and exploring unspoken thoughts can lead to stronger connections with our patients and better care.

September 24, 2020 | 2 min read

Using Non-judgmental Language

By Nat Mulkey (they/them), Medical Student, Boston University Medicine

In order to minimize bias, it’s critical to use non-judgmental language when describing patients, both orally and in the medical record.

December 19, 2024 | 1 min read

In the aftermath  

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

The murder of a health insurance company CEO has drawn attention to a swell of frustration with America’s healthcare system. Clinicians can extend empathy to patients who suffer simply trying to receive care. 

June 28, 2023 | 3 min read

Dad’s End-of-Life Lessons

By Eric Last, DO, Northwell Health, Wantagh, New York

As my father was dying, it became clear that he had many misconceptions. This reminded me of how important it is to explore each patient’s understanding of palliative care and hospice.

September 6, 2022 | 3 min read

Photographs at The Bedside

By Charlotte Grinberg, MD, Tufts Medicine Care at Home

Asking to see videos and memorabilia from a patient’s past may help us connect with each person in a more personal and complete way. 

September 1, 2022 | 2 min read

“Ticking Time Bomb”

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

If you use a metaphor when speaking with patients, make sure to choose ones that don’t cause unnecessary alarm. 

June 22, 2023 | 2 min read

Caring With Pride

By Corey Tapper, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

To ensure nonjudgmental and equitable care of LGBTQ+ patients, call and chart people by their preferred name and pronouns. I also wear a Pride flag lapel pin to show my support. 

July 16, 2020 | 3 min read

Being Human

By Kamala Tamarisa, MD, Southlake, Texas

When you notice that something is amiss with a patient or your reaction to them feels off, this is a clue to dig deeper. With time and enhanced trust in the doctor-patient relationship, things usually become clear.

October 19, 2021 | 2 min read

Asking About Your Patient’s Pet

By Elizabeth Steuber, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Todd Brenner, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ask patients about their pets. This can build a bridge to talking about topics like functional status, home life, and family dynamics.