1 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 1 9
I
f given a choice, patients
would much prefer to get
their post-op care instruc-
tions by watching a 1-minute
video on a tablet in PACU
rather than reading a packet of
papers at home. They're also
more likely to comprehend and
comply with those instructions.
We know from experience.
Since last summer, our patients have been receiving their post-op
instructions from a friendly avatar who stars in animated videos that
they view in the recovery room. Patients can stop and start the videos
at their leisure. Their families can view them as well. It's been a huge
success, especially for our patients who don't speak fluent English.
There's even a test that's administered both before and after the
videos, which are produced by Larissa Technologies
(larissatech.com), an MIT-affiliated startup that "engages with your
target audience to help them navigate confusing instructions and
improves outcomes for all."
We can change the content of the video any time through the web. If
we find it's better to change the dressing after 7 days instead of 10, it's
only a couple clicks, and the change is made instantly.
Right now, we're just using a video on wound care for joint replace-
ment patients, but we plan to expand the post-op videos to other pro-
cedures and offer it in different languages.
Melissa Killham, RN, BSN
Signature Healthcare Brockton (Mass.) Hospital
mkillham@signature-healthcare.org
Animated Discharge Instructional Videos
• NO NEED TO READ Animated videos make discharge instructions
less confusing and overwhelming for patients at Brockton Hospital.
Signature
Healthcare
Brockton
Hospital
Ideas Work
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