January 29, 2020 | 2 min read How to Give Patients Presence By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania Leaving your own worries at the door, sitting at eye level, and listening attentively are three important ways to connect meaningfully with your patients.
May 12, 2022 | 2 min read The “Uninterested” Mom Who Wept By Precious Ndukwe, MD, Howard University When caring for an overweight infant as a medical student, I wrongly assumed the mother was overfeeding the baby. This experience will remind me in the future to leave my suppositions at the door.
April 29, 2025 | 2 min read Soul gym Our culture frequently celebrates physical strength. In healthcare, the power of emotional fortitude is regularly called upon when encountering patients’ frustration or anger.
December 14, 2020 | 2 min read Lessons From a Zoom Thanksgiving Applied to Patient Care By Ambereen Mehta, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Zoom made it possible for me to connect with many friends and family for Thanksgiving. Patient video visits that include family members from far away may enhance goals of care discussions.
March 15, 2023 | 1 min read Einstein’s Relativity And Patient Care By Steve Kravet, MD, MBA, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Conversations about the passing of time can stimulate meaningful reflections during patient visits.
December 19, 2018 | <1 min read Dr. Michael Carducci, A CLOSLER Look By Gretchen Miller, Managing Editor Patients with cancer are vulnerable. There are a lot of emotions associated with this diagnosis, and I want to make patients feel that they are not the disease.
June 24, 2021 | 2 min read How to Emotionally Support Patients Through Challenging Moments By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University When I was a med student, I tried to “fix” how my patient was feeling. I learned that many patients need time to sit with their feelings and that listening empathically can be the best approach.
January 3, 2024 | 4 min read Make a good stack By Kyle Glienke, MD, Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, Iowa Like baling hay, connecting with patients on a personal level requires intentionality and consistency.
January 13, 2020 | 4 min read You are my Sunshine By Lingsheng Li, MD, MHS, University of California, San Franscisco The clinically excellent clinician understands that what we say and do may matter more than what we know.
April 27, 2022 | 2 min read Listening to Your Patient’s Grief By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine By listening to a patient’s story of loss, we bear witness and affirm their experience.
April 16, 2025 | 1 min read Shared decision making 2.0 We need a new shared decision-making paradigm where all possibilities for care are out on the table, including unconventional ones. A clinician’s humility and openness are especially important now that patients are more emboldened to question the opinions of experts.
April 26, 2018 | 1 min read Forming True Partnerships In Care: Listen To Your Patient By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Reflecting on caring for a 12-year-old with a complex neurological condition, I was humbled by the parents’ definition of clinically excellent patient care.
March 14, 2023 | 2 min read Laughter is The Best Medicine By Marion McCrary, MD, Duke Health A smile, a touch, eye contact, and a jovial laugh can be a lifeline for patients in a stressful situation.
December 20, 2018 | 9 min read You’re not getting my f-ing box cutter: paradoxical ways kids ask for limits By Hal Kronsberg, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine The most important lesson I’ve learned as a child psychiatrist is how badly kids want limits when they’re struggling, even when they keep that wish to themselves. Kids are smart, and when we catch them breaking a rule, we need to be curious about why it happened.
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.
December 18, 2023 | 1 min read The healing power of story By Shwetha Mudalegundi, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine I used a narrative medicine technique when caring for a patient who mistrusted the healthcare system. By writing his story and reading it back to him, he understood that the care team was truly listening.
January 14, 2020 | 3 min read A Relationship Between Equals By Madeline Rodriguez, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine The clinically excellent practice is centered on core humanistic values rather than on efficiency or productivity.
April 14, 2022 | 1 min read “Don’t Worry” By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine General reassurances are often ineffective when they don’t address patients’ true concerns.
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.
December 1, 2020 | 4 min read When Patients Trust Only You By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine Through empathic listening, all members of the healthcare team can build rapport with patients in their most vulnerable moments.
March 2, 2023 | 2 min read Meaningful Chords By Ben Roberts, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, ACHPN, Johns Hopkins Medicine When my patient’s wife brought his guitar to the hospital, I realized it’s impossible to overestimate the impact of reuniting patients with what matters most to them. Do what you can to make this happen.
Infectious disease physician Amash Adalja, MD, often uses car analogies to concretize abstract concepts for his patients. December 17, 2018 | 1 min read How to Make Abstract Concepts Concrete By Amesh Adalja, MD, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health To explain complex subjects to patients, you take an abstract concept and concretize it. This is important for patient counseling, and as a method to check your own knowledge.
June 10, 2021 | 3 min read Why Perfectionism May Weaken Your Relationships With Patients By Maureen Flood, NP, Johns Hopkins Medicine My perfectionist tendencies weakened my relationship with a patient. Being aware of and working to overcome this habit can be helpful for patients and take pressure off healthcare professionals.
December 6, 2023 | 1 min read Reality bites By Carolina Saldanha, MD, Massachusetts General Brigham Salem Hospital I constructed what I thought was a great care plan for my patient with diabetes. I later learned that he wasn’t allowed lunch breaks and had nowhere to store his insulin. I now ask the patient about their daily routine to create a realistic plan.
December 12, 2019 | 2 min read When to Consider Making a House Call By Mattan Schuchman, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine House calls can offer insights and create opportunities that are not possible in the office. Go for it when you can!
April 14, 2022 | 1 min read Supporting Young Adults Who Use E-Cigarettes When talking with young patients about tobacco dependence, first create a judgment-free zone and ask open-ended questions to understand why they use the product.
March 13, 2025 | 1 min read Wearing many hats By Jessica Park, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Sharing parts of your identity, for example being a parent, may help you to connect with patients on a deeper level. Shared humanity can create a deeper relationship, which is essential for trust and service.
November 25, 2020 | 2 min read Naming Chickens By Claire Crawford, MSW, PhD, Texas Childrens Incorporate laughter and joy where you can, giving yourself, your patients, and their families, moments of respite.
February 15, 2023 | 2 min read Speaking from my heart By Leslie Miller, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine When deeply worried about the mental health of patients, make sure they feel heard, validated, and empowered.
"An Orchid," Georgia O'Keefe, 1941, Museum of Modern Art. November 13, 2018 | 2 min read Seeing the Unseen By Lauren Small, PhD To start seeing the unseen, carving out five minutes to sit down and just listen to your patient can make a difference.
June 9, 2021 | 2 min read How to Support Patients When Transitioning Back to “Normal” As we move through phases of the pandemic, understanding patients’ goals and asking about their worries is paramount.
November 27, 2023 | 2 min read When the truth (literally) hurts By Eric Last, DO, Northwell Health, Wantagh, New York When our patients are facing surgery or other procedures, thoughtful questions can help allay their worries.
Vibraphone. Copyright Chris Dingman. December 5, 2019 | 2 min read Peace—Music to Live By Chris Dingman, vibraphonist and composer Music with intention and sensitivity can be a powerful tool for helping the terminally ill—and others—cope with physical and emotional pain in order to find peace. Recommending this form of therapy to patients can be a valuable gift.
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.
March 3, 2025 | 2 min read The power of small gestures Actions speak louder than words. Small gestures like listening closely to patients, getting tissues, adjusting the lights, and helping them get comfortable in bed is part of giving holistic care.
November 18, 2020 | 1 min read She’s Only 24 By Rakesh Patel, MD, University of Nottingham Listening to patients’ fears and concerns builds understanding about the potential impact of disease on their long term goals. This may be especially important for younger patients.
February 1, 2023 | 1 min read Patience With Patients By Will Frye, PhD, Johns Hopkins All Childrens, St. Petersburg, Florida Consider the challenges you experience when trying to make changes in your daily habits. Remember to praise your patient’s progress no matter how small.
September 30, 2019 | 1 min read Practicing Non-Judgement By Sophie Lanzkron, MD, MDH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine A key to persuading patients to make healthy choices is a strong therapeutic relationship.
Many of the anti-vaccine messages aim to bring forth emotion in the public, especially fear. Remain calm when talking with patients, friends, family, and neighbors. May 26, 2021 | 1 min read Talking with those opposed to vaccines (archives, 2021) When speaking with people who respond to scientific information in a challenging manner, the most critical thing to remember is to stay calm. Refrain from simply "talking over" those with whom you're in conversation.
March 14, 2018 | 2 min read The Power of Acknowledging Feelings By Michael Crocetti, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Recognizing and acknowledging feelings can diffuse a patient’s anxiety.
April 8, 2022 | 1 min read “Better” By Ben Roberts, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, ACHPN, Johns Hopkins Medicine Using precise language can help us partner with patients in hoping for the best, without causing confusion.
February 28, 2018 | 4 min read Asking patients about adverse childhood experiences (archives, 2018) By Brent Beasley, MD, University of Oklahoma Ask. It's scary. But ask anyway.
Maintain eye contact with your patient if and when you're typing in the electronic medical record (EMR). December 15, 2020 | 1 min read Embracing the EMR By Alice Rothchild, MD, Seattle, WA The best gift we can give our patients is our undivided attention. Maintain eye contact with your patient if and when you’re typing in the electronic medical record during the encounter.
January 12, 2023 | 1 min read Pain Talk By Will Frye, PhD, Johns Hopkins All Childrens, St. Petersburg, Florida Chronic pain is sometimes a challenging topic to discuss with patients. I’ve learned that the most important thing is to validate my patients’ experience of suffering.
October 10, 2018 | <1 min read Engaging With Patients’ Communities Making time to engage with my patients' community has made all the difference in giving clinically excellent care. Enjoy my recent TED Talk, where I tell the story of my journey to connect with my patients' community in Baltimore, Maryland.
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.
"When a patient is riding the wave of anger, instead of defensively explaining your kind intention and clinical justification for decisions, validate their experience." March 3, 2022 | 1 min read Listening to my Patient’s Anger By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine When encountering an angry patient, validate feelings rather than becoming defensive.
November 4, 2020 | 3 min read It’s All Relative By Elisabeth Marsh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine It's essential that we approach each patient with a fresh outlook. Bringing emotions, positive or negative, from a previous clinical interaction can adversely affect the next patient.
November 20, 2023 | 2 min read Honoring indigenous culture amid serious illness By Katie Nelson, PhD(c), MSN, RN, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing We must seek to understand the beliefs, rituals, and ceremonies of all patients and communities. Failing to honor these may erode trust.
October 1, 2018 | 2 min read Listening to Build Trust By Sophie Lanzkron, MD, MDH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine When I'm helping a patient who's angry about an aspect of care, the most important thing I do is listen, just sit quietly and listen. Often patients just want to be heard. Listening and repeating back their concerns lets them know they've been heard.
