As the largest not-for-profit healthcare provider in the Maryland/Washington, D.C. region, MedStar Health is deeply rooted in the communities it serves. The organization works closely with local partners to provide education and wellness programs that help community members take control of their health. These programs are highlighted each year in MedStar’s Report to the Community, and Orange Element was tapped to write feature articles and design infographics for the 2018 and 2019 issues.

Many of MedStar’s programs featured in the Report are aimed at helping communities adversely impacted by disease, health disparities and socioeconomic barriers. The challenge was finding a way to present the Report so that it appeals to all community members and encourages them to seek more information about the programs available in their neighborhoods.

We knew we had to do more than just write articles about health programs. To make these articles truly appeal to the audience, we had to tell stories that community members can relate to. That meant conducting one-on-one interviews with patients, caregivers and community partners to see the results of the programs firsthand. That allowed us to write the articles from a more personal perspective — with compelling stories from the patients themselves about how they’re achieving better health through MedStar’s programs. We also created simple, reader-friendly infographics to call out important facts and statistics.

Through personal storytelling, inviting graphics and an overall community-focused approach, MedStar Health’s annual Report to the Community not only highlights the important work the organization does to improve community health, it also helps citizens learn more about life-saving resources available right in their backyards.

View the 2019 Report