Synopses & Reviews
Written under the pretense that stories can be powerful medicine, this collection captures both the medical and emotional aspects of the hospital bed through tales from those who have been there and offers powerful messages about the essential ingredients of “good” health care: respect, compassion, collaboration, open and honest communication, family involvement, and flexibility and responsiveness to individuals and their needs.
Review
"The 'privileged presence' of this books title runs full circle, from the patients, family members, and caregivers who tell their stories of pain, healing, cruelty, and kindness in medical care, to their narrators, to the reader who is invited to witness their intimacies." —Michael Rowe, PhD, Yale University school of medicine, and author, The Book of Jesse
Review
"These are the people who bear witness to what is miraculous and what is wrong with health care . . . Once youve had the privilege of reading this book, pass it on—its the best book you will ever give as a gift." —Nancy DiVenere, president, Parent to Parent USA
About the Author
Liz Crocker has worked in teaching, broadcasting, and journalism. She has owned and run a childrens bookstore since 1978 and now has an environmental business with five stores across Canada. Bev Johnson is the president and CEO of the Institute for Family-Centered Care in Bethesda, Maryland. She is a nurse who has provided on-site technical assistance and training to more than 100 hospitals in North America and worked with the Association of American Medical Colleges on family-centered practice. She is the coauthor of several books and the producer of award-winning films in the field.