Easy ways to share clear, trusted health content remotely
As Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread across multiple continents and throughout the U.S., most medical practices are feeling the impact of this global pandemic. On March 18, 2020, the American Academy of Ophthalmology released recommendations regarding urgent and nonurgent patient care, which advised that all ophthalmologists cease providing any treatment other than urgent or emergent care immediately.
Patients may be feeling frightened or confused in light of the daily barrage of often-conflicting news and advisories. They are looking to their trusted medical providers for information and reassurance during this time.
Rendia’s mission is making sure patients understand the facts and their options, and are empowered to make informed decisions. Today, more than ever before, it’s imperative for practices to help patients remain calm while delivering accurate medical information.
Here are several easy things you can do right now.
Make your message meaningful.
Every business from restaurants to roofing companies is sending out emails regarding COVID-19. It’s important not to add to the noise, but to take this opportunity to establish your practice as a trusted resource for patients in times of need. Make sure your messaging is clear, concise, and conveys empathy for patients in this difficult time.
Ensure that your message resonates by including videos—whether you’re reminding patients to adhere to treatment protocol or offering a helpful guided meditation exercise to get them through stressful times.
Make your message visual.
Visuals make things easier to explain, understand, and remember. Critical information about a complex topic is retained better when it’s accompanied by a visual. Look at the example of the World Health Organization’s “Do the Five” message, linked on the Google homepage.
Another example is the “flatten the curve” image: one simple graph explains a complicated message to millions of people across the globe.
ILLUSTRATION: SAM WHITNEY; CDC
Reinforce your messages and ensure comprehension with a visual component whenever you communicate with your patients.
Make your message consistent.
Steady communication across your many channels—your website, social media, email, portals, and recall systems—will ensure your message reaches patients wherever they are and shows patients you’re thinking of them. Providing reliable information will help combat misinformation as well as reduce confusion and anxiety. Reaching out with educational content is a great way to keep the lines of doctor-patient communication open and engage patients even when you’re not seeing patients in your office. It also ensures you will stay top-of-mind when things eventually return to normal.
Rendia users can customize their playlists by adding their own slides or info like this that can be downloaded from the World Health Organization. See How to Upload Media for directions, or reach out to your dedicated Customer Success Manager for help.
Encourage patients to maintain healthy habits.
Now more than ever it’s important to remind your patients to take care of themselves. It’s the perfect time to share our Healthy Living series on proper hand washing, stress management, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You can email it to patients, share it on your social platforms, post it on your website, or all three. It’s an easy way to show patients that their care and well-being is still your number-one priority.