How to Make Interactive Doctor Q&A Videos for Your Hospital Website and Social Media

In the modern digital era, patients are accessing healthcare information online more than ever. This is a golden opportunity for hospitals to engage audiences with interesting, reliable content. One of the best ways to achieve this is by creating Doctor Q&A videos.

These videos personify your healthcare professionals, answer patient questions, and place your hospital on solid footing as a trusted resource—all while increasing your website and social media visibility. Follow these step-by-step tips to produce Doctor Q&A videos that engage and enlighten you.

1. Get to Know Your Audience and Their Questions

The backbone of any quality Q&A video is relevance. Begin by knowing who your audience is—new parents, elderly, those with chronic illnesses, or the general public—and what they are interested in learning. Utilise resources such as patient surveys, your hospital call centre’s feedback, or social media polls to collect actual questions.

Such as, “What can I expect for knee replacement recovery?” or “How do I naturally improve my immune system?”

You can also analyze trending health topics on platforms like Google Trends or X to see what’s on people’s minds. The goal is to address real pain points, making your videos useful and shareable.

2. Select the Right Doctors

Not all doctors are natural on camera, and that’s a fact. Select doctors who know their stuff, are friendly, and comfortable talking. Opt for those who have a pleasant bedside manner and can describe esoteric information in plain language. A child specialist who is a storyteller or one who can demystify heart health facts can be the star of your videos.

Feature your doctors briefly at the beginning of each video—name, speciality, and something fun (e.g., “Dr Patel enjoys hiking with her dog”)—to develop a personal rapport with viewers. Mix up different doctors throughout videos to highlight your hospital’s diversity of expertise.

3. Create a Conversational Script

Where possible, spontaneity is crucial to maintaining a natural Q&A, but the looseness of a script still helps with flow and clarity. Steer away from too-technical language or formal, read-from-a-sheet delivery.

Instead, have a set of questions and main talking points prepared to be covered naturally by the doctor. For example:

Question: “Why am I so tired all the time?”

Talking Points: Refer to common reasons (stress, poor sleep, diet), recommend a check-up, and emphasize your hospital’s diagnostic capabilities.

Urge physicians to talk as if they are conversing with a patient in the exam room. A friendly tone establishes trust and holds viewers interested.

4. Maintain Production Simple but Professional

You don’t need a Hollywood budget to create compelling Q&A videos. Use a clean, well-lit setting, such as a doctor’s office or a quiet corner of your hospital with branded signage in the background. Invest in a decent microphone (clip-on lapel mics work wonders) and a smartphone or camera with good resolution.

Shoot in brief clips—2 to 5 minutes per video—to be mindful of audiences’ attention spans. Edit sparingly to remove awkward breaks or stumbles but maintain a spontaneous feel. iMovie, Adobe Premiere Rush, or even Canva’s video editor are easy-to-use software for newbies.

5. Get It Visually Interesting

Static “talking head” videos lose viewers quickly. Introduce straightforward visuals to keep it engaging:

Overlay text with important takeaways (e.g., “Tip: Get 7-8 hours of sleep!”).

Add B-roll shots, such as a doctor checking a chart or a patient working out (with permission, naturally).

Use gentle animations to emphasize stats, such as “1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep.”

For social media, include captions—85% of Facebook users view videos without sound. Software like Rev.com or auto-caption capabilities on sites like YouTube can make this easier.

6. Optimize for Platforms

Customize your videos to where they’ll reside. On your hospital’s website, insert longer Q&As (3-5 minutes) on pertinent service pages—such as a “What is chemotherapy like?” video on your oncology page.

On social media, make bite-sized clips (30-60 seconds) to entice viewers and point to the complete video. Vertical formats (9:16) are optimal for Instagram Stories or TikTok, whereas square (1:1) or horizontal (16:9) works for Facebook and X.

Use platform-specific hashtags (#HealthTips, #AskADoctor) and a clear call-to-action: “Have more questions? Book an appointment at [link]!”

7. Promote Patient Interaction

Encourage engagement by asking viewers to submit their own questions for future videos. Run a “Q&A Friday” series where you answer one user-submitted question weekly. Reply to comments on social media to keep the conversation going—patients love knowing a real person (or doctor!) is listening.

8. Measure Success and Iterate

Monitor metrics to find out what works. On your site, watch video views, time on the page, and click-throughs to appointment bookings. On social media, watch likes, shares, and comments. If a video on “Managing Diabetes at Home” receives three times the engagement of others, go with similar topics. Apply these learnings to hone your approach over time.

9. Remain Compliant and Credible

Healthcare content requires accuracy and regulatory compliance. Have your compliance or legal team audit videos to verify they are compliant with HIPAA and advertising law. Refrain from making blanket guarantees (e.g., “This will cure you”) and remain evidence-based in your advice. Transparency—such as stating when a question requires a doctor visit—enhances credibility.

Bonus Tips for Standout Videos

Add Humor (Briefly): A humorous aside, such as a doctor teasing about their coffee habit, makes the video worth remembering.

Seasonal Tie-Ins: Align videos with timely events—flu season advice in the fall or heart health tips in February (Heart Month).

Partner Up: Have a doctor share a question-and-answer session with a nurse or patient (with permission) for a friendly, two-perspective Q&A.

Final Thoughts

Doctor Q&A videos are a potent tool to inform, engage, and build trust with your audience. With an emphasis on actual questions, down-to-earth doctors, and uncomplicated production, your hospital can make content not only informative but also fortify your online presence. Begin small—make one video, try it out on your website and social media, and scale up from there. Your patients are waiting to hear from you!