In an era where healthcare delivery doing and giving more with less, clinics in Ontario are continually seeking effective ways to enhance the patient experience. A key part of doing this well is setting patient expectations while navigating them through their healthcare journey in a way that makes practice management easier for all stakeholders working for your clinic or medical practice. Enter the art of the video introduction: a powerful tool that not only educates but also sets a comforting tone for patients. This article delves into how clinics in Ontario, across Canada and really clinics anywhere can leverage video intros to revolutionize patient care and clinic management.
The Role of Video Intros in Enhancing Patient Experience
What is a Video Intro?
A video intro in the healthcare context is a short, engaging visual presentation aimed at preparing patients for their healthcare experience. It’s an innovative approach to convey important information, ranging from clinic services to patient rights and responsibilities.
Benefits of Video Introductions in Healthcare Service Practices and Medical Clinics
Video intros offer the patient more insight into what to expect in their visit or clinical encounter, which means enhanced patient understanding, reduced anxiety, and streamlined clinic operations. By providing clear, concise information in a friendly format, these intros set realistic expectations and foster a sense of trust and transparency between the patient and the healthcare provider.
How Video Intros Fit Into The Ontario Healthcare Landscape
Current Trends in Clinic Management in Ontario
The healthcare sector in Ontario is characterized by its dynamic nature, with clinics adapting new technologies and patient flow strategies to help maximize use of space, turnover and of course to ensure and smooth and safe clinical encounter. Among the lest communicated but best received tool is the introduction video a patient receives in advance of their visit. Video intros are emerging as a key tool in patient communication and education because they can very clearly set the practice and the patient up for success.
Challenges Faced by Ontario Clinics
Ontario clinics face unique challenges, including extensive regulatory compliance, diverse patient populations, a generally and the need for efficient practice management. Addressing these challenges is critical for enhancing patient care and clinic profitability. These can all be done through a video introduction that is offered either online using a translation tool, or hosted on a site like YouTube and then linked to a clinic site. We’ve suggested and used the video introduction and positioned it with a YouTube link in a patient appointment reminder, so it’s easy to see and remember for the patient, and there is no change to the workflow for the clinical team.
Case Study: COVID Welcome Video
Ontario was perhaps one of the most conservative places in the developed world when it came to COVID infection control and practice management. Many Ontario medical clinics and practices were shut for weeks at a time over the few year period of COVID, and for Ontario patients, the rules and expectations at medical practices were all unique and ranged from the non-existent to the neurotic. It was a challenging time to both be a doctor, and to be a patient. But the challenge that was presented was how should a medical practice communicate to the patients coming into the practice exactly what the new gold-standard of community practice infection control looks like? How do we show a patient what to do and what to expect, in a way they will feel comfortable and understand, and with a budget of $0?
The Script And Style
The script and style of this case study video were all consistent with the clinic brand. The camera used was an iPhone, the video was shot at eye level and completely level so the angle didn’t make it seem like the viewer was looking down or up at anyone. The voiceover was done with a clear tone that was easy to understand, and subtitles were added to YouTube in a way that they can change language easily. The style of the video was also charming, and there was no direct speech in the video – just voice overs – which made it easier for the actors to perform and for it to be dubbed in other languages.
Keep it Clear, and Keep It Short
Patients don’t have the attention span for a lot of detail, so remember to keep the video as crisp as possible, and remember to think through what the content will talk about, for how long, and what the end message you are trying to communicate really is. Knowing the real messages and key points makes it easier for you to effectively show (and narrate) your video.
Keep It Simple!
This is a medical practice, and even concierge or executive health programs that cost thousands to enter don’t need a very expensive or Hollywood production video. No patient wants or expects your introduction video to cost thousands! Tell them you’re not wasting time on your videos, after all, you have a practice to run and patients to help! Single shot or as few shots as possible Watch YouTube training videos on how to use your mobile phone to shoot these kinds of videos, and of course, AI tools like Synthesia.io are great if you’d like to present information to patients that is specific to your practice, and you don’t want to use your phone or voice to do the shooting.
How It Was Shared
The video was shared with patients through the appointment confirmation text message sent through the electronic medical record (EMR) system 48 hours before their appointment, and again the day of the appointment. The video had 3 rounds of edits and uploads… even now when we look back at it, there are things we’d change. It’s never perfect, but to get your message across, it just needs to be clear and “good enough”.
The Results
The results speak for themselves. The was an over 85% approval rating for this video across over 4,500 views. This video and the approach were shared across hundreds of doctors, retail outlets and other commercial establishments through COVD as an innovative approach to information patients, and most importantly, when patients presented at this clinic, they FELT more comfortable and in control. They knew what to expect, they appreciated the care and effort that went into considering and preparing the facility and video, and they all abided by the protocol’s we set forward. The staff LOVED how they went from explaining the process a hundred times in the first few days, to probably 50 times in the 2 months that followed…
Conclusion: The Video Welcome and On-Board Works!
This approach has proven itself on flight take offs, in clinics, and all kinds of places in between. If you’ve ever seen a video of what to expect, you know first hand that they help. We highly recommend them because we know they both improve the patient experience and manage their expectations all at a very low cost of time and effort.
Happy shooting and sharing!