Storytelling to Improve Health Care Delivery

Background:  Delivery of patient- and family-centered care is a key objective in efforts to improve the quality of care.

Program background:  The Health Care Innovations Exchange, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, features 13 award-winning videos of innovators explaining how new approaches benefit patients and families. The panel discussion will feature three videos in a series on patient- and family-centered care, focusing on pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations. The videos offer details about each innovation, while telling a compelling story that appeals to a wide audience. Each video is about 90 seconds long and shows the innovator against a white backdrop for a clean, polished look. The videos tell engaging stories by using footage from two cameras shooting from a variety of angles, with varying frame sizes. The black and white format helps viewers concentrate on the story. 

Evaluation Methods and Results:  Google Analytics data show that since 2011, Innovations Exchange videos have generated more than 16,700 page views. YouTube data show more than 17,400 viewings either directly on YouTube or on other Web pages where the videos are embedded.

Conclusions:  Storytelling videos are an effective way to draw attention to health care innovations and illustrate their impact on patients and families

Implications for research and/or practice:  As a national resource, the Innovations Exchange captures new developments in a rapidly changing health care environment, providing information about practices and policies at the forefront of health care. The inclusion of a series of storytelling videos focusing on patient- and family-centered care promotes appreciation of the value of service delivery innovations.