Why listening may be the most powerful medicine

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When you visit a doctor, the common expectation is that they will listen to you—not just hear your words, but truly listen in a way that makes you feel seen, heard, and understood. Yet in today’s fast-paced healthcare environment, this kind of real listening can often be the first casualty. Appointments feel rushed, and providers may barely have time to focus. But what if listening was not just a courtesy or a "nice-to-have" skill, but a vital form of medicine itself?

Listening in health care is more than politeness—it’s healing. Researchers describe “values-driven listening,” where curiosity, presence, and compassion lead to stronger trust and better care. 
Credit: Shutterstock

The Heart of Healing: Values-Driven Listening

Dr. Leonard Berry of Texas A&M University's Mays Business School and his colleagues from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Henry Ford Health Detroit highlight a concept they call "values-driven listening." This goes beyond merely asking questions—it’s about asking the right questions with intention, being truly present, and showing genuine curiosity and compassion.

"Listening is the gateway to healing," Berry states. It is the human connection that enables providers to understand and serve better, creating stronger therapeutic relationships and ultimately improving patient outcomes. (Medical Independent)

The Norwegian Nurse: A Story of Human Connection

One powerful story illustrates this perfectly: A nurse in a Norwegian nursing home asked a patient what would make a good day for him. The patient said simply, "I want to wear my blue shirt." When the nurse asked why, he revealed that it was his late wife's favorite shirt and he wanted to honor her on the anniversary of her death. Sharing these memories brought him out of isolation, and for the first time, he asked for a wheelchair to connect with other patients at the facility. This was no medical breakthrough, but a deeply human one. 

Six Listening Strategies That Transform Care

Berry and his team outline six research-backed types of listening that profoundly improve patient care and staff well-being:

  • Listening That Is Proximate: Physical presence matters. Face-to-face focused attention in the exam room creates trust and openness far better than rushed chart notes or phone calls.

  • Listening That Is Curious: Providers exercising genuine curiosity by asking open-ended questions and noticing subtle verbal and non-verbal cues unlock important information and foster honest conversations.

  • Listening That Earns and Enables Trust: Patients feel safe when providers listen without judgment and treat their input as essential. Some clinics even use AI for note-taking so providers can give undivided attention.

  • Listening Aided By Design: The physical layout of healthcare settings impacts communication. Simple changes, like sitting down during a visit or dedicated “talking rooms,” can make patients feel more comfortable and heard.

  • Listening That Empowers: Listening is not passive; it leads to action. Empowering frontline staff to identify inefficiencies and suggest improvements boosts care quality and reduces frustration system-wide.

  • Listening That Fosters Resilience: Supporting healthcare workers through peer connections helps reduce burnout and strengthens the capacity to care, creating a healthier environment for both patients and providers. (Times of India)

Listening Is Kindness and a Clinical Competence

This values-driven listening is not simply a “soft skill.” It is a necessary form of kindness and an essential clinical competence that healthcare systems must prioritize. By truly listening, clinicians build trust, improve decision-making, and personalize care to each patient’s unique story.

As Dr. Berry puts it, “Kindness is not a luxury in health care, it’s a necessity. And true listening is one of its most powerful expressions”. (Science daily)

References:

  • Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Dr. Leonard Berry et al. on values-driven listening in healthcare - News Medical

  • Related healthcare communication research and case studies - Consultation Skills

Citations:

  1. https://www.medicalindependent.ie/life/the-dorsal-view/the-art-of-listening/
  2. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250820000803.htm
  3. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250819/How-listening-can-transform-the-patient-experience-and-the-healthcare-system.aspx
  4. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/do-healthcare-providers-listen-enough-heres-how-to-find-out/articleshow/123390090.cms
  5. https://consultationskills.com/the-power-of-listening-in-healthcare/
  6. https://authenticx.com/page/why-is-active-listening-important-in-healthcare/
  7. https://conexiant.com/family-medicine/articles/six-evidence-based-strategies-transform-clinical-listening/
  8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025619625003118
  9. https://www.labmanager.com/six-listening-strategies-lab-managers-can-use-to-build-trust-safety-and-stronger-teams-34322
  10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4844478/
  11. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pedro-delgado-61033b3_the-value-and-the-values-of-listening-activity-7366498269885095941-2uFp
  12. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738399111000401
  13. https://www.medbridge.com/blog/active-listening-in-healthcare-improv
  14. https://apreehealth.com/careers/blog/member-engagement/how-empathetic-listening-improves-healthcare-for-members-and-providers/
  15. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/start-right-end-well-why-listening-most-powerful-tool-brown-md-upk0e
  16. https://health.fmolhs.org/body/primary-care/the-importance-of-listening-in-healthcare/
  17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK442015/
  18. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-nourishment/202405/the-power-of-deep-listening-in-medicine

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