9 Tips to Make Each Patient Encounter More Inclusive

Tip 2: Use appropriate physical contact to convey empathy. 

“Touch traverses the boundary between healer and patient,” says Montefiore Einstein’s Simon D. Spivack, MD, in an article for The Doctor’s Tablet Blog. “It tells patients that they are worthy of human contact – that indeed, they are still recognizably human, even if their symptoms, and accompanying fright, suggest that their medical conditions are out of control.” 

However, it is also important to be mindful of a patient’s comfort level with touch. “Not everyone welcomes touch during medical visits,” writes Harvard Medical School’s Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH. “Some people feel uncomfortable with the invasion of their personal space, or some unease depending on their health practitioner's gender. Survivors of trauma, including sexual assault, have higher rates of anxiety and are less likely to engage with the health care system than the general population.” 

Tip 3: Mirror your patient's language choices.

Paying careful attention to the pronouns, words and phrases your patient uses not only demonstrates that you are intently listening, but it can also inform your own language choices when interacting with them. How do they refer to themselves? How to they refer to their partner, if they have one? Follow their lead! Additionally, check out these equity-focused language options from the American Medical Association. 

Tip 4: Depending on a patient’s cultural background, they may have preferences on body coverings.

Offer multiple gowning options and minimize unnecessary exposure. “Draping, or covering, a patient appropriately during a therapeutic intervention is a relatively uncomplicated process, but at the same time it is one of the most powerful opportunities for setting a tone of respect and professional rapport and for establishing the patient's therapeutic expectations,” write Charity Johansson, PT, PhD, GCS, and Susan A. Chinworth, PT, PhD, in the textbook “Mobility in Context.”

Tip 5: Sit at eye level with patients.

Rather than standing over them, sit at eye level to establish a more equal and comfortable power dynamic.

Tip 6: Practice cultural humility.

You can practice cultural humility by acknowledging limitations in knowledge and invite patients to share more about their background. 

Tip 7: As you progress through an exam, it may be helpful to explain what you are doing and why you are doing it. 

For example, let your patient know you are taking notes on your conversation as you enter information into the EHR. This can reassure them that you are listening, rather than facing distractions. A sense of transparency can also help patients, especially those connected to historical trauma related to health care, feel more secure. 

Tip 8:  Be respectful of cultural healing practices and integrate them when it is safe to do so, rather than dismissing them.

The article “Integrating traditional and modern medicine with compassion and care: A physician’s tale from Türkiye” explores how general practitioner Kanat Tayfun learned to meld traditional and modern medicine. He found that this approach led to more impactful patient outcomes. "Given time constraints, most physicians often lack the opportunity for thorough physical examinations,” he says. “At my clinic, we focus on listening, taking notes, and understanding the patient's condition.” This kind of deep listening allows him to help patients feel heard and to create an individualized care plan. Ultimately, he found that this approach led to more impactful patient outcomes. 

Tip 9: Offer choice in exams when possible. 

Allowing patients to have a sense of agency promotes comfort. Sharing decisions with patients can help ensure a treatment is aligned a patient’s personal values and their health goals. This is important when dealing with serious illnesses and complex cases, but this approach can also be helpful during simple physical exams. For example, allowing a patient to choose whether they sit up or lie down during a blood pressure reading demonstrates a concern for patient comfort. 

We encourage you to try these strategies during your next patient encounter! Remember: Creating an inclusive patient environment doesn’t require big gestures. Rather, small intentional practices can make a big impact when conveying care and concern.