Storytelling is an important part of our culture at Providence; it’s one way we keep our Mission heritage alive and honor the people and communities we serve.
The Providence Institute for Human Caring has launched the Hear Me Now project to record stories of patients, families and caregivers. The focus is whole- person care and gathering personal
Caregiver interviews are conducted in partnership with StoryCorps, a national nonprofit, whose mission is to preserve and share humanity’s stories in order to build connections between people, and create a more just and compassionate world.
Storytelling and listening have proven clinical value for patients and caregivers. They’re also keys to caring for the whole person, addressing emotional, spiritual, and psycho-social comfort, as well as medical needs of the people we serve.
Storytelling can:
- Play a powerful role in relieving stress and building resiliency for our community of caregivers, as well as our patients.
- Relieve some of the psychological distress that comes from providing care
- Find comfort and empowerment in sharing stories with each other
- Reinforce a culture that respects listening and understanding one another
- Improve health knowledge and behaviors because stories are memorable and relatable (The Journal of South Dakota State Medical Association)
- Help medical students change their perceptions and develop a deeper understanding of patients with dementia (Penn State College of Medicine)
- Help patients coping with cancer by offering hope and coping skills from others suffering (Cancer Nursing)
One caregiver from IS & RESO who has participated in this storytelling effort is Randy Crane, analyst for IS Clinical & Revenue Cycle Applications. Beginning his career as a pastor for a small Protestant church, Randy shares in a recording with colleague Scott, how he found meaningful work with Providence – and discovered he can “minister to people without a pulpit.”
“I knew I wanted to work at Providence, I needed to be part of this organization,” Randy shared.
About Hear Me Now productions
- Average length of stories is approximately 5 minutes.
- Available in video format or podcast format.
- A few weeks after the recording session, participating storytellers receive a CD of the interview as a keepsake. With their permission, a copy of the interview will be archived for generations to come at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and with Providence. Some of the recordings will be edited into short segments in the signature StoryCorps style and may be shared on the radio or online.
- If you would like to participate or learn more, please visit the Hear Me Now website or email HearMeNowStories@providence.org.