Build Stronger Patient Relationships: 3 Time-Smart Strategies

Enhancing Patient Care: 3 Time-Smart Ways to Build Stronger Patient Relationships

Why Building Stronger Patient Relationships Doesn’t Have to Take More Time

Limited time shouldn’t limit your ability to build stronger relationships with your patients. And it doesn’t have to.  

By following these 3 simple strategies you can improve your patient relationships without adding a heavy burden to your already-full schedule of appointments, follow-ups, meetings, to-dos, continuing education, practice responsibilities, and more…

  1. Improve Communication to Build Trust and Connection

Simple techniques to help patients feel heard, respected, and understood

Whether seeing patients in the office or via telehealth, good communication is foundational to building trust and making sure your patients feel heard, comfortable, and respected. Last month’s blog “Patient Communication: Best Practices for Building Trust and Rapport” outlined specific best-practice tips and non-verbal techniques to up-level your patient communications, including the American Medical Association’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T strategy. Invest the time to learn about these methods — whether you can spare 15 minutes or even carve out an hour or two to dive deeper when your schedule permits. When you put into practice what you learned with intention, the ROI will pay off almost immediately. Although this is a mostly one-and-done learning opportunity to build stronger patient relationships, revisiting what you learned and regularly brushing up your skills over time is not only smart but also recommended.

  1. Keep it Simple: Speak Your Patients’ Language

Clear, jargon-free communication builds stronger patient relationships

You went to medical school, but your patients didn’t. You know this, of course. But do you remind yourself of it when you’re talking to patients? Chances are most of your patients don’t understand what might feel basic to you. And they shouldn’t need a thesaurus or Google to help them translate what you tell them.

Tricks of the trade to keeping it simple are avoiding medical jargon and acronyms right off the bat, as these are a foreign language to most patients. A recent study revealed physicians who communicated without jargon were perceived as more caring/empathetic and approachable. In addition, just say “no” to big words and any vocabulary that’s not commonly used. Experts advise using plain language and straightforward, practical information to explain diagnoses, medications, procedures, and recommendations.

Pro tip: Don’t skip the detail — go beyond the WHAT to include the WHY to ensure your patients fully understand what they need to know. Like the strategy to improve communication to build stronger patient relationships, this is more of an investment in your intention and mindset than it is an investment of time in your schedule.

  1. Embrace Technology to Stay Connected and Accessible

Use patient-centric tech to enhance engagement and streamline care

Putting today’s patient-centric technologies in place — with the goal of building stronger relationships with your patients — admittedly requires research and implementation. But once up and running, you’ll realize the positive impact without a significant ongoing burden on your time. Today’s technology options can improve communication, streamline care, and foster stronger connections between you and your patients. From telehealth opportunities to patient portals to mobile health apps, what tools will help you help your patients? Is it efficiency they need? Or access? Consider your unique patient populations and what will not only be most useful for them, but also what they may be willing or able to manage.

For example, making telehealth an option for patients without reliable internet connection is not a benefit, but it could be a real advantage for a busy working parent who is already internet savvy. Not quite a set-it-and-forget-it strategy, adding technology will require ongoing system management as well as additional interaction from you or your staff — to develop telehealth procedures, or to respond to patient inquiries sent via a patient portal, for example. But over time adding technology will enhance more than it will distract, boosting accessibility, patient engagement, and patient satisfaction.

Stronger Relationships, Better Care — Without the Extra Time

Building stronger patient relationships doesn’t require a major overhaul of your schedule — just a shift in approach. By focusing on clear communication, simplifying the way you share information, and leveraging the right technology, you can deepen trust, improve outcomes, and make every patient interaction more meaningful. Small changes, when made with intention, can have a big impact on how your patients experience care.

Looking for more ways to enhance your connection with patients? Explore our resources or visit Patient Communication: Best Practices for Building Trust and Rapport for more.

Patient Communication: Best Practices for Building Trust

Why Better Communication Leads to Better Patient Outcomes

Good communication is foundational to every good relationship. For healthcare providers, patient communication best practices are essential to building trust and rapport with your patients.  

Good communication is a two-way street — and has a two-way benefit.  

For providers, it’s your responsibility to make a patient comfortable and ensure they feel heard, which encourages your patients to open up and share information that can be impactful to their care. Providers also need to be intentional in explaining diagnoses, recommendations, options, and care plans in a way a patient will understand and best respond to.  

On the other hand, when patients trust you, it increases the likelihood they will listen to you and your recommendations, and that they will feel safe asking questions. 

Google says there’s no shortage of communication strategies for healthcare providers. So let’s focus on some best-practice tips right here to help you refine and refresh your patient communications. 

Start with R-E-S-P-E-C-T: A Proven Communication Framework

Use the AMA’s patient-centered strategy to build trust and empathy

The American Medical Association (AMA) shares a comprehensive communication strategy for patient communication that would make Aretha Franklin proud. It’s based on the easy-to-remember acronym R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and can be found in its article “6 Simple Ways to Master Patient Communication.”  

Each piece of the R-E-S-P-E-C-T strategy is as follows: 

R: RAPPORT — To convey to patients the feeling of “we’re in this together,” listen carefully, give patients your full attention, and make good eye contact. Read on to learn more in the next section of this article: Best Practices: Non-Verbal Communication. 

E: EXPLAIN — Engage patients by encouraging them to explain more about their health, habits, and lives outside of the appointment. “Tell me more about…” is a successful approach. 

S: SHOW — Demonstrate collaborative thinking, especially when delivering constructive criticism. In other words, show you’re working with them rather than telling them what to do. 

P: PRACTICE — Practice makes progress, even if it’s not “perfect.” Ask your patients for feedback about your communication, and leverage your team’s insights to make communication adjustments — for yourself and throughout your practice — based on their experiences with patients as well. 

E: EMPATHY — Show your patients you genuinely care about them, which can be done with words as well as with non-verbal cues and body language. Additionally, take steps to be compassionate beyond the reason they’re seeing you. Consider their background, maybe this is their first surgery. Think about what else might be going on with them, like whether they are worried about missing work, if there was traffic on the way to the appointment, or if something or someone in their life is causing them stress. 

C: COLLABORATION — Interact with your patients in a spirit of partnership and you’ll increase the likelihood they’ll more positively respond to what you have say. Explain as many details about your decisions and recommendations as possible so your patients feel they’re a part of their own healthcare. 

T: TECHNOLOGY — Meet your patients where they are, technology-wise. Be careful not to overwhelm them with messages from too many sources. Also consider the technology you’re utilizing to ensure your communication best-practices like empathy and collaboration are still in focus. 

Best Practices: Non-verbal Communication that Builds Trust

How your body language can say more than your words

Though experts range on exact percentages, we can all agree that much of our communication is actually non-verbal. For providers, it’s important to remember patients will pick up on your non-verbal cues and respond accordingly.  

If you want to build trust and rapport with your patients, here are some non-verbal communication tips to keep in mind: 

  1. EYE LEVEL: For maximum trust, speak to your patients at their eye level or below, which makes them more comfortable. When you’re positioned above a patient’s eye level it can be interpreted as condescending.
  1. EYE CONTACT: Making direct eye contact shows your patient they have your attention. In her book “Attention Pays,” executive coach Neen James calls eye contact “listening with your eyes.” Even if you’re listening, your patient will not believe it unless you’re looking at them.
  1. MIRRORING: Mirroring a patient’s body language builds trust. When they lean in, you lean in. If their facial expression shows concern, show concern with yours. If they smile, you smile. This admittedly takes practice, and it’s easy to practice this outside the office as well.
  1. CROSSING: Crossing arms and legs is a no-go for open communication. Crossing can make you look stand-offish, closed-off, or judgmental. You pick up the same negative cues from your patients when they cross.
  1. NODDING: Another indicator of attention, nodding is an acknowledgement of what your patient is telling you. The nod says “I hear you.” Of course, it can also communicate agreement. According to communication and body language expert Vanessa Van Edwards, a slow triple nod will make the other person speak 3 to 4 times longer — a helpful strategy if you need a patient to share more detail.

Better Communication, Stronger Connections

Intentional, patient-centered communication builds more than just understanding — it builds trust, respect, and long-term relationships. By practicing clear verbal strategies like the R-E-S-P-E-C-T framework and being mindful of non-verbal cues, you can help your patients feel seen, heard, and supported.

Want more strategies to connect with your patients? Check out 3 Time-Smart Ways to Build Stronger Patient Relationships for practical tips you can put into action today.

Measles Updates for Virginia

via VDH

Dear Colleague:  

This letter provides important updates and reminders about measles.  

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recently reported that a confirmed case of measles travelled through Dulles International Airport (IAD) on March 5, 2025 while infectious. The confirmed case was a person who was returning from international travel. The Maryland Department of Health reported an additional exposure location in Maryland associated with this case. Anyone who might have been exposed to this case and is at risk of developing measles is asked to watch for symptoms until March 26, 2025.  

Virginia clinicians are asked to stay alert for measles given this recent exposure event and other ongoing measles outbreaks in the United States. These reminders are echoed in a recent Health Advisory from the Centers of Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). It is critical that clinicians remain vigilant for cases of febrile rash that could be consistent with measles, particularly in unvaccinated persons.   

Vaccination provides the best protection against measles. To prevent measles infection and spread, make sure that patients are up to date on recommended measles vaccines, especially before international travel, regardless of destination. With spring and summer travel approaching, this is a critical time for clinicians to emphasize the importance of preventing the spread of measles through vaccination. People six through eleven months of age who will be traveling internationally, or to an outbreak setting, should receive one dose of MMR vaccine prior to travel. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should still get two more doses after one year of age (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose separated by at least 28 days).   

VDH Measles Recommendations for Providers  

Consider measles in patients with fever and a generalized maculopapular rash who have recently traveled out of the country or to regions of the United States reporting measles outbreaks. Other symptoms include cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis.   

If you suspect measles:   

  • Isolate: Immediately isolate the patient in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR), or in a private room with a closed door until an AIIR is available. Patients with suspected measles should not stay in the waiting room or other common areas of a healthcare facility. 
  • Test: Submit a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab in VTM for PCR testing and a blood specimen for serology testing at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) following instructions for specimen collection and handling. Test results are available in less than 24 hours.

This is also an important time for all healthcare facilities to prepare and develop a plan for measles prevention and control. This plan should include considerations for: 

  • Timely screening and recognition of patients with measles-like illness, especially in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated patients.  
  • Implementation of effective Standard and Airborne Precautions including personal protective equipment for the staff (fit-tested N95 respirator) and source control (facemask) for the patient. 
  • Staff immunity awareness to ensure healthcare systems can rapidly retrieve employee’s immunization status in case of exposures and offer postexposure prophylaxis when indicated. The MMR vaccine is recommended to all healthcare workers who do not have documented evidence of measles immunity. 
  • Effective environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures. 
  • Preparedness to test for measles, including having clear instructions and necessary supplies for measles virus PCR and serology specimen collection and submission for testing at DCLS.

Please visit VDH’s Measles Information for Healthcare Providers for more information about measles.  

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping Virginians safe and healthy.    

Sincerely,  

Karen Shelton, MD
State Health Commissioner 

Developing Leadership Skills for Healthcare’s Future — and Yours

Today there’s no shortage of leadership resources if you want to level-up your leadership game. From books and podcasts, to master classes and mentorship, there are literally thousands of options. 

We all understand leadership’s impact on team performance. Healthcare leadership adds another critically important layer: impact on patients. For physicians, this is where the rubber hits the proverbial road. Now more than ever, strong and strategic healthcare leadership is shaping the future of healthcare and making a significant impact on the quality of patient care.  

It’s no longer enough for physicians to be effective team leaders. The pace of change, challenge, and opportunity in healthcare requires physicians to step up into collaborative, future-focused leadership roles and activities that will redefine the healthcare landscape in both the short- and long-term. 

Essential Healthcare Leadership Skills

When building your leadership skills, where should you focus to maximize your impact not only on patient care and the healthcare landscape, but for your own career advancement as well? Start with these essential healthcare leadership skills. 

Adaptability is a mission-critical skill for today’s healthcare leader. Maintaining resilience, decisiveness, and focus amidst challenge and unpredictability is crucial to successfully weathering a storm — and developing future solutions. Leaders modeling this skill also help guide others through stressful situations, inspiring trust and giving them the reassurance and confidence they need to do their own jobs and make collaborative contributions to a team. Additionally, adaptability is foundational to a timely and consequential modern healthcare concern: managing mental health issues like stress and burnout, and helping others do the same.

Innovative thinking is the key to healthcare progress. Healthcare urgently needs innovative leaders who can leverage opportunities and address — and resolve — obstacles and complexities. An innovative mindset is built from a variety of skills, including creativity, problem-solving, strategic vision, and curiosity. Innovative healthcare leaders seek new solutions that challenge the status quo. According to a recent Northeastern University article titled Effective Leadership in Healthcare: 5 Essential Traits, healthcare leaders should be guiding healthcare in the direction they feel it should go, identifying things about healthcare that are in need of correction and guiding us toward solutions.

Collaboration is a game-changer for today’s healthcare leader. Thinking bigger and bringing more voices to the table is key to breaking down silos and making real improvements in patient care, research, regulation, legislation, insurance, and more. Change doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and meaningful change is the direct result of joining diverse and dynamic skills, experiences, opinions, and insights together to achieve a common goal.

How To Develop Healthcare Leadership Skills

As we mentioned at the start of this article, there are literally thousands of ways to strengthen and add to your own suite of leadership skills. Here’s a list of ways to jump-start your own progress: 

Personal: professional leadership coaching, networking, mentorship (being a mentor and/or being a mentee)

Hands-On: volunteering, committee participation, engaging in an issue or cause

Education: continuing education courses, seminars, conferences, workshops — the American Medical Association’s Ed Hub offers a variety of leadership CME courses

On Your Own: master classes, TED talks, books/audiobooks, podcasts, magazines, journals, social media — try Dr. Elsie Koh’s TEDxBrownU Talk A Doctor’s Guide to Leadership, or Dr. Carol Dweck’s TED Talk on growth mindset (mentioned by Koh) The Power of Believing You Can Improve (which has close to 17 million views!)

One final tip: Look to leaders in your own circle that you admire — in healthcare as well as outside of healthcare. Find out what strategies and resources they have used, and still use, to stay sharp and continue growing as leaders. Then follow their lead.

Executive Order Related to Gender Affirming Care

HDJ Advisory on this issue: Executive-Order-re-Gender-Affirming-Care.pdf

The Medical Society, as a 501C(6), provides this information for educational purposes only for its members and this information does not constitute legal advice.  Members are encouraged to seek the advice of their own counsel.

Overview

An Executive Order (EO) rejecting the practice of gender-affirming care for minors was issued on January 28, 2025. Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, Exec. Order No. 14,187, 90 Fed. Reg. 8,771 (Jan. 28, 2025). The EO notes the United States will not “fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.”

The EO directs federal agencies to take immediate steps to ensure institutions receiving federal research or education grants end chemical and surgical interventions related to gender transition in individuals under nineteen years old. The targeted care includes chemical interventions such as hormone treatments and puberty blockers for the purpose of aiding with gender transition and surgical procedures aimed at altering an individual’s physical appearance to resemble that of the opposite gender.

Legal challenges to the EO have resulted in Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) being issued by two separate federal courts with enforcement of the EO stayed until at least February 27, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. To whom does the EO apply? 

The EO directs the heads of agencies that provide research or educational grants to medical institutions to take immediate steps to ensure institutions receiving grants stop medication and surgical gender transitions of children under age 19. The EO does not specifically relate to institutions and practices that do not receive federal research or educational grants, but it does raise questions about potential private causes of action, investigations, and exclusion from federal programs.

2. Does the EO place an outright ban on gender-affirming care? 

No. The EO articulates a position that the US will not fund, propose, or support gender transition treatment and surgery for patients under age nineteen. While regulatory guidance is presumably forthcoming,  hospitals and providers could continue to provide these services but risk losing any/all federal grant money and potentially the ability to participate in Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and other federal programs.

3. Does the EO related to gender-affirming care for adults? 

The EO relates only to gender-affirming care for patients age nineteen and under.

4. Is there guidance from HHS or the Attorney General’s Office? 

The EO directs HHS and the AG’s office to evaluate and consider guidance and propose legislation on these matters. We anticipate additional documents will be forthcoming.

5. Is there ongoing litigation related to the EO? 

Yes. On February 5, 2025, several plaintiffs including PFLAG, Inc, a transgender advocacy group, filed suit in the United States District Court in Maryland seeking injunctive relief, asserting the EO violates constitutionally protected rights to free speech, due process, and equal protection as well as anti-discrimination laws, and exceeds executive authority. PFLAG, Inc. v. Trump, Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-00337. Briefing in the case is ongoing and a hearing is scheduled for today (D.C.M.D. 2025). On the afternoon of February 13, 2025, the Court granted Plaintiffs’ Motion for a TRO which prohibits HHS, NIH, and NSF from conditioning or withholding federal funding based on the fact that a healthcare entity performs gender affirming care to a patient under the age of nineteen. The TRO will be in effect for fourteen days. On February 7, 2025, the states of Washington, Minnesota and Oregon filed a federal suit with a group of doctors seeking a temporary restraining order on the basis that the EO violates patients’ constitutional rights. State of Washington v. Trump, Civil Action No. 2:25cv244 (W.D. Wa. 2025). On February 14, 2025, the Court granted Plaintiffs’ Motion for a TRO.

6. What type of care is addressed in the EO?

Chemical and surgical interventions related to gender transition in individuals under nineteen years old are addressed in the EO. Mental health services are not prohibited by the EO.

7. What is the status of gender-affirming care at hospitals in the Commonwealth?

VCU and UVA initially suspended gender affirming medications and surgical procedures for patients under 19 years old.  After a TRO went into effect on February 13, 2025, it is our understanding UVA has resumed the provision of those services. As of this morning, February 17, 2025, VCU is continuing to suspend care. This is a rapidly evolving area. See:

Transgender Youth Health Services | UVA Health Children’s

Transgender care | Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

Raising Awareness about an Ebola Disease Outbreak caused by Sudan Virus in Uganda

via VDH

Dear Colleague:

On February 6, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory for clinicians and public health staff about an Ebola outbreak in Uganda caused by Sudan virus. The Ministry Health of Uganda announced the outbreak on January 30, 2025. To date, there have been no cases of Sudan virus disease (SVD) outside of Uganda. CDC recently escalated its travel advisory for Uganda to Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions). CDC does not currently recommend public health screening or monitoring of travelers returning from Uganda.

Below is a summary of select CDC recommendations for clinicians; please refer to the CDC health advisory for detailed recommendations.

  • Assess patients with compatible illness for exposure risk and potential SVD through a triage and evaluation process, including obtaining a travel history.
  • Consider SVD in the differential diagnosis for ill persons who have been in an area with an active SVD outbreak, who have compatible symptoms, and who have reported epidemiologic risk factors within 21 days of symptom onset.
  • Consider and perform testing for more common diagnoses (e.g. malaria, influenza, or more common causes of gastrointestinal or febrile illness in patients with recent international travel). Evaluate and manage these patients appropriately.
  • Follow CDC’s Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients in U.S. Hospitals who are Suspected or Confirmed to have Selected Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF). Isolate and manage patients with exposure risks and symptoms compatible with SVD in a healthcare facility until receiving a negative SVD test result on a sample collected ≥ 72 hours after symptom onset. Do not defer routine laboratory testing or other measures necessary for standard patient care.

Please immediately contact your local health department to report any patient with compatible signs and symptoms and an epidemiologic risk factor. During this consultation, local health department staff will discuss if Sudan virus testing at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) is appropriate. DCLS testing requires VDH and CDC pre-approval and testing instructions are available.

Thank you for all you do to protect the health of Virginians each day. For more information about Sudan virus disease or this outbreak, please visit the following websites:

Sincerely,

Karen Shelton, MD
State Health Commissioner

Avian Influenza Update for Virginia

via VDH

Dear Colleague:

This letter provides updates on influenza testing guidance and avian influenza A(H5) (bird flu) activity in Virginia birds.

Avian influenza A(H5) has not been detected in people or dairy cattle in Virginia. It has recently been detected in Virginia in wild birds, commercial poultry, and in birds housed in a zoo collection. These detections are not unexpected, as avian influenza A(H5) virus is currently widely circulating in the environment. The risk from avian influenza viruses to the public remains low. People with job-related or recreational exposure to birds or other avian influenza virus-infected animals are at greater risk of infection.

Avian influenza A(H5) Virus Interim Recommendations for Clinicians

Clinicians should consider the possibility of avian influenza virus infection in persons showing signs or symptoms of acute respiratory illness or conjunctivitis who have a relevant exposure history. This includes people who have had contact with potentially infected sick or dead birds, livestock, or other animals or animal products within 10 days before their symptom onset.

If avian influenza virus infection is suspected or confirmed in any patient:

  • Ask about exposures to:
    • Wild and domestic animals, including birds, poultry, and dairy cattle.
    • Raw animal products, such as raw cow milk and raw cow milk products, or raw meat-based pet food.
    • Recent close contact with a symptomatic person with probable or confirmed avian influenza A(H5) infection.
  • Isolate the patient and follow infection control recommendations, including the use of PPE.
  • Initiate antiviral treatment with oseltamivir as soon as possible without waiting for the results of influenza testing.
  • Immediately notify your local health department to coordinate testing with the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), if needed. Specimen collection guidance is available on the DCLS website.

Recommendations for Influenza Testing of Hospitalized Patients

On January 16, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to clinicians and laboratories recommending expedited subtyping of influenza A positive respiratory specimens from hospitalized patients, especially those in intensive care units (ICU). This request for expedited subtyping is in response to continued sporadic human infections with avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses in the U.S. during high levels of seasonal influenza activity. These recommendations will enhance patient care and infection prevention and control measures and will help facilitate timely public health investigation and action, such as contact tracing.

Clinicians should test for seasonal influenza A in hospitalized patients suspected of having influenza, especially ICU patients, within 24 hours of admission using a diagnostic test capable of providing seasonal influenza subtyping [i.e., A(H1) and A(H3)]. When possible, when ordering these tests, please include clinical information from the patient to help ensure specimens from hospitalized and severely ill patients are prioritized.

Recommendations for Hospital and Commercial Clinical Laboratories

  • Subtype respiratory specimens (for seasonal influenza subtypes) from hospitalized patients that are positive for influenza A.
  • If specimens from these patients are positive for influenza A but negative for seasonal influenza A virus subtypes [i.e., negative for A(H1) and A(H3)] please forward the specimens to DCLS as soon as possible and within 24 hours of obtaining the results.
  • If the hospital does not have access to seasonal influenza A subtyping in-house or at a commercial laboratory, forward influenza A positive samples from hospitalized patients to DCLS. DCLS-specific guidance for submitting specimens for influenza A subtyping are available on the DCLS website.
  • Immediately notify your local health department and the infection control program of your facility if subtyping yields a positive result for influenza A(H5) virus.

Notably, if results are “Influenza A positive with no subtype identified/obtained” or “Flu A-unsubtypeable” AND a clinician suspects avian influenza A(H5) or another novel influenza A infection, contact DCLS (804-335-4617) immediately for specific consultation regarding shipment of specimens to DCLS for testing. Specimens should not be submitted until consultation has occurred. You should also immediately notify your local health department.

Thank you again for your continued partnership in keeping Virginians safe from respiratory illnesses. To learn more about influenza viruses, please visit the following websites:

Sincerely,

Karen Shelton, MD
State Health Commissioner

Executive Order 43: Governor Youngkin’s Reclaiming Childhood Effort

via VDH

Dear Colleague:

Today, adolescent use of the internet, social media, and smartphones is almost universal, with 95% of teenagers ages 13 to 17 reporting that they use some form of social media; 97% reporting they use the internet daily; and 95% reporting access to smartphones. Recent studies have revealed that teenagers spend on average nearly 5 hours a day on social media.

According to the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, “children and adolescents are affected by social media in different ways based on their individual strengths and vulnerabilities and based on cultural, historical, and socio-economic factors.” Social media can provide benefits for isolated youth and for youth with disabilities, by providing them with connections and helping them feel accepted.

At the same time, emerging research has demonstrated that adolescents who are exposed to extreme, inappropriate, or harmful content on social media are at risk of developing mental health issues. Negative effects can specifically include concerns about body image, thoughts or acts of self-harm, and issues with self-esteem. There is evidence to suggest that youth who spend more than three hours a day on social media have double the risk of poor mental health, including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, research links prolonged screen time to obesity, sleep problems, and poor academic performance.

Parents, educators, and clinicians in Virginia all have important roles to play in monitoring social media and internet use for its impacts on mental health. Clinicians are uniquely positioned to talk with patients and families about social media use, screen for cell phone and social media usage along with mental health issues, connect families to resources, and promote healthy behaviors.

On November 21, 2024, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 43 (2024) to promote education and collaboration among parents, medical professionals, and educators in Virginia to improve mental health, academic development, and chronic health conditions among adolescents who regularly use cell phones and social media.

The following resources are recommended for clinicians related to youth mental health and social media:

  1. Governor Youngkin’s Reclaiming Childhood effort is aimed at improving youth mental health outcomes by increasing awareness about the dangers of addictive social media and creating opportunities for cultural change. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].
  2. The National Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health serves as a centralized source for evidence-based education and technical assistance to support the mental health of children and adolescents as they navigate social media. It includes various resources for education, screening and assessment, including:
  3. The Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP), promotes the integration of mental and behavioral health services into pediatric primary care through training, technical assistance, and teleconsultation. To engage in services with VMAP, please call 1-888-371-8627 x 2.
  4. The Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed school health resources for healthcare providers and the Cell Phone Exemption Consensus statement to help navigate questions about medical requirements for cell phone use in schools.
  5. Keeping teens safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids (American Psychological Association, 2024)
  6. Screen Time & Technology: Learn how to help kids use screens in a healthy way. (Child Mind Institute)
  7. Cellphones and Devices: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers (Common Sense Media)
  8. 4 Conversations to Have with Older Kids and Teens About Their Screen Time Habits (Common Sense Media)
  9. National Scientific Council on Adolescents – Council Report No. 2
  10. Hear from Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of the book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness at Commonwealth Conversation on Restoring Childhood Through Common Sense Approaches to Social Media and Cell Phones

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to improving and prioritizing the well-being of adolescents in the Commonwealth.

Sincerely,

Karen Shelton, MD
State Health Commissioner

2024 Virginia Medical News MSV Member Magazine

The 2024 issue of the Virginia Medical News MSV Member Magazine is available here.

2024 Virginia Medical News magazine cover

Articles cover topics such as:

  • child mental health care in Virginia
  • medical students and mentorship
  • what to expect during the 2025 Virginia General Assembly session
  • physician and PA advocacy efforts

 

 

 

 

 

Alliance for Innovation Partners with the Medical Society of Virginia to Explore Mental Health Solutions in Norfolk

Richmond, VA – The Alliance for Innovation (AFI) has joined forces with the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) to address pressing mental health challenges by sharing and adapting programs proven effective in Virginia. Leaders from both organizations convened in Norfolk, Virginia, to discuss mental health programs, including innovative approaches and strategies to address and support post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other behavioral health concerns. This partnership aims to bring impactful initiatives to Poland, adapting Virginia programs to local needs and fostering international collaboration on mental health. 

“This collaboration represents a critical step forward in addressing mental health challenges on both sides of the Atlantic. Our joint efforts will focus on delivering immediate, practical solutions for PTSD, provider burnout, and patient stress, and we are committed to ensuring that these initiatives create tangible improvements in mental health treatment for both Poland and the United States,” said Marcin Hańczaruk, Co-Chairman of AFI Poland. 

The Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP), the HealthHaven programs and SafeHaven have been recognized as transformative resources for mental health support. VMAP connects primary care providers with mental health specialists, ensuring timely and effective care for patients. HealthHaven programs include solutions targeted toward chronic health issues, substance use disorders and more. SafeHaven focuses on combating provider burnout by offering greater confidentiality for healthcare professionals seeking mental health support. 

These initiatives, combined with MSV’s dedication to improving mental health for healthcare providers and patients, serve as a model for addressing similar challenges in Poland. 

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Alliance for Innovation on this vital mission. The mental health crisis knows no borders, and by sharing knowledge and resources, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and providers alike. Programs like these have the potential to provide much-needed relief and inspire innovative approaches internationally,” said Melina Davis, CEO and EVP of the Medical Society of Virginia. 

The partnership between AFI and MSV underscores a shared commitment to improving mental health outcomes through collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange. By bringing these types of efforts to Poland, both organizations aim to address the unique challenges faced by healthcare providers and patients in their communities.

About the Medical Society of Virginia

The Medical Society of Virginia is a professional association with 10,000 members. The MSV is the only association representing all medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and PAs, regardless of specialty or type of practice setting, in Virginia. Dedicated to Virginia’s physicians, PAs, and their patients, the MSV provides administrative, membership, and legislative services to its members, as well as serving as the liaison between local, national, and specialty medical organizations.