How to Create Effective Patient Education Videos

Updated November 10, 2014 -

© Peter Atkins - Fotolia.com

There’s no better method of delivering information to patients than through video.  It’s convenient and helpful for them to learn instantly from the comfort of home or while on-the-go using a mobile device.

The goal of your practice marketing videos should be to educate your patients with the highest-quality information.  Their desire to schedule an appointment with you will be the end result.

Since PowerPoint is an excellent presentation tool, you can use it to deliver a concise, educational video right to your patients. Here’s how to do it.

How to Use PowerPoint to Create Videos

First, you’ll need to develop a script for your PowerPoint presentation.  If you’ve never written a script, don’t worry!  You don’t need to be a stand-up comedian or have earned a Pulitzer prize in order to create an excellent and engaging script.

Here are some guidelines regarding what to include:

• Start with asking some introspective questions that will help them to see their need for your services.  If you are doing an abdominoplasty video, for example, you might describe who an ideal candidate would be and why they come in for the procedure.  In the form of some pointed questions, talk about patients who have lost a great deal of weight or who have had children and are left with slack muscles and sagging skin.  Your viewers will immediately relate to what you’re talking about as they see a reflection of themselves from the moment they start watching.

• Next, your script should educate about what the procedure entails.  You can include details about anesthesia, incision placement, steps taken during the procedure, and so on.  Share with them what the end results should be (i.e., a more beautiful smile, younger-looking skin, or a tighter tummy).

• Be sure to explain to your patients that not everyone heals in the same manner or has zero complications, but that the average patient experiences “X” amount of days or weeks of tenderness, “X” amount of time using drains, etc.  These factors will help them to realistically prepare for the healing phase of that procedure.

• Be sure to give viewers the benefit of learning what other patients have to say about that procedure .  You’ll want to include a few written testimonials.

• If none of the templates that come with PowerPoint appeal to you, get free template backgrounds and music clips from sites like Template Wise or Powered Templates.  They are both very easy to use.

• Keep your video concise and to the point.  If something in your script doesn't need to be there,  better to remove it than risk losing your viewers' interest.

• Use a screen-capturing program such as Screenflow (for Macs) or Camtasia to capture your PowerPoint presentation playing on-screen.  Add your voice-over using a separate microphone plugged in to your computer for best quality sound.

• Once your video has been made, export the video to a finalized format that can be uploaded as a movie such as an mov, mp4, avi, or mpg.

• Upload your finalized video to your YouTube channel (check out some of mine) and then embed the video into your  web site wherever you want to.  Simply drop the embed code in the places where you want the video to play.

Need a Video for Your Practice?

If you're not sure how to start the video process or simply don't have the time, please call me at 951.665.8360.  I'm happy to answer all of your questions and come up with an effective video so that more of your visitors can become lifelong patients.