January 7, 2019 | 2 min read

Helping Your Patient Get Better Sleep During Hospital Stays

By Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Sleep is important during hospitalization, and we need to maximize quality and quantity the best we can for our patients. Asking about your patient’s sleep and identifying ways to improve it when possible is one way to start.

June 19, 2018 | 2 min read

How To Help Your Patients Get Better Sleep

By Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Our society is 24/7. People see sleep as a luxury, but it's a basic human need. As clinicians, we should ask patients about their sleep. Here's what I recommend to my patients when they ask what they can do to sleep better.

November 26, 2018 | 1 min read

You are special – but not when it comes to sleep!

By Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Healthcare providers are no different than anyone else - if you shortchange your sleep, there will be consequences!

June 18, 2018 | 2 min read

How To Help Your Patients Get Better Sleep, Part I

A sleep specialist reminds us of the importance of asking patients about their sleep.

November 27, 2018 | 3 min read

Sleep on it!

By Logan Schneider, MD, Stanford Medicine

Give yourself enough sleep to retain new learning, give better patient care, and help prevent burnout!

July 14, 2020 | 5 min read

Top 10 Tips For Great Sleep During the Pandemic

By Logan Schneider, MD, Stanford Medicine

Great sleep is a foundation of health—both for healthcare professionals and our patients. Because sleep can be disturbed with the stress of the pandemic, it's important to commit to sleep-promoting habits and routines.

August 23, 2023 | 1 min read

Navigating The Wait

By Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Accessing timely mental healthcare can be challenging. While waiting to see a mental health professional, lean on support networks and seek emergency care if needed. 

November 15, 2021 | 1 min read

Healthy Social Media Use

By Nicole Cifra, MD, MPH, University of Rochester

Talk with patients about their social media use. Remind them to limit screen time before bed in order to sleep well and stay healthy.

May 19, 2022 | 2 min read

Recognizing Relapse

By Susan Lehmann, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

The earlier that the return of psychiatric symptoms is detected, the more quickly a patient’s mental well-being can be restored. 

January 21, 2020 | 2 min read

A Daily Dose of Shakespeare

By Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Making time to read even just a few lines of timeless words can remind us of the complexity of being human, and facilitate clinicians' reflection upon connecting more genuinely with their patients.

March 6, 2023 | 1 min read

Supporting Menopausal Patients

By Talia Sobel, MD, Mayo Clinic

Women often receive misinformation about menopause and even experience medical gaslighting from healthcare professionals. Clinicians should validate patients’ symptoms, and work with them to improve quality of life. 

March 21, 2022 | 1 min read

Coping With Disturbing Headlines

By Jennifer Knetig, PhD, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare, Julia Rose, LISW, Veterans Health Administration, Kelly Buckholdt, PhD, Veterans Health Administration

Many are feeling overwhelmed by the news of the war in Ukraine. Advise patients to find comfort in normal routines, including sleeping, eating, and physical activity. 

November 4, 2019 | 3 min read

Top Tips to Make the Best of Night Call

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

Working nights in healthcare is tough. Five tips highlighted in this piece are related to self-care, and the last one reminds us all to support our colleagues who are covering the night shift.

August 20, 2019 | 5 min read

How to Make Family Dinner Happen at Least Once a Week

By David Cohen, MD, Rutgers Health, Mital Patel-Cohen, MD, Summit Medical Group

Excellent clinicians have to make time for wellness and family bonding. Prioritizing a family dinner at least once a week is one way to do this.

August 4, 2020 | 2 min read

3 Tips for Talking With Patients About Advance Directives

By Ambereen Mehta, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

ALL clinicians can and should encourage patients to document their wishes regarding medical decisions in case they’re unable to make these decisions for themselves.

December 20, 2021 | 1 min read

What Patients With Serious Illness Want to Know Most

By Avani Prabhakar, MBBS, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

After receiving a terminal diagnosis, many patients especially want to know how long they have to live, what symptoms to expect, and how to cope with impending decline.  

September 8, 2020 | 1 min read

10 Ways to Cultivate Well-being During The Pandemic

By Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

It's important to make an effort to improve your sense of well-being to help prevent burnout, especially during the strain of the pandemic.

August 23, 2018 | 4 min read

How To Incorporate Students Effectively Into Clinic

By Rachel Salas, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Making the time and effort to integrate students into clinic cohesively can be associated with both improved clinical productivity and educational value.

July 26, 2023 | 3 min read

Small Change = Big Impact

By Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ideally, healthcare professionals model healthy habits. In doing so, they can inspire others and influence the health of communities.

April 18, 2018 | 6 min read

How To Reclaim Boredom From Your Smartphone

By Timothy Plante, MD, MHS, The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine

Boredom brings mind wandering; mind wandering brings creativity. Here’s how I reclaimed boredom in my life.

December 22, 2021 | 3 min read

Coping With Grief During The Holidays

By Ankita Sagar, MD, Brooklyn, New York

Having experienced my cousin’s death before Christmas reminds me that December isn’t a joyous time for everyone. I encourage those struggling to connect with loved ones and limit substance use. 

November 8, 2021 | 1 min read

Lessons Learned From 30 Years of Night Shifts

By Kimberly Turner, MD, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

Patience, stamina, and fortitude are important traits to cultivate in medicine at any and all times.

October 13, 2021 | 2 min read

Social Media During The Pandemic

By Carol Vidal, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

While social media is contributing to increased rates of depression during the pandemic, it also keeps us socially connected during challenging times.

June 2, 2021 | 4 min read

When “No” to Others Means “Yes” to Yourself

By Ijeoma Nnodim Opara, MD, Wayne State University

Self-care requires the courage to say “no” to things that do not reinforce your self-worth, priorities, and purpose. This will allow you to most effectively serve your patients.

October 25, 2022 | 4 min read

Just Breathe

By Jillian Bybee, Michigan State University

When my patients experience pre-procedural anxiety, I normalize the emotion and suggest ways to feel calm. Taking deep breaths together is often mutually beneficial for patients and clinicians.

May 7, 2019 | 2 min read

Finding Balance

By Danielle Johnson, MD, Lindner Center of HOPE, University of Cincinnati

Small gestures while supporting patients through trauma and grief can make a big difference.

January 6, 2021 | 1 min read

5 Wellness Tips for 2021

By John Poehler

To mitigate burnout, prioritize sleep and gratitude.

March 11, 2019 | 2 min read

Know Your Resources to Combat Burnout

By Anne Walsh, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Burnout can feel overwhelming, but the first steps in approaching this growing problem are recognizing the symptoms and being aware of available resources to manage them.

June 6, 2022 | 2 min read

The Weight of Victory

By Alexis Coslick, DO, MS, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Increasing numbers of female collegiate athletes are taking their lives. Athletes, like all patients, need a nonjudgmental environment to help them feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

November 30, 2020 | 2 min read

I Didn’t Know it Was You

By Rohini Harvey, MD, Baystate Health, Springfield, MA

My experience as a patient who didn’t get attention until I was identified as a physician is a reminder that every patient is important and deserves respect.

January 17, 2019 | 5 min read

Do You See? The Power of Pictures

By Elizabeth Gundersen, MD, Florida Atlantic University

Photographs capture the essence of who we are. When we ask to see pictures, patients and families are reassured that we value the wholeness of their lives.

June 5, 2018 | 3 min read

5 Things Residency Taught Me About Parenting

By Laura Hanyok, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A general internist reflects on insights gleaned from residency applied to parenting.

November 8, 2018 | 2 min read

How Maintaining Fitness Can Enhance Your Clinical Practice

By Mike Rucker, PhD, Active Wellness

Maintaining your fitness may prevent burnout, and can be viewed as a gift to yourself, your patients, and your clinical practice.

January 18, 2022 | 4 min read

How to Make New Habits Stick, Part 3

By Howard Chang, Medical Student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We can break bad habits in our own lives and help patients do the same by making them unattractive, difficult, unsatisfying, and removing triggers.

June 29, 2020 | 2 min read

Lessons From the AIDS Epidemic

By Melinda Kantsiper, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

In times of crisis, it can be helpful to listen and learn from the stories of those who have come before us.

December 16, 2019 | 4 min read

Top 10 Tips to be a Great Consultant

By Aline Charabaty, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Read these 10 tips so that next time your pager goes off, you can be an outstanding consultant!

December 18, 2019 | 3 min read

Top 5 Coffee-Drinking Tips

By Aidan Crowley, Medical Student, University of Pennsylvania

Many clinicians have a love affair with coffee. Moderation is the way to go.

October 25, 2021 | 1 min read

Helping Patients Practice Healthy Habits

By Sajida Chaudry, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Imagining a healthier lifestyle is the first step toward wellness. You can then help patients to make small changes to their daily routine.

February 23, 2023 | 3 min read

Embracing Care Partners

By Ariel Green, MD, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for older adults, collaborate with and support their care partners – their loved ones. Their vital roles are often overlooked.