How to Build Rapport With Patients: 5 Best Practices

From the moment that healthcare professionals begin their education and training, they’re constantly asked to reflect on how to “build rapport” with patients. This foundational concept is key to establishing trust, empathy, and respect — and several studies have even shown that strong rapport can lead to better patient outcomes.

But, what exactly is “rapport” and how do you establish it in healthcare settings? In this article, we’ll go over the importance of rapport and outline best practices for maintaining it in patient-provider relationships.

Building Rapport With Patients: Meaning and Overview

Before we discuss how to build rapport with patients in healthcare, let’s go over what rapport really means. Rapport is defined as a harmonious relationship in which a patient and provider understand and trust each other well enough to communicate effectively.

Rapport is established during the first interaction that a provider has with a patient, and is continuously strengthened throughout the course of the relationship. According to experts, there are three main factors that help build rapport:

• Positive affect: This is the ability to respond to situations with positive emotions and expressions, such as cheerfulness and joy.

• Mutual attention: This is the ability of two individuals to stay interested and engaged with each other during an interaction.

• Interpersonal coordination: This is the process of determining one’s actions and decisions by collaborating with others.

The Importance of Establishing a Rapport With Patients

Building rapport is essential for maintaining trust and therapeutic relationships with patients. When patients feel that their providers are taking the time to understand them, they’re able to more openly and honestly communicate their thoughts. This can improve shared decision-making and facilitate the delivery of patient-centered care. Research has even highlighted how this can lead to positive care outcomes, such as increased patient satisfaction, improved quality of life, and better treatment adherence.

How to Build Rapport With a Patient: 5 Best Practices

While rapport is a familiar concept to many healthcare providers, it takes time and effort to build stronger relationships. Below we’ll outline five best practices to help you learn how to build rapport with patients.

1. Give a Strong Welcome

Patients are often placed in vulnerable situations, so first impressions can mean a lot. Upon meeting a health professional, a patient may immediately begin to question whether they can really trust and rely on them to advocate for their needs.

Giving a strong welcome during the first interaction is crucial for positively building the relationship. While these may seem like simple acts, greeting the patient with a smile and remembering their name (and their family members’ names) will leave a lasting impression. Here are a few other ways to help you start off on the right foot:

• Ask for permission before touching patients.
• Offer the patient and their family tea or water.
• Match the vocabulary used by your patients.

2. Take Extra Time to Connect as Human Beings

While it’s important to remain professional, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should always shy away from small talk. Connecting with your patients on a more personal level is an important way to demonstrate empathy and understanding.

Take a few extra minutes to ask your patients more about themselves, if they’d like to share. And don’t be afraid to elaborate on points of common ground, or add some light-hearted humor into your interactions (if appropriate for the situation). This can help your patients feel more at ease and allow them to open up more as time goes on.

3. Encourage Two-Way Conversations

Whether you’re learning how to build rapport with pediatric patients or adults, active listening is one of the most crucial skills for building respect and trust. After relaying or delivering information, it’s always important to give your patients the time they need to share their thoughts or ask questions. This ensures that you’re having two-way conversations and actively involving your patients in their plan of care.

4. Practice Your Non-Verbal Communication

As a healthcare professional, what you don’t say is just as important as what you do say. Body language and facial expressions can convey a lot to patients, so be aware of how you’re coming across through your non-verbal communication. Here are a few ways that you can help your patients feel more safe and at ease, even when you’re not speaking:

• Make eye contact when having a conversation with patients.
• Match the patient’s eye-level to avoid conveying a condescending attitude.
• Maintain an open and welcoming posture (e.g., avoid crossing your arms).

5. Bring Your Heart Into Your Work

Fundamentally, building rapport also requires a genuine desire to be there for your patients. Remember to bring your heart into your work, and really try to place yourself in your patient’s shoes. Think about what can help them in each moment and remain approachable, encouraging, and respectful. It’s also important to be authentic with your patients, even if this means admitting you don’t know something or that you’ve made a mistake.

Discover More Ways to Deliver Patient-Centered Care

Learning how to build rapport with patients is one of many steps you can take to promote better health outcomes. Looking for more ways to enhance the patient experience? Get additional free, expert-written insights into delivering quality care, improving team dynamics, and more delivered straight to your inbox.