His cancer was so advanced that speaking more than one or two words at a time was difficult. But he persisted, determined to share his journey within the hour allotted for the in-depth interview (IDI). It was important to him that healthcare professionals know what terminally ill patients need during their final months, weeks, and days.
That study was simultaneously one of the most difficult and most rewarding projects that many of us at The Olinger Group have worked on. We steeled ourselves before the interviews so we could remain professional yet caring while on the video calls. Then later, while documenting our insights from the interviews, we often had to take a deep breath and wipe a tear from our eyes. The faces and comments of the patients who shared their heart-wrenching stories seared into our minds and still affect us on a personal level months later.
The emotion and connection experienced during that research study is one of the underlying reasons for our passion in Health & Wellness. Here at The Olinger Group, we are passionate about helping people live well. We want to help them embrace life, however long and in whatever circumstances that life may be. We want to put our energy into helping companies that help people live a fulfilling life.
Defining Health & Wellness
It is easy to think of Health & Wellness in terms of New Year’s resolutions: move more, eat better, protect your mental health. The truth is, though, that Health & Wellness looks different to different people.
Running a 5K isn’t a goal when you struggle just to breathe.
Trying new recipes isn’t fun when pain medication depletes your appetite.
Priorities change when you face end-of-life challenges.
It was my privilege to be involved in the study I mentioned earlier, and I was touched to the core by what people said. They trusted me and the entire team at The Olinger Group with some of their deepest cares, concerns, and fears.
Their overriding message was profound:
Human connection is needed more than ever when facing entry into an often times dehumanizing healthcare system.
The research interview was like therapy for them. They told us that. We gave them the opportunity and a safe place to talk about things they didn’t want to burden their loved ones with. Things they wish their doctors and healthcare providers knew. Things that can help improve end-of-life care for future patients.
There was a sense that they would not be here long to tell their stories, so they shared them with us. They trusted us to record their faces and voices and words, and then to share those stories with people who could make a difference.
They knew – and wanted others to know – that healthcare needs humanity.
Humanizing research
We put their stories front and center of our report, right where they belonged.
We knew this study would be emotional, but we didn’t realize the lasting impact it would have. We did far more than collect responses. We humanized the research. We showed how research can help people live better lives.
A lasting reminder to us that we are humans first. Then curious. Then researchers.