Over the years, Meditech has worked across the US to produce dozens of patient stories, ranging from touching child portraits for the “Children’s Miracle Network” telethon, to profiles of patients receiving life saving technology. The function of patient stories is often perceived as a showcase for a given device or procedure. In reality, patient stories help to build better relationships between patients, doctors, and families. Patient stories can help to create mutual understanding between individuals as they navigate through an unfamiliar process together. They help individuals to better empathize, communicate and connect with one another.
Patient stories help care providers develop a more holistic perspective of the patient; with their experience as patients in the healthcare system, and in their normal lives. For most physicians, patient relationships are exclusively built off of short interactions that are only had in a series of isolated situations. Physicians are not seeing what is happening with patients before and after their visits, whether that is with their experiences in other parts of the healthcare system, in home care, or in their personal lives. Patient stories provide a richer opportunity for healthcare providers to gain a new perspective of their patients.
Patient stories can help to educate and emotionally support patients at every point in the treatment process. From an educational standpoint, patient stories are an excellent platform for communicating important information to patients about a particular treatment process. Video allows for a high level of information and emotional expression to be presented to audiences. Patients are more likely to connect with individuals who likely share many of the same thoughts, express the same concerns and feel the same emotions. Patient stories can help individuals to feel not alone, understood and supported.
In recent years, medical device manufacturers have recognized the unique benefits that patient stories can provide to patients and their brand. Patient stories benefit device manufacturers in two major ways; they help to increase patient confidence and ease anxiety, and they help to improve brand image and familiarity through success stories. Patients often feel a certain level of apprehension and anxiety when beginning a particular treatment process. Patient stories can do a good job at reducing that stress and making patients more comfortable with a given procedure and device. This positive patient presentation of a treatment/device will help to increase the amount of trust that physicians and patients put in your company and product, leading to increased adoption and sales.
Through our years of creating patient stories, we have recognized that effective patient stories are all centered around a strong message that brings stakeholders together. The story needs to connect patients, doctors and families around a central narrative of their shared experience. Our advantage is being able to create and present that narrative that speaks to everyone. If you are interested in developing a patient stories centered around your treatment, service or want to learn more, connect with us at accounts@gomeditech.com
