Stories worth celebrating

We all know the value of patient stories. But there are other people-oriented stories that engage readers in similar ways, and those feature your hardworking and dedicated staff.

Here are two examples of Coffey magazine clients who recently showcased their staff and the important connection they offer patients.

Building relationships and meeting needs

At Arbor Health, in Morton, Washington, Marketing and Communications Manager Diane Markham twice featured a new doctor. The first article announced the provider would soon be joining the hospital, while the second one announced her arrival.

Markham often profiles new providers. Her stories showcase not just their medical expertise, but also their hobbies and backgrounds.

"Building relationships is what I'm after," she says. "I want people to connect with the providers before they actually meet. I want to humanize the process a bit."

In both recent articles, Markham noted the new doctor's bilingual skills. That was another way to connect with patients. Arbor Health serves a small Spanish-speaking population. These articles let them know they have a provider with whom they can easily communicate in a way they may prefer.

"We are excited to be able to meet their needs, as well as the needs of other people in the community," Markham says.

Highlighting empathy and relatability

Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio, Texas, featured 17 of their labor and delivery nurses who were pregnant at the same time. Yep, you read that right—17 nurses!

Methodist Healthcare always looks for opportunities to celebrate staff, says Cheri Love-Moceri, Associate Vice President of Communications.

"They are our greatest asset and the core drivers of our mission," she says.

The story had "clear uniqueness and global appeal," Love-Moceri notes. But there was more. Some of the nurses felt that being pregnant gave them an even deeper understanding of what their pregnant patients go through.

In this way, the article touched on empathy and relatability. Those are "key factors in validating the feelings of new moms," Love-Moceri says. "At the end of the day, we shared a story of moms caring for other moms. And when you have 17 nurses in one labor and delivery department experiencing that at the same
time, it's worth celebrating!"