AMITAHEALTH

AmitaHealth St. Alexius Medical Center was adding a video component to its inpatient welcome processes. They wanted to pull out the essential features of its welcome guide and create a 90-second video accessible to all.

That way, when people first turn on their TVs after being admitted, the welcome video will automatically play and they’ll get the information they need for their stay.

Information gathering

After a phone overview, Mark from Amita Health sent me the welcome document people receive in their folders upon admission. I also received one page of notes taken by Mark during a meeting with stakeholders. The goal was a 90-second video at most, and I was given a two-week deadline.

Getting to work

Knowing that only the most important information could be included in the video, I analyzed the inpatient guide and pulled out vital information from each section.

From there, I wrote and edited until I reached an approximately 1.5-page script. I focused on active voice and wrote as if I were speaking to one person. I recorded myself speaking and added in time for a b-roll without voice-over. When I was certain I met the time restrictions, I sent the draft in for the first review.

Feedback and revisions

The team made some simple revision requests. One example is directing me to use approved terminology instead of more simple language.

My initial suggestion: “You may ask your team to wash their hands at any time for your peace of mind.”

Their direction: “You may ask your team about hand hygiene for your peace of mind at any time.”

They also asked for a few sections to be rearranged, which I was happy to do.

Planning for b-roll

With previous producer experience, I knew how to support the cinematographer and made sure they were organized with everything they needed to create this high-visibility, impactful video. I created a list of b-roll options for each section of the script. The goal was not to dictate what the b-roll should be but to provide an option if they needed it. I was told this was a super helpful piece of the project for the cinematographer.

Materials given to prepare

Final script + b-roll list

AmitaHealth St. Alexius Medical Center | Inpatient Welcome Video Script

Italics are for a visual breakdown of sections and not spoken.

Welcome – About us – Commitment to Care

Welcome to AmitaHealth St. Alexius Medical Center. Patients are our top priority, and we’re committed to providing you with safe, quality, excellent care during your stay. If at any time you have questions or concerns about your care or the care of your loved one, please speak to your nurse or the nurse supervisor, or press 0 on your phone and ask for an administrative supervisor or administrator on call.

We want to share a few things that will make your time at St. Alexius more comfortable. The inpatient guide, located in your patient folder, contains all of this information and much more.

• B-roll: Outside pan of the hospital, lobby with registration, in a room with a person in bed and a nurse showing them the inpatient guide.

Knowing Your Room

As you’re settling in, take a minute to familiarize yourself with your room.

• B-roll: Wide angle shot of a room with a person in bed.

Your Bed

Your nurse will show you how to use and adjust your bed. For your safety, please do not try to get in or out of your bed or wheelchair alone unless you have been given permission.

• B-roll: A nurse shows a person how to adjust their bed with buttons. The bed moves when the button is pushed.

Call a Nurse

If you need your nurse, push the button on your bed. You may hear a response through the intercom. You do not need to press a button to respond. Talk, and they will hear you.

• B-roll: Finger pressing nurse button. Lights turning on. "You may hear a response through an intercom. (Nurse: Can I help you?") You do not need to push a button to respond. Talk, and they will hear you. (Patient: "Could I get some water, please.")

Dining Options

When it comes to dining, you have options. A doctor and dietitian-approved menu is located inside your patient folder. When you’ve made your decision, call Dining on Call and let them know what you’d like and what time you’d like it delivered to your room. You can call anytime between 7 am–7 pm. A committed staff of registered dieticians can help if you have questions about your prescribed diet and your options.

• B-roll: Menu sitting next to a folder on the adjustable bed table. Close-up of a menu option and phone number. Dining room, food selection or a meal delivery staff greeting a patient as they set a meal on the table.

Your Phone

Feel free to make local calls from your hospital phone any time during your stay. First dial 9, then 1, then the ten-digit phone number. You can receive calls between 7 am and 10 pm. To learn more about calling long distance, press 0 to reach the operator.

• B-roll: Patient talking on the phone. Flowers on the side table insinuate a family or friend who has visited or delivered flowers.

TV

If you’re looking for your favorite TV shows, turn to channel 6 for the TV guide.

• B-roll: Person with remote watching TV.

Hand Hygiene

To provide you with the safest quality care and promote hand hygiene, our healthcare team will use facility-issued hand sanitizer before entering and upon leaving your room. You may ask your team about hand hygiene at any time for your peace of mind.

• B-roll: Provider using hand sanitizer.

Whiteboard

The whiteboard is one tool we use to communicate. On it, you might see your room number, the names of your medical team, upcoming tests, medications or notes. If you have questions about what’s written on your whiteboard, please let your nurse or doctor know.

• B-roll: A nurse writing their name on the whiteboard. A close-up of anything that might be on it, including the room number.

Medical Emergency (Rapid Response)

If there is a medical emergency during your stay, you or your family member should dial 911 from your hospital phone. Please tell the operator your room number and details about your emergency. Our Rapid Response Team will arrive within minutes to assist you.

• B-roll: Fingers pressing 911 on the phone. The rapid response team arrives.

In Closing

On behalf of everyone at AmitaHealth St. Alexius Medical Center, we sincerely welcome you and look forward to providing you with excellent care while you’re with us. If we can make your stay more comfortable in any way, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

• B-roll: A Hospital representative speaks in the lobby. If possible, the same person does the voiceover for the entire film.

This project reinforced

• There is an overwhelming need for accessible information within medical facilities. The inpatient guide was overflowing with text and advertisements. I can imagine there were few who actually read it. The video made this important information much more accessible for many people, including those with visual or cognitive differences.

• Sometimes, stakeholder meetings happen without the writer and you need to get what you need from those who were there. Sometimes, it works, but sometimes, it doesn’t. It did this time and reinforced how great it is when you’re part of a team that can be your ears when you’re not in the room.