Bio

Rachyl Pines PhD, focuses on improving the patient experience and increasing provider professional fulfillment through coaching, consults, and communication trainings. Rachyl conducts and oversees research and evaluation to add to the body of knowledge on relationship-centered care and communication in healthcare.
Prior to joining Stanford, Rachyl was a Research Scientist at Cottage Health Research Institute at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where she supported pediatric, behavioral health, population health, women’s services and RN-led research at the hospital. Her other experience includes a brief postdoctoral fellowship with the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation and UCLA, focused on patient education and equity in renal replacement therapies and a Visiting Researcher position with Tufts University School of Medicine. She also serves as an executive officer for the International Association of Language and Social Psychology.
She received her MA and PhD in Communication from University of California, Santa Barbara with a focus in health communication. Her dissertation focused on training healthcare staff to better communicate with aggressive patients to prevent workplace violence. In addition, Rachyl has received grant-funding for international projects about intercultural differences in patient preferences for decision-making power with their providers.

Academic Appointments

Administrative Appointments

  • Fellow, International Research Center for the Advancement of Health Communication (2020 - Present)
  • Executive Officer, International Association of Language and Social Psychology (2017 - Present)
  • Associate Editor, Psychology of Language and Communication (2023 - Present)
  • Senior Manager, Patient Experience, Stanford Health Care (2022 - Present)

Contact

  • Academic
    University - Other Teaching/Research Department: Med/Primary Care and Population Health Position: Instructor

Additional Info

All Publications

  • Virtual Reality Therapeutic Art for Adult Hospitalized Patients and Caregivers: A Mixed-Methods Project. Journal of patient experience McDaniel, S., Pines, R., He, E. M., Collins, F., Arshad, F., Menendez, M., Prabhu, V. G., Caruso, T. J. 2025; 12: 23743735251330467

    Abstract

    Increased stress, anxiety, and depression hinder recovery of hospitalized patients. Mindfulness therapies, which adopt a holistic approach to patient care, reduce anxiety, and depression. This quality improvement initiative evaluated the implementation of a virtual reality (VR) therapeutic art program at Stanford Health Care from February to June 2024, providing an innovative and scalable adjunct to traditional art and music mindfulness therapies. This mixed methods project piloted 84 cumulative hours with 105 participants. Outcomes investigated satisfaction and the impact on hospitalization experience via survey questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results (n = 40) indicated substantial improvements in patient experience, with 85% recommending the program and 97.5% reporting positive impacts from VR engagement. Thematic analysis of open-ended survey responses identified 4 key themes: escape and distraction, therapeutic benefits, enjoyment of the interactive activity, and positive facilitator interactions. Participants also expressed interest in additional VR offerings, including virtual mindfulness, and meditation. The results suggest that VR can serve as an effective adjunct to conventional mindfulness therapies and improve the inpatient experience.

    View details for DOI 10.1177/23743735251330467

    View details for PubMedID 40144534

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11938894

  • Investigating Patient Preferences for Their Doctor's Communication Strategies Across Cultures Using Communication Accommodation Theory JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Pines, R., Mallard, Y., Jones, L., Sheeran, N. 2025

    View details for DOI 10.1177/0261927X251318752

    View details for Web of Science ID 001423726400001

  • Applying dynamic dyadic systems to explore features of relationship-centered care among Spanish and non-Spanish speaking patients. Patient education and counseling Haverfield, M. C., Li, Y., Pines, R., Kyte, T., Titova, D., Theiss, J. A. 2025; 134: 108650

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE: Relationship-centered care (RCC) positions the exchange between patient and provider as central to patient care. Due to limitations in analytical approach, how the relational exchange develops throughout the clinical visit remains unclear. Dynamic dyadic systems (DDS) perspectives overcome these limitations to reveal interdependencies and evolving patterns in turn-taking sequences within dyads. We applied DDS analyses to examine how features of RCC manifest during clinical visits with Spanish-speaking Latinx and English-speaking non-Latinx patients.METHODS: We analyzed transcripts from 13 primary care visits (5 with Latinx patients, 8 with non-Latinx patients). Interaction turns totaled N = 2394 units of analysis. Dyadic time series plots examined the trajectory of clinical encounters and contributions made by patients and providers. Sequence analysis identified distinct turn patterns-or conversational motifs among dyads.RESULTS: Conversational motifs reflected four patterns. In our example, motif distribution differed such that with Latinx Spanish-speaking patients, the provider largely engaged in patient-focused probing dialogue, while relational features of communication were underrepresented. In contrast, with non-Latinx English-speaking patients, providers engaged in more instructive exchange.CONCLUSION: Results support DDS to analyze patient-provider communication by illustrating interdependencies in reciprocal exchange and inequities in RCC delivery.PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Findings demonstrate opportunities for behavioral change to enhance cultural sensitivity in the delivery of care.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.pec.2025.108650

    View details for PubMedID 39892210

  • Evaluating the Impact of an Inpatient Therapeutic Bedside Music Program on the Care Experience JOURNAL OF PATIENT EXPERIENCE Mcdaniel, S., Pines, R. 2025; 12: 23743735251330699

    Abstract

    An inpatient stay at the hospital is often a stressful and scary time for patients and their loved ones accompanying them. Including art, particularly therapeutic music, may be a non-pharmacological way to improve the inpatient stay. This project evaluated the impact of an inpatient, musician-facilitated Therapeutic Bedside Music Program on the patient and caregiver experience via a post-survey of 176 therapeutic bedside music recipients. Recipients of therapeutic bedside music reported satisfying experiences and a desire for more music (31.75%). Specifically, they appreciated the musician facilitator (50%), experienced a calming and relaxing effect (44.90%), experienced joy (37.16%), and benefit during a stressful time (24.32%), and even perceived a positive impact on their physical healing (12.16%). Results of this project demonstrate a positive impact of facilitated therapeutic bedside music on care experience and demonstrate a need for research on the clinical impact of the program.

    View details for DOI 10.1177/23743735251330699

    View details for Web of Science ID 001451125300001

    View details for PubMedID 40144535

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11938901

  • Evaluating the Implementation of a Relationship-Centered Communication Training for Connecting With Patients in Virtual Visits. Journal of patient experience Pines, R., Haverfield, M. C., Wong Chen, S., Lee, E., Brown-Johnson, C., Kline, M., Weimer-Elder, B. 2024; 11: 23743735241241179

    Abstract

    The use of telehealth, specifically virtual visits, has increased and adoption continues. Providers need effective training for how to communicate with patients to develop a connection during virtual visits. This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a course called Mastering Presence in Virtual Visits. Results show that although providers perceive lack of time, technology issues, and lacking experiential knowledge as barriers to enacting course behaviors, the course was feasible and acceptable. Following the course, providers rated key course behaviors as helpful for practice, and 80.7% of providers were likely to recommend the course to a colleague. The course shifted provider perceptions of the purpose, patient experience, and procedures in virtual visits. Prior to the course, providers perceived virtual visits as fundamentally different than in-person visits. However, after the course, they recognized the importance of connection in virtual visits and how to foster that connection. Providers continue to require support in conducting high-quality virtual visits. Online, asynchronous courses, developed in partnership with providers, are feasible and effective for encouraging behavior change. Key findings: When asked on a needs assessment in 2020, communication strategies to connect with patients in virtual visits were a top provider need. Partnering with providers to create online, communication training content is effective for increasing the acceptability of courses about virtual visits. Asynchronous, online courses can meet provider needs for communication strategies to connect with patients in virtual visits.

    View details for DOI 10.1177/23743735241241179

    View details for PubMedID 38515761

  • Healthcare Professionals' Emotional Labor and Management of Workplace Violence with Underserved Patients in the Safety Net Context HEALTH COMMUNICATION Pines, R., Myers, K. K., Giles, H. 2024; 39 (8): 1558-1567

    Abstract

    Healthcare providers (HP) work in high-stress situations, interacting with patients and families who are often in crisis. HPs who work in safety net clinics, which provide care to uninsured, Medicaid recipients and other vulnerable populations, interact with patients who are frequently frustrated by long wait times, extensive paperwork, short appointments, and have generally lower health literacy. Many patients have chronic conditions and substance use disorders which has been associated with higher likelihood to be perceived as verbally aggressive and/or perpetrate workplace violence (WPV). Using interviews with 26 HPs at safety net clinics, we investigated how HPs manage interactions with aggressive patients and avoid burnout. Findings are based on emotional labor constructs describing why and how workers use emotion management strategies to smooth communication and relationships with clients/patients. According to our participants, HPs perform emotional labor to de-escalate interactions, prevent WPV, and to develop relationships with patients who might become regular clinic patients. We found that HPs perceive an influence of the clinic context on patient aggression management, hold initial perceptions that shape engagement with aggressive patients, and report emotional labor and burnout that came from interacting with aggressive patients to prevent WPV. We offer implications that extend research on emotional labor and burnout, provide guidance to healthcare organizations, and offer directions for future theory and research.

    View details for DOI 10.1080/10410236.2023.2226307

    View details for Web of Science ID 001007926500001

    View details for PubMedID 37331974

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7847-4666