Today’s environment is incredibly challenging for healthcare leaders, as the pressures and changes brought by COVID-19 have impacted the way they plan and implement marketing/communications within their organizations. Many have been asked to “do more with less,” but what does this mean? And how can organizations prepare for a post-COVID future rife with unknowns? Jenny Read More
“In 2019, Optum’s medical algorithms were flagged for underestimating the needs of the sickest Black patients in its system,” writes Ndome Yvonne Essoka. “Hospitals and insurers all over the country use these algorithms daily to make healthcare decisions for hundreds of millions of Americans in the U.S. each year. The error highlighted flaws within healthcare Read More
When Adventist HealthCare, a three-hospital system based in Gaithersburg, Maryland deployed a chatbot on its website in late 2018, it did so to connect with two distinct audiences. First, it asked the chatbot to give moms-to-be answers to their pregnancy and childbirth-related questions. Next, Adventist used the chatbot to provide customer support for the August Read More
COVID-19 brought about the explosion of telemedicine for obvious reasons — quick and convenient access between patient and provider, maintaining patient load to prevent appointment cancellations, and — most important — safety for both patients and providers. “Why would I want to go to a doctor’s office now if I don’t have to?” is today’s Read More
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced hospitals and health systems to quickly adopt new technology that has changed how Americans receive healthcare. One change has been a dramatic increase in the adoption of telehealth, says Dave Wieneke, healthcare innovation leader at PK, an international experience engineering firm. One large telehealth provider, Wieneke says, talked of experiencing Read More
In Part I of a special two-article series for eHST, Dan Dunlop and Jared Johnson discussed a phased approach to marketing during the peak of the crisis and a plan for coming out of it. In Part II of the series, they discuss some of the new opportunities that are emerging during a time of Read More
If you’ve ever used Microsoft Office, you’re familiar with the ribbon — the horizontal toolbar at the top of the document loaded with icons that make it easy for users to change things like fonts, formatting, colors, layouts, and alignment with a single click. Now take that same concept and drop it into the electronic Read More
“It’s hard to believe we’re only seven months into 2020, which has brought us enough twists and turns to last a decade,” says Andy Gradel, director of digital marketing for Wolters Kluwer, Health. “From a global pandemic and coast-to-coast protests over police practices to a presidential impeachment and even murder hornets, the 24-hour news cycle Read More
“More than ever, today’s consumers are conducting research online before making healthcare decisions,” says Andrew Rainey of Binary Fountain. “Organizations need to work harder — and smarter — to provide exceptional patient experiences reflected in their brand’s online reputation, to ensure that patients choose them for their healthcare needs.” Here’s an excerpt from Rainey’s new Read More
COVID-19 has challenged the American health system. As the disease spread across the country infecting more than a million people, hospitals jumped into action to save lives and minimize the virus’ spread. Part of that lifesaving care has been happening outside of the hospital grounds — it’s happening in the homes of the marketing and Read More
Hitting the pause button on elective procedures has resulted in deep financial losses across all U.S. health systems, and they now face immense pressure to recover financially, as quickly as possible. In Ohio, nonessential elective procedures stopped on March 18 and didn’t reopen until May 1. Even now, only elective procedures that do not require Read More
The COVID-19 pandemic brought health system leaders a myriad of brand-new questions, and precious little time to find solutions. How can we effectively triage COVID-19 patients? How can we predict COVID-19’s impact on our health system going forward? How can we estimate our capacity for elective surgeries and other vital services when the time comes? Read More
If there’s a silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, it is that there appears to be renewed respect between communities and the hospitals that serve them. “A lot of healthcare providers have suffered from the loss of their leading roles in their communities,” says Jean Hitchcock, president of Hitchcock Marketing and Communications in Woodstock, Read More
As healthcare consumers nationwide are still being urged to stay home when possible, the surge in demand for virtual visits has provider organizations nationwide scrambling to scale up telehealth capabilities if they have them — or stand them up if not. What does it take to completely change the way you deliver care, practically overnight? Read More
Not long after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 hit the United States, hospitals began to cancel on-site programs and events, particularly those for at-risk populations. Expectant mothers are among the group of people considered to be vulnerable to the coronavirus because their immune system is compromised while they’re pregnant. According to the CDC: “Pregnant Read More
“Right now, our hospitals and health systems are facing far more than a public health crisis; they are facing a financial crisis that could threaten their very survival,” say Dan Dunlop of Jennings and healthcare branding specialist Jared Johnson. Here’s an excerpt from their new article: COVID-19 may be with us for a while, but Read More
“Healthcare doesn’t stop, especially in a crisis,” notes David Sturtz of Geonetric. “Healthcare marketers need to deliver timely, accurate information now more than ever. There’s no doubt Google is a key player in your communication strategy.” Here’s an excerpt from his new article for us: As you think about how to work with Google, there Read More
“We are living in a world already changed,” says Dave Wieneke, healthcare innovation director at PK. “Unlike even 60 days ago, we face a new imperative to embrace social distancing to save lives and preserve clinical capacity. If history has taught us anything, it’s that times of crisis drive innovation.” Here’s an excerpt from Wieneke’s Read More
As COVID-19 creates chaos throughout the U.S. healthcare system, caring for people with other illnesses and routine provider appointments presents a challenge. Scheduled appointments or wellness visits are being canceled because of social distancing mandates or state lockdowns, and providers aren’t sure how or when to accept new patients. Patients with chronic illnesses who can’t Read More
“As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to swiftly — and perhaps permanently — alter daily life for millions of Americans, Customer Experience, or CX, can mean the difference between remaining vital and present to your customers and patients,” says Hardy Kalisher, chief client officer at Parallel Path. “Digital customer experience is more important now than Read More
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced healthcare organizations to develop and execute crisis marketing plans. A crisis marketing plan addresses brand management with the goal of avoiding disconnects and establishes processes for rapidly redirecting messaging from service line campaigns to patient safety and health. Alan Shoebridge, director of marketing at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System and Read More
Well before cases of COVID-19 began to spike in the U.S., healthcare organizations were watching the response to the pandemic unfold worldwide and preparing for the worst-case scenario. Communications to myriad stakeholders have been and are being created, coordinated, and standardized across multiple channels. Accurate, up-to-date information is essential for all of us. To offer Read More
In an address to the Alliance for Connected Care Telehealth Policy Forum in 2018, CMS administrator Seema Verma said, “Telehealth is changing the very face of healthcare.” She’s right. Studies have found that telehealth programs have reduced 30-day hospital readmission rates for heart failure patients, sped up the time to treatment for patients experiencing a Read More
In January, Google declared its plan to phase out support for third-party cookies in its Chrome browser by the year 2022. The announcement has led many digital marketers to panic because digital ads depend on cookies for targeting, and Chrome has significant market share. But healthcare digital marketers already have to play by stricter rules, Read More
As technology giants Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and others forge ahead with plans to improve healthcare, many in the industry are wondering just what they plan to do and how they plan to do it. David Feinberg, MD, vice president of Google Health and former president and CEO of Geisinger in Pennsylvania, discussed Google’s plans during Read More