by Mary Zatina Communications industry estimates indicate that sometime this year we will pass a tipping point from which there is no going back. That is, more people will access the Internet with mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets than with desktop computers. And many of them will be searching for healthcare information and Read More
by Theresa Jacobellis I am standing in the deserted lobby of the Mayo Clinic, and I am dressed like a gladiator. There is nobody at the information desk, so I walk behind it and sit in the chair. Next, I walk over to a series of large posters set up on what appear to be Read More
by Alan Shoebridge They have been living in the online era for nearly two decades, but many healthcare organizations still rely heavily on research methods from the 1950s – printed comment cards, telephone surveys, and focus groups. If you haven’t updated your research with tactics from this century, now is the time to go digital. Read More
by Sheryl S. Jackson Rich Snippets, Robust Information Boost SEO and Visits to Hospital Website It happens every day. Someone visits a hotel review website to determine the best place to stay for the next vacation or business trip. But what happens when patients use the Web to find reviews of physicians? Although sites are Read More
Indiana University Health www.iuhealth.org Most hospital and health system websites cover a huge array of topics on their home page. But this site takes a laser approach, placing great focus on what the organization thinks are the major reasons for someone visiting the site and subjects important to the health system. The home page is Read More
// Ask The Expert, with Daniel E. Ansel // It’s a commonly accepted maxim that it costs five times more to recruit a new customer than to retain a satisfied one, yet when I ask hospitals and health systems if they’re concerned or think about tracking the “lifetime value” of a patient, they usually don’t Read More
Smarter Shopping You love a deal, but don’t want to keep track of the sales notices and discount coupons you receive in your mailbox. When you are ready to shop, go to www.CouponSherpa.com and check out the discounts currently available at your favorite stores. Both printable and mobile coupons are offered, and Coupon Sherpa can Read More
by Alex Fraser YouTube recently announced a redesign that will affect all channels across the platform. This article will introduce you to the coming changes so that you can plan accordingly and not be caught by surprise when they are rolled out in mid-June. Why the change? With this platform redesign, YouTube is emphasizing the Read More
WEBSITES/MOBILE APPLICATIONS Help in Reducing Stress is the focus of a new mobile app available at www.t2health.org/apps/provider-resilience. Although developed for military healthcare providers to cope with burnout and compassion fatigue, the app is relevant for any medical provider working in a high-stress environment. The app seeks to help professionals reduce stress through restful breaks, educational Read More
WEBSITES/MOBILE APPLICATIONS Public Input on Health IT Strategic Planning is purpose of new site at www.PlanningRoom.org. The new platform is a collaboration between Cornell University’s eRulemaking Initiative and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The initial focus, through May 9, will be on consumer e-health strategy. Helping Evaluate a Sports Concussion Read More
Methodist Healthcare www.sahealth.com Serving the San Antonio, TX, market, Methodist Healthcare has a website that excels in almost every aspect. Site visitors will immediately note the strong home page focus on health and wellness information. Right below a large banner that rotates key service-line messages is another large section called San Antonio’s Health Information Resource. Read More
Untangling All Those Power Cords in the Car If you spend much time in your car, you probably have a “mobile office” in the front seat with all kinds of power cords connected to the power outlet. Simplify your life and space by getting the TYLT Band Car Charger. A flat, semi-rigid cord that comes Read More
Ask The Expert, with Ben Dillon Content management is one of the most difficult – and most overlooked – pieces of Web development. The average hospital website comprises more than 1,500 pages of unique content. Creating and maintaining all that content requires more work than most administrators can easily manage, especially if they lack full-time Read More
by Mark S. Gothberg Based in Oklahoma City, Integris Health is the state’s largest health system. The market is extremely competitive, with four health systems aggressively promoting their services through television and other traditional media, thus making strong website traffic critical to Integris Health’s business success. As with most provider websites, search engines are a Read More
by Megan Chavez MD Anderson Cancer Center is ranked as one of the world’s most respected institutions focused on cancer patient care, research, education, and prevention. It invests more than $647 million a year in research and ranks first both in the number of grants and total grant dollars from the National Cancer Institute. Since Read More
by Carolyn Carter Within the year, the Affordable Care Act will add an estimated 32 million individuals to health insurance rolls – creating new demand for healthcare services and, many experts believe, a critical shortage of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers. In this new healthcare landscape, hiring (and retaining) the right people will be Read More
Great Smartphone Deal How would you like to spend just $19 a month for unlimited calls, texting, and data – and no contract? That is the great deal offered by Republic Wireless, a division of Bandwidth.com. The catch is that the system uses Wi-Fi when customers are in a Wi-Fi area and Sprint Nextel’s 3G Read More
Lakeland HealthCare www.lakelandhealth.org Most consumers think of hospitals as being “institutional,” and unfortunately, hospital websites tend to support that impression. Of course, children’s hospitals often break that mold, rightfully believing they can be a bit playful. But this website for a health system serving southwestern Michigan projects anything but an institutional image, while still looking Read More
by Naomi Braun and Amy Schalk There has been a significant paradigm shift in understanding population health management. No longer is physical illness considered an inevitable consequence of aging or genetics. There is now a greater appreciation for the role health behavior plays in the development and exacerbation of the most common and costly illnesses. Read More
by Heather Schwartz It seems rather elementary. A marketing campaign seeks to get consumers to respond to a special offer. While the promotion may tell consumers to directly contact a call center to participate in the offer, in most cases, consumers will look for a link to a website to learn more. In that situation, Read More
WEBSITES/MOBILE APPLICATIONS New Features Added to T2 Mood Tracker App. The app was developed for the U.S. Department of Defense, and one notable new feature is the ability of users to send information to their home computers for long-term tracking. More than 100,000 people have downloaded the app, which tracks how changes in home, work, Read More
Ask The Expert, with Daniel Fell On balance, most hospital system websites are consumer-oriented, meaning the content and its presentation are organized to appeal to patients and potential patients. Although some sites have links to unique content for other user audiences such as employees and healthcare professionals – and a few even utilize prominent tabs Read More
by Keir Bradshaw Microsoft SharePoint has become one of the most popular Microsoft Office products on the market. Coming from humble beginnings as a mere document repository for collaboration purposes, SharePoint has turned into a content management system powerhouse as an essential tool for businesses across every industry, including healthcare. After four generations and an Read More
Ask the Expert, with Kyra Hagan The healthcare market is changing profoundly. With masses of baby boomers entering retirement, the United States faces one of the most dramatic demographic shifts in its history. The burdens associated with caring for a large and aging population are increasing both the complexity and cost of care delivery. In Read More
The Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame announced its class of 2012 inductees at a special luncheon on November 13 at the 16th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference in Las Vegas. The Hall of Fame was established in 2011 to preserve history and honor innovation. A 13-member board of judges reviewed candidates. The inductees in the four Read More