--- title: "Health Data Storytelling" url: https://healthdatastorytelling.com/ description: "Health Data Storytelling is a resource for health organizations to harness the power of storytelling and bring data to life. Home of From Numbers to Narrative by." published: 2019-12-12 updated: 2019-12-12 --- # Health Data Storytelling Published 2019-12-12 ## From Numbers to Narrative A practical guide to bringing health data to life through storytelling This resource is for health organizations that want to publish reports, data or insights to harness the power of storytelling and bring data to life. Drawing from journalism techniques and research on psychology, sociology and science communication, *From Numbers to Narrative* walks you step by step through the process of crafting high-impact, data-driven health reports and insights. You can use this guide to: - Improve existing reporting - Start a new report - Present data that was historically just a regular report in story format - Tackle a complex health data topic you need to communicate [Read From Numbers to Narrative](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/) ## Current reading [01**QuickReply.ai vs Com.bot for WhatsApp Catalog Tools in Online Stores 2026**Oct 06, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/quickreply-ai-vs-com-bot-for-whatsapp-catalog-tools-in-online-stores-2026/) [02**Top Medical Billing Companies in Los Angeles**Sep 14, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/medical-billing-companies-in-los-angeles/) [03**Is Tasks.Bot Good for Real Time Reporting Automation? An Honest Review**Sep 11, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/is-tasks-bot-good-for-real-time-reporting-automation-an-honest-review/) [04**How Customer Support Teams Should Evaluate WhatsApp Business API Platforms for Enterprise Security**Aug 22, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/how-customer-support-teams-should-evaluate-whatsapp-business-api-platforms-for-enterprise-security/) [05**Who's the Best for Vendor-Neutral Archives: PostDICOM vs Medicai**Aug 08, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/who-s-the-best-for-vendor-neutral-archives-postdicom-vs-medicai/) [06**Why Is Medicai the Best for Diagnostic Viewing Speed?**Aug 05, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/why-is-medicai-the-best-for-diagnostic-viewing-speed/) [07**Top 3 Alternatives of Midi Health for Personalized Treatment Plans**Aug 01, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/top-3-alternatives-of-midi-health-for-personalized-treatment-plans/) [08**8 WhatsApp Bulk Message Sender Platforms With Team Collaboration Features**Jul 31, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/8-whatsapp-bulk-message-sender-platforms-with-team-collaboration-features/) [09**Top 7 Alternatives of PICOM365**Jul 29, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/top-7-alternatives-of-picom365/) More [10**Top 9 Alternatives of Fujifilm for Zero-Footprint Diagnostic Viewing**Jul 26, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/top-9-alternatives-of-fujifilm-for-zero-footprint-diagnostic-viewing/) [11**Top 7 Alternatives of Hims**Jul 23, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/top-7-alternatives-of-hims/) [12**Why Is JoinJosie the Best for All-inclusive Plans Starting at $99/month?**Jul 22, 2026](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/why-is-joinjosie-the-best-for-all-inclusive-plans-starting-at-99-month/) ## The 7-Step Process for Telling a Story with Health Data 1. [1](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-1) [Defining your report strategy and goals](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-1) Articulate why you are producing the report, and set goals and outcomes that align with your organization and your main audience. 2. [2](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-2) [Selecting data and generating insights](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-2) Identify and access the data sets you need, then use the question-based method to structure the insights you generate from them. 3. [3](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-3) [Conducting user research](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-3) Define your audience and objectives, gather user perspectives, develop personas and test what you create with real readers. 4. [4](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-4) [Building a storyline](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-4) Make your headline a key finding, mind how the text flows, make the data about people, introduce a plot twist, chunk your text and use pull quotes. 5. [5](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-5) [Writing a lived-experience story](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-5) Behind all health data there are stories about people. Learn the anatomy of a patient story, how to select one, and seven practices for gathering them. 6. [6](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-6) [Designing your report](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-6) Present insights and data visualization simply, and design the report itself digital-first rather than print-first. 7. [7](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-7) [Publishing and socializing your report](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/#step-7) Weigh print, PDF and digital publication, then promote the report to the audiences you built it for and measure its reach. ## Blog Take a look at our blog for more information on data, analytics, and storytelling. - [Test blog post](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/2019/12/12/test-blog-post/) Posted by [christianotte](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/author/christianotte/) · December 12, 2019 · [Uncategorized](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/category/uncategorized/) [View the blog](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/blog/) One small step toward a narrative approach is a giant leap for health data impact. ## About this guide *From Numbers to Narrative* was written by Christian Otte and Michal Kapral and published on this site in 2019 and 2020. It covers the power of storytelling, what storytelling with data means, the seven-step process for telling a story with health data, writing lived-experience stories, designing a report, publishing and socializing it, and closes with a seven-entry reference list. Health Data Storytelling is an independent, author-published resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for any government agency, health authority, hospital, university or certifying body. ## Read and share - [From Numbers to Narrative](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/numbers-to-narrative-guide/)The full guide, from the power of storytelling through to publishing your report. - [Blog](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/blog/)Posts on data, analytics, and storytelling. - [Christian Otte](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/author/christianotte/)Posts by christianotte on Health Data Storytelling. - [Uncategorized](https://healthdatastorytelling.com/category/uncategorized/)Posts filed under Uncategorized.