Video production for the healthcare industry can be a huge challenge.
Whether you're a marketer, an educator, or a product manager (or even a seasoned video production agency ;) ), you know that getting your message out has real impact on real people's health and lives. This stuff is more important than just creating hype for the next big NFT drop!
Of course you want to distribute your healthcare video to as much of your target audience as possible. But the standards for your healthcare video content are higher than for regular run-of-the-mill explainer videos. You have ethical and legal obligations to your potential clients and users. Misrepresenting your solution could land you behind bars - or even worse when you get to the pearly gates.
Unfortunately, we can't help you too much with the legal aspects of your video.
But we have been creating videos since 2007, so we know a thing or two about what makes a great healthcare video. We’ll talk more about that in a bit, but for right now, here’s what you can expect from this post:
- 74 examples of videos with breakdowns on what's working or not
- Best practices for making healthcare videos
- Common use cases for video in the healthcare industry
- Quick tips on how to produce your own video
You can start by jumping around through the examples - these are just about inspiration after all.
However if you want the rest of the content, just keep scrolling down to the bottom of the page.
The List: 75 Examples of Healthcare Videos
These are in here for a variety of reasons: aesthetic, logical, emotional. Some of them tell great stories. When it comes to inspiration you’re usually searching for it because you’re in a rut.
What we want to do here is stretch your imagination of what’s possible. You can use a lot of these scripts as formulas, a spring board for your own brands ideas.
Beautiful short style promotional video. Leads with a strong fact to maximize both the brand position and awareness. Packs in a lot for under 15 seconds and is a great example for social media posts.
On a budget? This video delivers. No voiceover but the on screen text tells a story. This is a great creative starting point for inspiration. Remember that having something meaningful to say is 90% of making amazing content.
Great example of story-telling. This video really sets the scene, builds character, and uses the narrator's voice perfectly. Lots of ideas here on how to position your own product.
Corporate tone. Neutral. Safer. Some smooth transitions and animations. This video does a great job of capturing the B2B marketing tone. Also blowing out the problem to include the entire healthcare payment ecosystem.
This video is metaphorical in nature. Instead of literal representations, it combines emotional voiceover with visuals which only make sense in their entirety - this keeps us guessing, watching and wanting more. Very smart use of anticipation.
Humor. This is a perfect example of how to appropriately use it. Not too much but enough to keep the viewer grinning. The style is also very minimalist in both illustration and animation but lends itself extremely well to the style.
Abstract approach. This is good for other reasons than being clean/functional - it’s important to be aware of this kind of design. Some brands can pull it off extremely well, however it can also be complex/clunky if the timing of the animation is off.
Again, emotion plays a huge role in your video. Listen to the music coupled with the voiceover - it starts to make a very strong impression quickly. Aside from that, the colors are inviting, warm and full - with little on screen it feels complete.
Simple iconography style. This shows what is possible with an explainer video that looks great without character animation. You can get your point across in a visually engaging way.
Extremely aesthetic 3D. The idea is superb - both in design and function. Easy to read message that is effective in a short 10 second video.
How does FedEx appeal to the healthcare market? This is the answer. Beautiful 3D work both in concept and execution. One of the best ever made without a doubt. The takeaway here is the story-telling, connecting service to customer experience.
Healthcare is serious - tapping into that emotion is essential. It's about bringing the stories and people behind the products/messaging to life. This is what the biggest brands do.
Mix of different stock footage all in one mashup. This can work for general branding but it's hard to keep the aesthetic consistent. However something is often infinitely better than nothing - so edits like this can do the trick.
Exciting. Both the message and shots/edits are quick, dynamic, and to the point. This video captures a hitting the ground running feeling. Lots of drive in it.
Who says 15 seconds isn't enough? Here's another example of how short n' sweet you can make your content. The set up and release are both key here.
Excellent product demo. Right from the beginning to end the focus is on the model - shown in its physical form. Great mix of photos and live action footage. Outstanding educational healthcare video.
This is a stock video but the sound design brings it to life - makes it feel more cohesive. It’s also a good example again of how the different styles of stock imagery can create a visually dissonant effect on the final product.
Explainer style video. Focused on explaining exactly what the prospect can expect. Here we see the style is simpler and we're focusing more on the high-level elevator pitch.
Simple style video. Line drawing can simplify the character animation and make it possible to use stick figure style people in the video. The cute little quirks in the animation add a lot to the overall appeal.
Strong story-telling with smooth animations. This really shows how immersive an animated video can be when properly planned out. This video isn't necessarily the most complex, but it’s extremely well put together.
Fast-paced visual narrative that supports the voiceover. This video feels serious, immediate, and heavy in nature. It's getting a point across very effectively - great tone and voiceover delivery.
Keep it exciting. Healthcare can be super technical and weighed down in details. Here even a longer video ends up being engaging - you need to know what the 'sauce' is in your story and make sure the editor brings it to the front.
From sound design to concept to execution, this video captures something special. A feeling which is both engaging and informative in nature. One of our favorite videos, both from the direction of photography and edit of shots.
3D has to be done right - it cannot look cheap. Here's a few examples of 3D medical modelling done right. You will have to evaluate whether or not high-resolution modelling is an option with the budget you have. Align your expectations accordingly.
A fresh perspective on isometric medical design. You can get an idea of how to combine it to create medical environments. This style is great for setting scale due to its uniformity.
Uplifting. Airy. Captures a more inspirational kind of tone - both from music to voice selection. This video creates a strong feeling of 'we can get it done together'.
3D medical animations are our favorite. It’s true science fiction. The bacteria, amoebas, and all the other weird stuff that we don’t usually see! Here's another one of our favorite studios. You can see the quality and attention to detail for yourself.
Medical aesthetic here. Lots for you to draw inspiration from. This introduction/main-titles ended up winning quite a few awards. Study it!
Simpler illustration and animation style - however fast paced story and editing. Perfect example of how important it is to have a concept. Give your video a direction: fast, snappy vs long, drawn out, etc.
‘From the heart’ kind of feeling. The transitions here are so simple and clear they help drive the story and fluidity of how it unfolds.
Another demo reel full of medical examples. The best ideas often come from seeing the tried and tested. So take the time to see what other people have done - it will be easier to guide your own efforts.
Line drawing medical video. This is funky, easy to understand and quick. Quick is important since attention spans are so short nowadays. For a 30 second video this gets our vote of confidence.
More medical 3D animations. If you find some that you like - put them into your swipe file. Whenever you need to reference 'those' types, pull them up and show your creative artists. They will love you for this.
Children's storytelling is hard with medical subjects. Here's an example of it done in a fresh and engaging way - when people ask what is creativity it's best to point them towards examples such as these.
Here's a simple, short and to the point 'how it works' explainer type video. Love it. The tone, voice and music really come together perfectly.
Story-telling can take you further than any other technique. This video is simple visually but rich in story. This is how you can make your production budget and value go the furthest.
Non-english video but beautiful character animation. Watch this to know what's possible by having the characters tell the story. Only a more talented animator can make characters come to life - otherwise motion graphics will have a powerpoint finish to them.
Light-hearted and positive. This is for pets, however some solid ideas on how to position a more 'everything's going to be alright' type of video.
Another example of a medical explainer video done right - from art direction, to animation, to overall sound/experience. Highly suggested inspiration piece.
Within 30 seconds, the whole concept of the app has been explained. This is the power of using video. You can shoot between scenes, people and get across a concept MUCH faster than writing it out.
How about using cut-outs in a 3D fashion? That's what we did. Here's one of our own 3D videos for SureScripts. This neutral aesthetic is both safe and anonymous - making it good for representing healthcare scenarios.
Another 3D product demo. This isn't the highest quality, but serves as a good example for the bare minimum required. Even with a decent 3D render and simple animation you can explain your product much more easily.
The way B-roll footage is used here while the main actor narrates. This gives you time to really show their face WHEN you and the editor want it. Suggest watching the editing on this beautiful piece.
Isometric medical videos are in. They make sense. Neat, organized, easy to follow... These are things which lend themselves well to the medical profession. Will say this over and over again - a great option.
Quick edits. Ambiguous. The further we get into the video the more intense it gets. This is dragging us into it immediately - our attention is completely taken.
High-level message (what we do/why do we exist) while creating a human connection. You are meeting the speaker, seeing the facility, understanding the 'behind the scenes' - without any of it explicitly being stated.
You can get this kind of animation style done on Upwork or Fiverr. It's a more classic style, which some people still prefer. However, it does not scream B2B or tech, so stay away if you're in these niches.
Fast build up of the problem. Clear delivery of the solution. Good template here for a problem and solution type of video. You can swap it out to fit your specific niche.
Great build out of the problem. Instead of dropping it all at once - the narration first gets nostalgic and afterwards moves into a series of 'head nods'. If you're struggling with framing the problem watch this.
Medical explainer aimed at doctors. Straight shooting, right to the point. The SFX do an amazing job of complementing the overall video flow and narration. Just a few of the many reasons to love this video.
Remarkable piece from a great series of ads. Again - emotional, connecting service/product to human. One thing that really needs to be said: the colour correcting is incredible. Coldish blue, human, feels frail, real, truly a piece of art this ad.
Explains an entire procedure. All though not the most beautiful - the detail and elaborate presentation is worth paying attention to. Note this is not here for aesthetics.
Scientific videos like this are remarkable in their simplicity - approaching such a broad topic and breaking it down. There's levels of information simplification to be observed here.
How to structure a medical video - even though it lacks presentation the content is solid. You will understand how the defibrillator works after watching this!
Immediately we connect emotionally with the voice before we know the story. That's the power of editing/feeling/picking the right mood and shots. The more of the visuals you can organize in your mind, the less time you will spend editing.
Thought leader style interview. A bit of B-roll thrown in with the focus on the speaker. Great for the classic style of online video.
Here's a stop motion video. One of the few on this list. The initial shot (rolling hills) is especially beautiful. This kind of production is usually harder to pull off. Not suggested for most people.
Keep it simple. This is one camera, one shot, one person and a few edits. The amount of value it delivers is huge - hundreds of thousands of people have seen this video.
Nonchalant approach to storytelling. Almost as if you're discovering by accident, not directly. A little bit passive. Keeps the story interesting in how it unravels in front of our eyes.
The mix of live action, editing and motion graphics here makes it super modern and dynamic. This is one of our favorite videos in terms of shapes/feelings/animation. Definitely a big inspiration piece.
Voiceover artist is perfectly chosen. If you listen you can hear what a difference it makes to the message delivery. The aesthetic is lovely as well - recommending this video for additional review.
Trendy B2C healthcare video. Fun, engaging and gets right to the point. Combination of motion graphics, screencast and animation - this is a bit harder to pull off but has a lot of visual power.
Typography mixed with a bit of animation and some photographs can go far. Here's an example of an explainer video that doesn't have a high production value but still delivers.
Mixing multiple people into one narrative is tough. Here's a video where it's done extremely well.
Classic corporate style medical video. Often due to the regulations of the niche, a neutral tone is appropriate. Here's another example for you to chew on.
Not the most beautiful 3D modelling. However a great video overall, especially in terms of an 'how to' explanation and showing the user what to expect. You don't need to get caught up on aesthetics all the time.
Over the shoulder documentary style. This makes the viewer feel as if they are part of the experience - almost there.
Here's 3D in a modern style. It doesn't always have to be cells - sometimes it can be just lush colors and textures.
Smooth character animation mixed with live action. This is a medical app demo mixed with screencast. It's showing us how to use the product and a use case at the same time. Smart marketing promotion.
Clever video. Top down, live action shots. Dynamic. Fresh. Captures the idea of innovation. Watch it a few times and it will delight you - very fun. Not applicable to all niches, but mentally stimulating for all.
Very unique style. Hard to pinpoint and re-create. Almost the kind of thing you would see on TV with a documentary or VICE TV series. Can be an interesting starting point for any brand looking to develop content.
Public service announcements for health. Smooth all around. Even though it's a heavy subject sometimes the best approach is keeping it a bit more light-hearted.
Phew - quite the list. Let us know if there's any great healthcare videos we're missing out on. Explainer videos, 3D animations, whiteboards - well done they can all make an impact!
And now, *drumroll* for the content.
Best practices for producing healthcare videos
The best healthcare videos are emotional.
A trend in making this list is that the best videos hit your heart strings - and they do it fast. This can be a combination of voiceover, tone, wording, music, sound effects, ambience, visuals, or all of the above (preferably).
However it’s done, the idea is simple: where’s the emotion? Is it a startling fact? Is it in capturing the viewers attention with a question that grabs them by surprise?
As you watch through the list, you will notice that some are distinctly emotional. Take a moment and reflect about what it is and why it is that they make you feel something.
How long should your video be?
First, let’s examine the data. It’s not specific to the medical niche but it’s what we have to work with as there is no research done within healthcare.
According to Wistia research what we do know though is that videos should fit within two categories of time. These are:
- Under 90-120s - shorter/punchy
- Around 6-12 minutes - more educational/informational
This works fine as a rule-of-thumb. However, things get more complex:
Length is also influenced by the complexity of the call to action.
For example, you may require:
- 15 seconds to ask for an email in exchange to win a free iPhone
- 1 - 2 mins to get someone to visit your website
- 60 minutes to explain a mortgage opportunity
It takes more time to make a bigger sale. This is normal. So if you are selling a high-ticket item, it’s normal your presentation or video will be longer.
A better rule of thumb is to stay relevant. Segment content where possible (think about chapters or customer journey experiences). And of course, measure EACH piece of content to determine drop-off points. Optimize over time.
Measure to make healthcare videos that are effective
The topic is broad but important to mention - the best campaigns are measurable. Don’t just get a video and expect results. Think about where your video can be successful:
- Is there a topic that needs to be explained over and over again, wasting lots of company time?
- Are sales agents struggling with qualifying prospects?
- Perhaps the website is leading to a lot of poor quality leads?
- Tradeshow could benefit from additional exposure?
- Are there keywords that you can rank for in YouTube or Google?
- Social media with some paid advertising?
Afterwards define your goal and KPIs. Track via analytics - either on platform, or onsite using a third party tool such as Wistia, Vimeo or Vidyard.
Pick the right format for your message, tone, and budget
Whiteboard videos
Not only are these videos more cost-effective to produce, but they have an aesthetic which fits the brainstorm/doctor notes scribbles we associate with the medical industry.
The key here is to simplify the messaging and make it easy to take in. Chunking is key - start with a hierarchy of information.
Animated explainer videos
These are usually the most effective at explaining products, services, or processes. The nearly infinite visual possibilities combined with a well-written script can be used to explain even the most complex ideas.
3D modelling videos
This is usually the best way to show medical procedures and anatomical structures. These can even be better than actual filming since you can control the level of detail while eliminating distractions and obstructions in the outside environment.
Live action videos
This style is hands down the best for stories and emotions. Use it to share your brand story and it's impact to truly connect. Nothing can emulate the authenticity of real faces, real emotions, and genuine stories.
Healthcare, Video & SEO
Thinking about ranking your content in search engines?
Whether Google, YouTube, Bing, there’s always an underlying question at the bottom of any healthcare search. The reason search drives 3x more visitors is simple.
Users feel bad. Bad means asking: is this serious? Who do you ask?
That’s right - type away into Google. In fact, it’s primarily conditions and symptoms that are searched for. What your patients are really searching for is answers to their questions.
Provide those answers. Create content which answers common questions in your niche. Put it out in a video, an infographic or on your blog. Focusing on the high urgency topics your patients need answers for is the best move forward.
What are the use cases?
How will you use them? Although the goal here is to inspire you, let’s talk about the utility of video within a healthcare organization.
It’s important to have a general understanding of what’s possible.
Below we’re going to detail some purposes that are commonly used. Where possible, we’ve linked to our clients so you can see some of our work across the different content types.
- Explain it: To anyone/everyone. What’s the elevator pitch? Even world class ideas need one. Look at this molecular biology company - proof anything can be interesting.
- Mode-of-action product videos: Companies are creating patient education platforms around optimizing the doctor and patient experience.
- To-consumer: How to use content from products/devices.
- To-patient: Specific on topic, health in general, recovery/treatment options.
- Awareness: Doing short 15s campaigns on Linkedin or Facebook for example. These can be quick messages.
- Software onboarding: Just getting the initial buy-in from overworked hospital management and care teams for new software and management technologies is a challenge. And just because they're bought in, it doesn't mean they'll have the time and skills to start implementing it. Creating a quick explainer video with some product training videos can get your healthcare teams bought-in and using the new technology faster and more effectively. It sure beats the old way of giving a powerpoint presentation with a thick user manual.
Producing medical thought-leadership video content at home
A lot of the best content in the medical niche is healthcare podcasts. Doctors talking with doctors, sharing insights. So if you can set up a decent microphone and camera - start producing content answering specific questions and building an audience.
- Remember that audio is a HUGE part of your experience. Think about getting a professional microphone, either USB or with a sound interface.
- Keep your camera eye level.
- Lighting is key. No backlighting unless you are professional - try to have it coming in front of you.
- You can do multiple takes and edit out pauses/mispronunciations. The important thing is to have a sense of what you’re going to say before saying it.
- Post-production editing can completely change a video. Have some bumpers, small motion graphics, typography - these kinds of things can go a long way.
- Consider doing screen-cast presentations with your camera for customers or internal stakeholders.
The relationship between video, healthcare, and sales
The evolution of B2B marketing means we’ll be seeing more video. This allows agents to prequalify their leads, while giving control to the buyer in controlling their purchase experience.
This is part of a bigger shift towards customer-centricity. This is true within B2B sales - but it’s also a reflection of healthcare at the user/doctor level.
Every year we’re seeing more healthcare organizations adopt a patient-centred approach. It’s about making it easier for the users. With this trend, we’ll continue to see more videos created to help drive adoption.
Healthcare videos and sales enablement
With complex topics that require a lot of learning some companies are using learning management systems and video to create learning experiences.
By incorporating a platform such as MindTickle with company content and information, you can now scale hundreds of reps at scale. Instead of having information centralized, it’s everywhere at once - trackable and progress is measurable.
This is one of the recent innovations within the video industry with training in healthcare. The cost of video is significantly less than flying in the top trainers. This puts less stress on human capital, and allows training at scale.
All of this combined with the very specific product information which benefits from in-depth testing, it’s no secret that video use is exploding for training within healthcare.
Boring is a choice
Your video can be exciting if you choose to let it. Healthcare is a niche full of stories, surprises and emotion. It’s up to the video producer or creator to find it and bring it to the forefront.
Yes, it is possible to have a dressed up PowerPoint. But no, as you will see in the list, the best videos are those that go BEYOND just the facts and hit us on our more… human side.
Grab a notepad, pour a coffee, and take some time to study this list of inspirational videos. These are 75 of the best healthcare videos we could find.
Tell us what you think
Our goal was to get you inspired and started with your video. Check out the links to see more information on different topics. If you think we missed any links - feel free to share them.
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