ICU Storyboards at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital: Connecting Hearts in Critical Care

In the heart of the Wendel 1 intensive care unit (ICU) at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, where the most critical patients receive life-saving care, a new initiative is strengthening connections between patients, families, and healthcare providers.

The ICU storyboards, a project spearheaded by Nurse Manager Tiffany Fick and her nursing team, are transforming how patients’ personal stories are shared in the hospital setting—and it all began with a simple act of love.

In August 2023, a family sitting at the bedside of their intubated loved one approached Nurse Manager Fick with a heartfelt observation. While their loved one was receiving excellent medical care, something important was missing. Unable to speak, they couldn’t express their vibrant personality, share their passions, or communicate the small, meaningful details that made them unique. “They’re more than just a patient,” the family told Fick. “They have a story.”

Inspired by their insight, Fick collaborated with ICU nurses Hannah Bellamy-Toney and Kat Duff, along with the hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), to develop storyboards that would give families a way to share these invaluable details. Supported by PFAC grant funding, the team worked together to design and test the storyboards, ensuring they reflected both the needs of families and the perspectives of ICU staff.

The storyboards are simple yet transformative. They provide a space for families to highlight their loved one’s personality, interests, and milestones—details often absent from medical charts but essential in painting a fuller picture of the person in the bed.

A love of gardening, a passion for music, or even a favorite meal becomes more than just a fun fact; it’s a bridge between the family and the care team, helping caregivers connect on a deeper, more human level.

Since their implementation in September 2024, the storyboards have had a profound impact. Nurses like Bellamy-Toney and Duff have seen firsthand how these personal touches create emotional connections, fostering empathy and understanding even in the most critical moments.

Families feel seen and heard, and the care team is reminded that behind every medical challenge is a person with a life and a story worth knowing.

This initiative is already making a meaningful difference in the ICU. For families, the storyboards allow them to share the rich details of a loved one’s life, helping the care team see beyond the machines and monitors to the person at the center of it all. For the care team, it reinforces the power of compassion and the importance of patient-centered care, even in high-pressure settings.

At Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, the storyboards symbolize more than a process improvement—they represent a commitment to honoring the whole person. By creating a space where human connection and medical care intersect, this initiative embodies the heart of the hospital’s mission: to improve health every day.

The ICU storyboards are a testament to the belief that healthcare isn’t just about treatment; it’s about connection, understanding, and love. It’s a reminder that even in the most critical moments, the human spirit shines brightest when we take the time to truly see one another.