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.
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.
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.
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.
March 21, 2019 | 3 min read Sitting with suffering By Margaret "Molly" Hayes, MD, Harvard Medical School Sometimes just our presence is all we can do to comfort a grieving family. It never feels like enough and it never will be, but it is something. Silence is powerful and doesn’t need to be filled with empty words. Sit with suffering and silence.
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.
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.
February 5, 2020 | 2 min read A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words By Rafael Llinas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine The clinically excellent physician knows that sometimes talking isn't enough. When possible, sharing information with patients visually can enhance their understanding.
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 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 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.
February 18, 2026 | 1 min read How’s Spot doing? Patients’ lives are often closely tied to their pets. Ask about them in clinic and during follow-ups to build connection.
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.
January 9, 2019 | 1 min read The Disease of Loneliness By Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD, Mass General In an environment pushing us ever faster, making the time to listen will often lead to better patient outcomes and greater clinician fulfillment.
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.
February 6, 2020 | 2 min read Navigating Masculinity in Medicine By Kultaj Kaleka, MD, RN, Central Michigan University The clinically excellent physician understands that male patients may need support sharing their perspectives.
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.
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.
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.
February 4, 2026 | 1 min read Spring at the bedside A small, concrete gesture—bringing a bouquet of lilies to a patient—prompted her to share her history of trauma, enabling me to provide better care.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
September 13, 2018 | 2 min read The Core of Compassionate Care By Ayelet Kuper, MD, University of Toronto When I have trouble bringing my focus back to the patient, I remind myself that this patient was once a baby that someone held as I have held my own babies.
May 20, 2021 | 2 min read Alleviating Your Patients’ Worries By April Sharp, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine During hospitalizations, patients and families have lots of time to worry. Asking about the concerns and empathizing may be especially helpful.
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.
November 6, 2023 | 2 min read Believing Patients By Chloe Lee, MD, MPH, University of Rochester When patients share their traumatic experiences, trust that they are almost always telling the truth. We must be empathic and compassionate to build therapeutic connections.
"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.
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.
February 24, 2025 | 2 min read Listening to find answers By Michael Albert, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine To more accurately arrive at the diagnosis, it is generally wise to believe patients’ recounting of their symptoms and experiences. This can result in uncovering medical conditions that are sometimes labeled as being more generalized—like anxiety—and lead to improved patient outcomes.
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.
May 17, 2021 | 1 min read Validating my Patient’s Despair By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine When my young patient was struggling to accept the diagnosis of leukemia, I was reminded how important validating emotions is in the giving excellent care.
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.
October 18, 2023 | 2 min read Have you done this before? By Scott Lifchez, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Listen for a patient’s anxiety when they ask questions about treatment. Addressing all concerns builds a trusting relationship and helps them better tolerate procedures that may initially be painful.
March 1, 2022 | 1 min read What to Expect When You’re Expecting (to See The Doctor) By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine A journey through a doctor’s office visit is all too familiar to clinicians and staff, but patients may not know what to expect. Managing expectations provides reassurance and may improve the patient experience.
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.
August 14, 2018 | 3 min read Seeing Your Patients Through New Perspectives By Patrick Hemming, MD, Duke University We can enhance our patient care if we incorporate the perspectives of life story and behavior.
September 30, 2020 | 2 min read Perspective-taking Through Poetry By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine Creative writing may enhance our ability to recognize and understand conflicting perspectives in order to better empathize with our patients.
June 25, 2018 | 2 min read Identity Part II: Knowing Your Own Past I’m not a doctor who engages with the community; rather, I’m a community member who became a doctor. This identity has helped me strengthen and maintain my relationships with my patients.
January 6, 2026 | 2 min read The sacred art of care Let compassion guide your words and touch in every encounter. Kindness and empathy earn trust while facilitating patients’ healing.
May 18, 2021 | 2 min read A Question That Transformed my Care of Patients By Rebekah Fenton, MD, Northwestern University Asking patients, “What are you most worried about?” can bring to light unspoken concerns and allow fears to be addressed.
"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.
October 12, 2023 | 1 min read A Lesson Emphasized in Brazilian Medical Training By Thiago Mendes, MD, University of Pittsburgh In my medical training in Brazil, I learned to live by Theodore Roosevelt’s quotation, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care."
February 17, 2022 | <1 min read Throw The Heart Machine Out The Window By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine In serving patients, it is sometimes best just to listen, show respect, and withhold judgement.
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!
August 14, 2018 | 2 min read Have Guitar – Will Travel By David Shih Wu, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine Consider how you might use your creative gifts—and your imagination—to connect more deeply with your patients and bring them joy.
December 14, 2022 | 1 min read Choosing The Right Words By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine, Lori Jia, medical student, Penn Medicine Using connecting language to seek deeper understanding of patients’ concerns may add richness to clinical encounters and help them feel safe.
