weight of words in whole person care

uman beings use language to exchange ideas with one another. How this is done in clinical settings is crucial to whole person care. When the person-clinician talks with a person-patient and/or family member, this can be helpful or harmful given the weight of words.[1] How we communicate includes tone of voice, cadence, diction, body language, time allotted, as well as spaces between words enabling integration of information. We may have inclinations such as: premature closure, interrupting, formulating mental answers rather than listening, holding biases, using frightening metaphors (e.g., a time bomb in the chest). These learned ways of communicating may or may not be conscious. Dr. Wright and Mr. Kaleka, a seasoned physician and medical student, respectively, highlight that the way we talk with strangers (who happen to be patients) can be pivotal. Dr. Wright notes, “We are often missing vital pieces of our patients’ back stories that could help us understand their beliefs and behaviors. Asking about such particulars can help to establish rapport, shows genuine interest, and can convert stranger to friend.” Mr. Kaleka, a trainee, inherently understands, “We assume that what we perceive to be important is what the patient would or should like addressed, a form of paternalism. Yet, if we step back and view ourselves as human beings interacting with other humans, our considerations may change. We begin to see the patient’s perspective; this, in turn enables us to better understand and help them. Such is the power of humanism…” Dr. Berkani and her colleagues describe a program offered to seniors who were isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic that transformed cold calls into warm encounters with strangers. They trained more than 300 volunteers to provide friendly phone support to more than 600 older