Hospital 2022
We welcome guest blogger, Jennifer Peterson. Bringing 25+ years of consumer research expertise, Jennifer is passionate about unlocking insights that provide a deeper understanding of healthcare experiences, and support clinical andpatient well-being.
Currently, Jennifer uses her Narrative Medicine background to develop creative approaches that enhance a clinician’s skill to absorb, interpret and respond to patient stories - as well as reflect on their own experiences. She also serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Council at Regions Hospital (St. Paul, MN) and as a writer for the My Life My Story program. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas, MN (BA in Marketing), The University ofMinnesota (Masters Liberal Arts), and Columbia University, New York (Certificate)
“Hi, I’m Jen and I’m with a program here called My Life, My Story.” I’d been practicing my opening lines all morning, already overheating behind my mask and overwhelmed by the “hospital-ness” of the Acute Rehab unit. Being surrounded by 24 patients in serious medical situations suddenly frightened me. I felt vulnerable, and intrusive. I would soon learn what vulnerability really looked like ….Patients poked and prodded, awaiting test results and doctor rounds and help getting to the bathroom…missing their lives, their families, their dogs. Inhaling sharply to bolster my courage, I knocked cheerfully (is that possible?) on the door of the first patient. I hoped he could see the smile behind my mask. Mercifully, “Chris” agreed to tell me about himself, his willingness perhaps at first stemming from the boredom of longer term hospital stays. I settled into the folding chair across from him. We began. Many stories later, I would still be nervous at each knock. I learned to better control my gut instinct to cheer people up, and instead, just listen. I remain amazed that anyone would speak to me at all, given their situations. But they did. Their stories are still with me. Stories a medical chart could never capture. Successes, mistakes, resurrections, loves, losses, lives…And I remember, with gratitude, every single one.
