Health Literacy has long been a challenge for patients, with unmeasured or unregistered extra cost for the hospital, caused by unprepared and poorly informed patients. Insufficient understanding of important information results in lack of compliance to tasks and self-care.

The Covid Pandemic has furthermore changed the way we can inform and “educate” patients. Patient-seminars and consultations are canceled or converted to calls.

Can the combination of technology and a radical approach to healthcare information, using narrative visual communication, help keep productivity high at the hospital? Also, during a pandemic?

My Treatment™ has shown that a visual language with animated narratives to educate the patient before, during, and after treatment can help release a number of resources, like reduce Length of Stay (LOS), patient contacts, patient visits, cancellations, i.a.

Data from the largest center for planned orthopedic procedures in Denmark, evaluated patients receiving Total Hip Replacement (THR), Total Knee Replacement (TKR), or surgery in the Lower Back (LBS) in the last quarter of 2019 compared to last quarter of 2020. All patients were offered access to My Treatment™ and a call as a substitution for patient seminars at the hospital. The goal was to keep a high level of specific information to heighten preparedness and empowerment. 

Evaluation of same-day procedures (SDP) from more than 1000 operations.

In 2020, 42 percent of patients receiving THR were SDP compared to 26 percent in 2019.

In 2020, 35 percent of patients receiving TKR were SDP compared to 25 percent in 2019.

In 2020, 59 percent of patients receiving LBS were SDP compared to 37 percent in 2019.

Engagement with My Treatment™ increased from 2019 to 2020 by more than 100% on specific topics.

The adoption of health technology with a radical focus on Health Literacy has been motivated by the ongoing pandemic. If this momentum and the use of health technology to support patients and lower healthcare costs will continue after the pandemic is unknown. More research is needed on the use of health technology with a visual language for healthcare information to lower the cost of surgical procedures.