Improv Comedy in Healthcare: Enhancing Patient Communication

Improv comedy in healthcare may seem like an unusual concept, but its techniques can significantly enhance patient care. By prioritizing effective listening, we can ensure patients leave visits feeling better and wanting to return. A big part of this involves making patients feel genuinely heard, which can influence their overall experience and satisfaction.

Berman and Chutka (2016) demonstrated that patients who feel heard during medical consultations are more likely to follow through with treatment plans and express higher levels of satisfaction.¹ This sense of being heard not only fosters trust but also encourages a positive patient-provider relationship. Believe it or not, techniques from improv comedy can offer simple yet effective strategies to enhance your listening skills and improve patient communication.

This article will explore how concepts from improv comedy—particularly the “Yes And” technique—can be utilized to enhance patient-practitioner communication. We will also discuss practical applications in healthcare and how these techniques can help build a more empathetic and effective patient-provider relationship.

What Is Improv?

Improv, or improvisation, is an acting technique often interpreted as “working without a script” and “making things up” as the scene progresses. However, beneath the surface, improv involves specific practices and techniques that help actors handle the unexpected and move scenes forward effectively. Just as athletes practice drills to perform better in games, improv actors rehearse techniques to handle the unexpected on stage.² So how can these practices help health practitioners communicate better with their patients?

Don’t worry! You don’t need to tell your patients a dozen jokes throughout a treatment session or pretend you are treating your patients while in space. You also don’t need to pretend you are a tiny dog named Wallace with a British accent (I promised my dog I would mention him in this article). 

Instead, techniques from improv are being used in different fields. They’re taught in schools to help students navigate difficult situations and are used in corporate America to enhance teamwork and brainstorming.³ Now, these techniques can also be used to make our patients happier. According to Keates and Beadle-Brown (2022), engaging in improv has been shown to enhance empathy, adaptability, and communication skills.⁴

In the context of improv comedy in healthcare, these skills become invaluable. The specific improv technique we will focus on is here called “Yes And.”

Let’s Break It Down

Yes…

The “Yes” in “Yes And” is about acknowledging and validating the patient’s reality. It means accepting what the patient is experiencing and communicating without dismissing their concerns. If a patient shares a worry or symptom, it’s crucial not to downplay it. This approach helps prevent patients from feeling like they are on opposing sides with their healthcare provider.

Much like a performer relies on the backstage team to assess and respond to immediate needs—such as applying an ice pack to a sprain or addressing vocal strain—healthcare providers can use the “Yes” part of “Yes And” to quickly assess a patient’s needs and respond effectively. In both settings, the ability to quickly understand and act is vital to ensuring success, be it on stage or in patient care. This reflects the principles of improv comedy in healthcare, where quick thinking and responsiveness are essential.

For example, if a patient says they are in pain, responding with, “Yes, I understand you’re in pain,” validates their feelings. This doesn’t mean you agree with every request or statement, but it shows you listen and understand their perspective.

The Importance of Circumstances

Saying “Yes” does not mean agreeing with everything a patient says, especially if it goes against medical guidelines. The “Yes” is more about the circumstances. It’s about recognizing and empathizing with the patient’s feelings. For example, if a patient is frustrated and asks for pain medication that is not appropriate, you can still acknowledge their pain by saying, “Yes, I understand you are in pain. Let’s look at other ways we can help manage your symptoms.” This response acknowledges their situation without committing to an inappropriate action. 

How often have we heard patients say they felt dismissed by someone in the healthcare setting? This kind of empathetic acknowledgment helps build trust and can alter patients’ negative perceptions about their care. 

You can also use this opportunity to educate your patients about pain management and introduce them to concepts such as pain neuroscience education. By helping patients feel heard and understood, we can foster a more positive patient-provider relationship, enhancing their overall experience and willingness to engage in treatment plans.

And…

The “And” is just as important as the “Yes.” It involves building on the patient’s statement to move the conversation forward. Simply agreeing without adding anything can make the patient feel like their concerns are not being fully addressed. For example:

Patient: “I am in so much pain.”

Clinician: “Yes, you are in pain.”

The response provided does not move the conversation forward or offer a sense of direction. It’s like the patient is passing you the ball, and you’re just holding it instead of playing catch. You can’t build on that, and the patient may end up feeling more confused than anything else.

However, adding an “And” component can completely change the dynamic:

Clinician: “Yes, you are in pain, and that is why your doctor referred you to us for help.”

This approach not only acknowledges and builds on the patient’s statement but also provides a pathway to discuss solutions or next steps, helping to manage their expectations and focus on the session’s goals.

With improv comedy in healthcare, techniques like “Yes And” foster a more cohesive and supportive environment, encouraging patients to feel heard and understood. This collaborative atmosphere makes patients more likely to share crucial information and be open about their concerns, leading to more effective treatment outcomes and a stronger patient-provider relationship.

Avoiding “Yes, But…”

It’s important to note that using the phrase “yes, but” can have a negating effect. While it may seem like a way to acknowledge the patient’s feelings, it often undermines their concerns and puts them on the defensive. For example:

Patient: “I have been feeling very anxious about this treatment.”

Clinician: “Yes, but it’s a necessary part of your recovery.”

This response can make the patient feel dismissed and unsupported. By contrast, using “Yes And” instead allows for a more empathetic and inclusive approach:

Clinician: “Yes, I understand this treatment can be challenging, and we’re here to support you through each step.”

This kind of communication fosters an atmosphere of acceptance and validation, encouraging patients to engage more openly. By ensuring patients feel their concerns are acknowledged and addressed, healthcare providers can build a more trusting and constructive relationship, ultimately leading to better care and outcomes.

And Scene!

Communicating through improv techniques like “Yes And” can transform how patients feel during interactions with healthcare providers. When patients sense their concerns are genuinely heard and acknowledged, it builds trust and fosters a stronger patient-provider relationship. This trust not only encourages patients to follow through with treatment plans but also makes them more likely to return for future care, confident in the support they will receive.

Incorporating these small but impactful changes in communication can significantly improve the patient experience. While it may require a bit of practice and conscious effort, the benefits—improved patient satisfaction, better adherence to treatment, and a more positive healthcare environment—are well worth it. Just as improv actors refine their craft through practice, healthcare providers can develop these skills to create a more empathetic and responsive practice.

So, next time you’re in a patient consultation, remember the power of improv comedy in healthcare, and the “Yes And” technique. It’s not just about agreement—it’s about connection, understanding, and building a partnership in care. By embracing these techniques, we can make every patient interaction a meaningful and positive experience.

References

1. Berman, A. C., & Chutka, D. S. (2016). Assessing effective physician-patient communication skills: “Are you listening to me, Doc?” Korean Journal of Medical Education, 28(2), 243–249. https://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2016.21 
2. Napier, M. (2018). Improvise: Scene from the inside out. Access and Diversity, Crane Library, University of British Columbia. 
3. Besser, M., Roberts, I., & Walsh, M. (2022). The Upright Citizens Brigade comedy improvisation manual. Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. 
4. Keates, N., & Beadle-Brown, J. (2022b). The benefits of participating in improvisational comedy: A global confirmatory survey study. Comedy Studies, 13(2), 161–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/2040610x.2022.2091719