The Narrative Matters section of Health Affairs publishes personal essays (literary nonfiction) based on firsthand encounters that have a health policy aspect. These "policy narratives" take a story (or anecdote) and grow it beyond one person to include a big-picture view of the subject. The purpose of the Narrative Matters section is to put a human face on the health policy discussions in the other parts of Health Affairs.

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November 2008

	Un Poquito The benefits and perils of knowing "a little bit" of Spanish when communicating with Spanish-speaking patients. Warren J. Ferguson, November 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	The Voice On The Other End Of The Phone There's more than one way for a trained medical interpreter to provide accurate, sometimes life-saving language support. Nataly Kelly, November 1, 2008 [ Narrative Matters Essay On NPR ] [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

September 2008

	On Being A ‘Difficult’ Patient Difficult? I'll tell you what's difficult. Michelle L. Mayer, September 1, 2008 [ Mayer in the Washington Post-Oct. 21, 2008 ] [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	On Caring For ‘Difficult’ Patients Difficult patients and their frustrated doctors fail each other. Tony Miksanek, September 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

July 2008

	Stories Beyond The Box A story from a Taiwanese childhood continues to have a powerful, life-shaping presence in the United States. Pauline W. Chen, July 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Disorientation An immigrant doctor, newly arrived from India, finds that it's the little things that can surprise you. Alok A. Khorana, July 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

May 2008

	Time To Care When thinking about duty-hour reform and other aspects of residency training, remember that patient care depends on the soul of the doctor. Elizabeth Gaufberg, May 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	The Disappearing Doctors Reduced residents' work hours sound fine until the residents--now a legion of shift-worker physicians--are rushing out the door or aren't there. Janet R. Gilsdorf, May 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

March 2008

	Duality When a doctor is also a mother, sometimes the hardest part of the day is just getting out the door. Julie R. Rosenbaum, March 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Crossing The Atlantic An American pediatrician living in England finds that the National Health Service fails to provide the health care she needs for her daughter. Anjali Jain, March 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

January 2008

	Blocked When examining tables and other medical equipment aren't accessible to patients in wheelchairs, there are insurmountable physical barriers to health care. Lisa I. Iezzoni, January 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	The Face-Off Sometimes a strange medical dance takes place between experienced nurses and young doctors as they try to provide patients with optimal care. Ray Bingham, January 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]

	Code Pearl In addition to Full Codes and DNRs, a physician calls for a new option that provides all life-prolonging treatments until death--and then a kind farewell. Victoria Sweet, January 1, 2008 [ Full Text ] [ PDF ] [Reprints & Permissions]