Narrative methods are by nature versatile. Patients, providers, or caregivers can use them. They facilitate processing thoughts and emotions related to healthcare experiences, identifying patterns affecting health or healthcare choices, or reflecting on clinical interactions (and course-correcting when necessary). They include the acts of articulating, reflecting on, listen to, and sharing the stories of our experiences.
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Patient Experience Lab at the Business Innovation Factoryunited thirty thought leaders in healthcare narrative methods for a Healthcare Narrative Participatory Design Studio (PDS). In this facilitated space, participants identified and shared healthcare narrative best practices. Several areas of opportunity for healthcare narrative use emerged:
- Ensuring that lines of communication are functioning optimally and continually, so that a patient’s context is understood and adequately addressed by his or her provider in plans for care.
- Enabling communication that allows patients to advocate for their needs, and to allow all parties to process their healthcare experiences in a way that contributes to their well-being.
Below are only two examples of the many healthcare narrative methods that address these areas of opportunity.