By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    What Are the Benefits of CBD?
    November 27, 2021
    How to Measure Adult Diapers- The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Right Size
    March 8, 2022
    medicine cabinet
    The Effect Of Finished Dosage Form Manufacturing In New Drugs
    July 5, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    turo lawyer
    Why A Good Turo Lawyer Can Help Cover Medical Fees
    April 8, 2024
    Comprehensive Healthcare Treatment for Slip and Fall Injuries: A Guide to Recovery
    Comprehensive Healthcare Treatment for Slip and Fall Injuries: A Guide to Recovery
    December 26, 2023
    Medical Negligence
    The Impact of Medical Negligence: How Claims Can Help You Move Forward
    January 6, 2025
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 5 Elements of an Effective Patient Testimonial
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > 5 Elements of an Effective Patient Testimonial
Hospital Administration

5 Elements of an Effective Patient Testimonial

Katie Stensberg
Katie Stensberg
Share
5 Min Read
Image
SHARE

The Voice of the Patient

Image

1. Relevance
To be effective, topics must hit a hot-button issue for the audience. This can happen in two ways: 1) The subject is currently in the news and on the minds of healthcare consumers, or 2) it is a topic that is relatively new, and this testimonial will help create much-needed awareness for your audience.

The Voice of the Patient

More Read

Why 1 + 1 = 10 for Physicians and Information Technologists
How Cleveland Clinic Builds Brand Recognition via Multichannel Marketing
ICD-10: The Countdown is Over – Last Minute Tips
Why Don’t Hospitals Compete on Quality?
Healthcare’s New Imperative: Population Health Management

Image

1. Relevance
To be effective, topics must hit a hot-button issue for the audience. This can happen in two ways: 1) The subject is currently in the news and on the minds of healthcare consumers, or 2) it is a topic that is relatively new, and this testimonial will help create much-needed awareness for your audience.

2. Positive Clinical Outcome
What determines a positive clinical outcome? Marketing professionals and clinicians may have differing opinions, but asking a few key questions can help you determine if you have a good candidate. Has the patient returned to work and normal daily activities? Is the patient suffering any long-term side effects? Is the physician satisfied with the outcome? (This can be tricky, especially with patients suffering from conditions that could recur, such as cancer or cardiac issues.) Do what you can to mitigate the negative, such as ongoing complications, and when in doubt (i.e., the oncologist is apprehensive because the patient has been in remission for only a few months), wait until all parties are comfortable with the outcome.

3. A Willing Patient
From a marketing perspective, the patient testimonial is only as good as the patient’s enthusiasm, attitude and commitment to the process. The patient must be willing to speak favorably about the healthcare provider or hospital, the physician and staff, and the overall experience. It also helps if the outcome allowed the patient to return to a hobby, activity or occupation (i.e., horseback riding for a total hip replacement patient or biking for a cardiac bypass patient). Of course, a patient who is passionate, enthusiastic and well-spoken is the ideal candidate, but depending on the chosen medium (print, broadcast, Web), you can build strong testimonials in a number of ways.

4. Appropriateness
Physicians and patients want to tell success stories. But sometimes, information is omitted that could have a negative effect on your organization. It is critical that you get some background about your patient – and the circumstances behind his or her condition – before you tell his or her story and put it in front of thousands of readers or viewers.

For instance, let’s say a patient has a great outcome on a surgical procedure, but it was his or her irresponsible behavior (perhaps in a public venue) that caused the injury or condition. While the story, on its face, is a victory for the physician and the patient, the patient’s back story could provide a backlash of bad publicity for the healthcare facility. Doing a little checking on the front end can help prevent lost time, expense, embarrassment or bad press after the fact.

5. A Willing Physician
The patient perspective is critical because it speaks directly to your audience, at their level. But having a physician who is willing to discuss the patient’s condition and provide a clinical – and sometimes even personal and emotional – connection to the patient’s account only serves to strengthen the story and lend credibility to the institution. The physician can also fill in some of the facts that the patient might leave out.

The voice of the patient is a powerful communications tool in today’s ultra-competitive market, at a time when the consumer is becoming increasingly skeptical of healthcare in general. Finding
and leveraging patient testimonials can be an effective tool for marketing your institution and your physicians.

TAGGED:patient testimonials
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Engaging Physicians and Others The Purely Old Fashioned Way

August 24, 2015

Mayo Clinic Video–Know Your Numbers Blood Pressure, Lipids and BMI

January 5, 2012
HIMSS 2014
BusinessHospital AdministrationTechnology

HIMSS14: Who’s Afraid of Big, Bad Data? Or, How to Eat an Elephant

February 26, 2014
HIPAA and doctor communication
Hospital AdministrationMobile Health

Physicians Love to Text, Too

February 20, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?