In medical care, where time is of the essence, and effective communication is paramount, MIA Video GmbH is pioneering a novel approach to patient education. "We must find ways to bridge the gap between complex medical information and patient understanding," states Phil Ramcke, owner, director, and head of the film production of MIA Video GmbH. This video-on-demand platform is reforming how doctors communicate with their patients.
Like many others worldwide, the German healthcare system faces a significant challenge: primary care physicians have an average of just seven minutes per patient. In this limited time, they must explain complex conditions to patients, and the language barrier further complicates this task.
MIA Video GmbH directly addresses this challenge by utilizing film production to engage patients emotionally and educate them on relevant medical information about their conditions.
Recognizing the importance of reaching a diverse patient base, the company produces content in multiple languages to ensure patients from different cultures can access critical medical information.
The MIA Video GmbH App: Accessible and Efficient Patient Education
The MIA Video GmbH app was recently released and is now available in English, German, Polish, Italian, Russian, and Ukrainian, with an additional 34 languages planned for the future. This multicultural approach will help break down language barriers, improve health literacy worldwide, and promote a more inclusive healthcare provision.
The app partners with 20 test hospitals and uses a pay-per-click model, meaning hospitals only pay for what they actually use. This will enable better patient preparation for treatments and an improved understanding of medical contexts.
This is achieved not only through the content and texts written by medical professionals and revised by Ramcke's team but also through the emotional elements, as truly important information is retained on an emotional level.
Breaking the Language Barrier Through Storytelling
Ramcke, a filmmaker and entrepreneur, recognizes that a thorough initial consultation can lead to more sustainable treatment outcomes. The more detailed the explanation of a diagnosis, the lower the likelihood of future complications related to therapy or disease progression.
However, conveying complex medical concepts in a short time frame can be a daunting task. It requires creativity to distill years of medical education into a seven-minute consultation.
One of the key challenges faced by healthcare providers is the language barrier that often exists between doctors and patients. In a multicultural society, it is not uncommon for patients to have limited proficiency in the language of their healthcare provider, leading to potential misunderstandings and suboptimal treatment outcomes.
MIA Video GmbH addresses this issue head-on by producing educational content in multiple languages, ensuring that patients from diverse backgrounds can access the information they need in a language they understand. "By breaking down the language barrier, we are empowering patients to take control of their health, observing a more inclusive healthcare provision," says Ramcke.
A New Face of Sustainable Patient Education
MIA Video GmbH intends to reform patient education by combining film production with medical insight later this year. While specific details about its project are yet to be revealed, the potential impact on the healthcare industry is significant.
As Ramcke notes, "The sustainable explanation of complex medical topics like diabetes requires creativity. It requires emotions." By harnessing the power of film, MIA Video GmbH aims to make these topics more accessible to patients, thereby improving their understanding of their health and treatment options.
The impact of MIA Video GmbH's approach extends far beyond the initial doctor-patient interaction. Providing patients with a comprehensive understanding of their medical conditions from the outset results in sustainable, long-term health management.
The MIA Video GmbH and the MIA Video App enable a reduction of doctor-patient consultations by up to 75%, leading to significant cost savings for clinics while also allowing more time to focus on the patient's personal medical history.
Research by Paul Xaver Romanski showed that during education through MIA videos, patients' heart rates could be reduced from, for example, 120 beats per minute to 80 beats per minute. These results highlight the effectiveness of MIA Video GmbH's emotionally driven storytelling in calming patients and improving patient education.
A case study conducted in collaboration with several hospitals showed that MIA Video GmbH's videos improved patients' understanding and significantly lowered their pulse and blood pressure during the educational sessions.
One example from a field study features an elderly man who, after watching a video, broke into tears and said that he truly understood what was happening to him for the first time in his life. These reactions highlight the profound impact of MIA videos on patients.
Dr. Astrid Naczinsky from AOK Rheinland remarked, "MIA Video could significantly influence people's health literacy." Similarly, Dr. Axel Herzog from the Ärztekammer Nordrhein described the business model as "very interesting and promising."
For Ramcke, these findings demonstrate that emotional storytelling has a measurable positive impact on both people's physical well-being and the overall healthcare experience.
The Future of Healthcare Through Art
The fusion of film production and medical insight represents a promising direction for healthcare. As the demand for efficient and effective patient education grows, innovations like those from MIA Video GmbH will likely play an increasingly important role.
Reflecting on this development, Ramcke observes, "We have created MIA Video GmbH as a tool for such situations." The continuous evolution of the healthcare industry means that the contributions of companies like MIA Video GmbH will be crucial in shaping its future.
"We are only beginning to explore the potential of merging storytelling with medicine," adds Ramcke. "Utilizing the compelling nature of cinema for education and motivation, we can transform how healthcare is delivered and experienced by patients worldwide. MIA Video is like a video-on-demand platform for doctors and patients."
MIA Video GmbH's innovative use of film in patient education surpasses conventional methods, bridging the gap between healthcare providers and those they serve. The company enhances patient comprehension and promotes better health outcomes through a blend of medical knowledge and visual storytelling.
