Shweta Ramkumar’s Post

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Communication Coach for ESL Healthcare Professionals to help build better relationships with patients, consistently deliver positive experiences and achieve professional excellence|Book strategy call with link below⬇️

Patients should receive free hugs alongwith their treatment plan Sounds controversial and probably a tad inappropriate and unprofessional ? Believe it or not two of my LinkedIn followers posted stories last week About why its important for patients to be hugged By the healthcare providers supporting them While I don’t entirely disagree with them and Am equally aware of its several benefits It is important to know who is at the receiving end In several cultures, hugging, especially between members of the opposite sex, is tabooed I’m part of one such culture, which is changing now, and is completely normal in Australia where I live Additionally, many patients may be neurodivergent or have undergone trauma Which may trigger unpleasant feelings when they’re touched During my time as a high school teacher, I was very vigilant of this However, there were times when a student who enjoyed our time together Asked for hugs and I rarely refused The difference is that I would never initiate it, and If the other party consents and show being comfortable I’d give them what they wanted As healthcare providers we need to be equally mindful when put in such situations Gauge each patient individually Go with your gut Never initiate physical contact Keep such gestures brief Also hugs aren’t a substitute for empathy and compassion towards your patients Navigating such tricky sensitive situations with your parents is never easy Especially if they come from cultural or religious backgrounds that are different to yours If you would like to get a better understanding of and support in these areas Click on the link in my bio to schedule a complimentary strategy call with me To see how my coaching can best support you

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Helen Louise

Helping healthcare professionals improve their English so that they can communicate more effectively with colleagues, patients and clients * OET specialist * English language teacher * 1-2-1 and small group courses

3w

I completely agree with your points here, Shweta Ramkumar. Hugs can be extremely helpful, but are not always appropriate or welcomed.

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