{"id":10583,"date":"2025-08-20T16:08:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T08:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/?p=10583"},"modified":"2025-08-20T16:08:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T08:08:33","slug":"is-your-health-care-provider-really-listening-to-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/is-your-health-care-provider-really-listening-to-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Is your health care provider really listening to you?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Lesley Henton<\/em>
Texas A&M University Division of Marketing and Communications<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you visit a doctor, you expect them to listen. But in today\u2019s fast-paced health care system, real listening \u2014 the kind that makes you feel seen, heard and understood \u2014 can be the first thing to go.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new article, co-authored by Dr. Leonard Berry<\/a> of Texas A&M University\u2019s Mays Business School<\/a>, argues that listening isn\u2019t just a nice gesture, it\u2019s a powerful tool that can improve your care and even help heal the health care system itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Berry and colleagues at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement<\/a> in Boston and Henry Ford Health Detroit<\/a> published their findings in Mayo Clinic Proceedings<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Case Of The Norwegian Nurse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The team identified what it calls \u201cvalues-driven listening.\u201d It\u2019s about more than asking questions, it\u2019s about asking the right questions, being present and showing genuine curiosity and compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cListening is the gateway to healing,\u201d Berry said. \u201cIt\u2019s how we connect, understand and ultimately serve better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One story in the article shows just how transformative listening can be. A nurse in a Norwegian nursing home asked a patient, \u201cWhat would make a good day for you?\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient responded: \u201cI want to wear my blue shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy the blue one?\u201d the nurse asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was my wife\u2019s favorite shirt,\u201d the patient said. \u201cShe died two years ago today, and I want to honor her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient shared memories of his wife with the nurse, and afterward, he asked for a wheelchair so that he could tell other patients about her; it was the first time he\u2019d ever asked to interact with other people at the facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not a medical breakthrough,\u201d Berry said, \u201cit\u2019s a human one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six Listening Strategies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The authors outline six types of listening that contribute to better care:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening That Is Proximate<\/strong>
Being physically present matters. Your provider can learn far more from a quiet moment in the exam room than from a rushed message or chart note. When they\u2019re close, focused and curious, you\u2019re more likely to open up, and that kind of trust is essential for making decisions together about your care. Be sure your provider spends this focused time with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening That Is Curious<\/strong>
Your provider\u2019s curiosity can be just as important as their expertise. When they ask open-ended questions and pay attention to your words, body language and emotions, it creates space for honest conversation. That\u2019s often when key details emerge informing the plan of care. \u201cWhat are your concerns about the plan of care we\u2019ve discussed?\u201d creates a path for open dialogue in a way that \u201cDo you have any questions?\u201d does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening That Earns And Enables Trust<\/strong>
Trust starts when you feel safe to speak candidly, and that happens when your provider listens without judgment, gives you their full attention and treats your input as essential. At Henry Ford Health, some doctors are using AI-powered tools to handle notetaking during appointments, so they can focus entirely on the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening Aided By Design<\/strong>
The design of a clinic or hospital can affect how well you\u2019re heard. Small, crowded spaces make private conversations harder, but simple changes \u2014 like your provider sitting down during a visit \u2014 can make you feel more cared for and listened to. Some health systems, like Southcentral Foundation in Alaska, have created \u201ctalking rooms\u201d that feel less clinical and more personal, showing that listening isn\u2019t just a skill, it\u2019s something built into the space itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening That Empowers<\/strong>
Listening should lead to action, and that includes listening to the people who care for you. When frontline staff are asked what\u2019s wasting time or making care harder, they often have smart, simple fixes. At Hawaii Pacific Health, a program called \u201cGetting Rid of Stupid Stuff\u201d led to hundreds of suggestions, including one that saved nurses 1,700 hours a month by removing a pointless documentation rule. When staff are empowered to speak up, care becomes more efficient, less frustrating and better for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening That Fosters Resilience<\/strong>
Caring for others is demanding, and when health care workers are supported, they\u2019re better able to support you. Simple acts like sharing meals and stories with colleagues can help reduce burnout and build emotional strength in those who are caring for you. Some hospitals schedule time for these peer connections, creating space for reflection and support. Ask your provider how their health care system supports its workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listening Is Kindness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Berry and his co-authors write that deep listening benefits all parties: clinician-to patient; clinician-to-clinician; leader-to-clinical and non-clinical staff. It\u2019s a cultural shift that starts with values. \u201cDo you care enough to listen?\u201d they ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For patients, this means you should feel empowered to speak up and expect to be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour experiences, concerns and insights are not just helpful, they\u2019re essential,\u201d Berry said. \u201cAnd when your care team listens with empathy and curiosity, it leads to better decisions, stronger relationships and more personalized care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKindness is not a luxury in health care, it\u2019s a necessity. And true listening is one of its most powerful expressions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Deep listening benefits all parties: clinician-to patient; clinician-to-clinician; leader-to-clinical and non-clinical staff. It\u2019s a cultural shift that starts with values.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6682,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[19,20],"class_list":["post-10583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsmakers","tag-health","tag-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10583"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10583\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10584,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10583\/revisions\/10584"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}