Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we interviewed Jennifer George, the author of Communication is Care: 9 Empowering Strategies to Guide Patient Healing, an empowering guide to help health care providers seeking to bring a positive change in their patinets’ lives (Read the reveiw here).

Jennifer George is a Physiotherapist in inpatient rehabilitation. Her 13-year journey as a PT spans across acute care/rehab, outpatient orthopaedics, community care, and long-term care.

In all of these areas, she always led with a progressive and functional approach to care. She believes there are no limits to one’s own growth and potential and encourages her patients to focus on the solutions to their everyday challenges.

Throughout her career and personal journey of being a caregiver, Jennifer has focused on the importance of positive communication as the care delivered in our healthcare system.

This led to publishing her first book, Communication is Care: 9 Empowering Strategies to Guide Patient Healing, which reached Amazon bestseller status in medical reference and community care categories upon its launch.

Communication is Care: 9 Empowering Strategies to Guide Patient Healing – is a nonfiction guide that educates healthcare providers on how to communicate with patients to create more empowering experiences and outcomes.

Jennifer is also a strong advocate for personal growth, development, and building community. Her ongoing journey of living in integrity and purpose has also led her to hosting The Healthcare Provider Happy Hour Podcast.

Through her podcasting platform, Jennifer creates a safe space for healthcare providers to unapologetically be themselves after their working day. She also shares ideas to help healthcare providers transform stress to success and fulfillment.

Jennifer is on a mission to help clinicians everywhere focus on their own health and well-being. She coaches current and future healthcare providers on discovering their purpose, achieving fulfilment, and bringing out the best in themselves and their patients everyday.

If you would like to book Jennifer to speak at your organization or provide communication training to your healthcare team, visit www.jennifergeorge.co

You can also connect with and follow Jennifer below:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestobsessed_with_jenn/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestobsessed/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenngeorge08

LinkedIN: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-george-m-p-t-25656517

Podcast: http://www.jennifergeorge.libsyn.com

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

Over 13 years ago, I learned the power of words when I became a caregiver to my chronically ill father.  I witnessed many  interactions during his health journey and I saw first hand the powerful impact encouraging words had on his adherence to participate, outlook on recovery, and overall peace of mind.  I also saw how negative interactions made him more resistant to care, withdrawn from providers, and lacking trust in the overall system.  I learned very early on that while the news isn’t always good in healthcare, the way in which it delivered and received can be and this in itself, can be healing.

What does literary success look like to you?

Literary success for me is writing in my truth as a human being and as a healthcare provider.  When you work in a scientific field, it is easy to feel compelled to write more about data and knowledge than about wisdom and connection.  In a sense, this book is the beginning of my legacy – one in which it will help many healthcare providers help their patients to their fullest potential and purpose.  Instead of just helping one patient at a time, I have the opportunity to help hundreds of thousands through my writing and teachings.

Do you find writing therapeutic?

When I wrote Communication is Care, it was definitely my way of staying connected to my dad after he passed away a few months before I began writing the book.  When I made the decision to write the book though, it was a very clear and urgent calling.  I’d like to think it was divine intervention – it was like everything I ever practiced as a clinician and experienced as a caregiver to him flowed as one.  I had a very vivid picture and outline of the chapters before I actually began writing.  I am very grateful for having had such a transcendent experience and for my dad’s spirit surrounding and guiding me through.

What do you hope readers will take away from this story?

I hope that clinicians will understand that it’s who they are and not just what they know that helps guide patients to their highest level of healing and recovery.  I hope readers realize that positive communication in healthcare should be a standard in every health education program across the globe.  I also hope that patients or caregivers who read this book will feel more empowered to be their own advocates of care in their health journey.

What makes this book important right now?

Communication in healthcare continues to be a top reason for patient complaints.  Digital technology in the healthcare space cannot replace human-to-human connection and compassion.  Despite the rise in EMRs and digital technology, communication still has to be initiated empathetically by the provider.  I have always said that it isn’t the patients who fall through the cracks, but rather, it’s the communication that falls through the cracks.  This book unravels communication to its core – and that’s in the  heart of providers.

Where do your ideas for this story come from?

The 9 strategies discussed in this book are based on my dad’s experiences living with chronic illness and our family’s journey of advocating for the best healthcare possible.  When I was in school, I never learned the value of interpersonal communication – I learned it all through caregiving and carried these experiences forward into my own practice.  The more I became aware of this, the more my patient outcomes and satisfaction began to soar and so did my well-being as a professional.  The strategies of this book are rooted in both my personal and professional experiences and will help enhance every clinician’s practice through their own self-reflection and awareness

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