One who visits a poor patient and strengthens him with encouraging words that he not despair receives very great reward for doing so. For in addition to fulfilling the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim, which on its own is a very great mitzvah (as our Sages extol), such a visitor also fulfills the mitzvos of tzedakah and of saving a life. Indeed, our Sages teach that one who encourages a poor person is blessed with eleven blessings from Heaven (Bava Basra 9b).