3 Sample Patient Experience Journeys to Recreate

By: Ryan Clancy - Guest Contributor on June 14, 2022

Patient experience journeys are important to understand for any healthcare professional looking to improve patient care. By recreating different patient experiences, professionals can get a better idea of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to providing care.

By understanding the various paths that patients might take, clinicians can tailor their treatments and support accordingly.

Below, we’ll explore patient journeys, how to create one, and give you three sample patient journeys that you can recreate based on real-world data.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

What is a patient experience journey?

A patient experience journey is the process that a patient goes through as they receive treatment for their condition. This can include everything from their initial consultation with a healthcare provider to any tests or procedures they may undergo to their follow-up care.

The goal of mapping out a patient journey is to get a better understanding of the experience from the patient’s perspective. This can help identify areas where the process can be improved and can ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients.

There are many different ways to map out a patient journey:

  • One common method is to use a flowchart, which can help to visualize the different steps involved.

  • Another approach is to create a timeline, which can show how long each step takes.

No matter what method is used, it’s important to involve patients in the process so that their voices can be heard. After all, they are the ones who are going through the journey, and they have valuable insights that can help make the process better for everyone involved.

How to create a patient journey map

A patient journey map is a tool that can be used to visualize and understand the experiences and touchpoints of a patient as they move through the healthcare system. It can highlight areas in need of improvement in order to optimize the patient experience.

Here are the steps to take to create a patient journey map:

  1. Understand the current state of the patient experience. This can be done through interviews, surveys, and other research methods.

  2. Define what an ideal patient experience would look like. This can be done by creating user personas and mapping out their ideal journey.

  3. Compare the ideal experience to the current experience. This will help you identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.

  4. Create a prototype of the ideal patient experience. Create a mock-up of the patient journey or use simulation software.

  5. Test the prototype with real patients. Use this step to gather feedback and further refine the design.

Sample patient experience journeys

There are many different types of patient experience journeys, but they all share some common elements. First, each journey is tailored to meet the specific needs of the patient. Second, each journey includes a variety of activities that are designed to help the patient reach their goals. And finally, each journey is monitored and evaluated so the provider can adjust the plan as needed.

To help you better understand how this process would play out in real life, we’ll use recreational therapists as an example. Some examples of patient experience journeys that recreational therapists might use include:

Example Patient Experience Journeys

  • A cancer patient who wants to regain their strength and energy after treatment might be prescribed a course of physical therapy and occupational therapy, followed by a series of outings to gradually increase their activity level.

  • A stroke patient who is working on regaining their mobility might start with simple exercises at home, then progress to longer walks or wheelchair outings in the community.

  • A patient with a traumatic brain injury who is working on cognitive rehabilitation might start with one-on-one therapy sessions, then progress to group therapy and/or cognitive training exercises.

No matter what the goal of the patient experience journey is, the aim is always to help the patient reach their maximum potential.

Journey mapping is essential for understanding your patients

Patient journey mapping is a powerful way to understand your customers and their needs. By recreating sample patient experience journeys, you can get a better idea of how to design your own customer experience maps.

Understanding the patient experience is essential for your medical practice. Check out these articles to learn more: