WATCH: Living with your ICD -- Speaking Frankly

If you are a manufacturer of ICDs, or a hospital, and you must make a video to educate your patients, use real people.

This Boston Scientific video is an example of how it can be tastefully done. The nurse featured here is actually a real nurse. Most importantly, she doesn’t dumb down the message or speaks in a patronizing tone. She speaks frankly and explains it clearly.

There’s no talk of “magic wands” or “guardian angels on our shoulders”.

Watch and compare it with “Living with your ICD -- The ‘Magic Wand’”

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WATCH: Living with your ICD -- The "Space Program"

More from Dr. “Patronizing” in this manufacturer’s video of a mock support group for implantable defibrillator (ICD) patients.

In this clip, the doctor explains what happens during a follow up visit to interrogate the device.

He explains:

“Now, borrowing technology from the space program, called bidirectional telemetry, device settings can even be adjusted by the programmer.”

Whoa! slow down... doc! We're having a hard time following!

Watch.

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WATCH: Living with your ICD -- The "Magic Wand"

I recently attended a local ICD support group meeting in which a device manufacturer was invited to participate. They opened their talk with a 30-minute video of a mock support group in which ICD patients were played by a host of actors so bad that even this gig seemed beyond their acting abilities.

According to its description, the video was “taped in the friendly setting of an ICD support group” and included “easy-to-understand answers.”

Gee, I am so glad they dumbed it down for us patients.

In this 20 sec clip, a “patient” raises his hand and asks the doctor “what happens during these follow up sessions?" The patient is referring to the follow-up visits when the device gets interrogated.

The doctor then explains it in the most condescending tone possible:

“Well, we use a sort of ‘magic’ wand that we hold over the ICD implant spot. This… ‘wand’ is about the size and shape of a normal remote control device…”

Thank God for magic! Watch.

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