Communication Strategy

A Story Too Big for a Short Cut: A Case for Long-Form Video

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Logo

// By Susan Dubuque // At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, a complex living donor kidney transplant chain was coming together. Ten healthy people donated kidneys to 10 recipients they had never met, setting off a cascade of 20 surgeries. Discover how a five-minute video transformed a clinical milestone into a story with lasting impact.

Health Care Mergers and Acquisitions: A Strategic Guide for Marketers

Daniel Fell is senior vice president, Health, BVK

Hospital and health system mergers are nothing new for anyone familiar with health care. After a slight decline during and after the pandemic, mergers and acquisitions have picked up again. Read on to understand the current state of health care mergers and acquisitions and get an actionable playbook for marketers and strategists.

Old-School M&A Is Out; New Collaborations Are In

Text of the article title set on a solid blue background

// By Daniel Fell // Hospital and health system mergers are nothing new for anyone familiar with health care. After a slight decline during and after the pandemic, mergers and acquisitions have picked up again. Read on to understand the current state of health care mergers and acquisitions and get an actionable playbook for marketers and strategists.

Governance Models That Work: How 3 Leading Health Systems Align Marketing with Strategic Goals

Without a unified governance framework to guide marketing, organizations risk sending mixed messages, squandering resources, and failing to engage patients and employees and fulfill the organizational mission. Explore how three health systems use tailored governance models to align marketing efforts with strategic goals, ensuring consistent brand messaging and effective return on investments.

Unified Marketing Governance: Lessons from Leading Health Systems

// By Marcos Irigaray // Without a unified governance framework to guide marketing, organizations risk sending mixed messages, squandering resources, and failing to engage patients and employees and fulfill the organizational mission. Explore how three health systems use tailored governance models to align marketing efforts with strategic goals, ensuring consistent brand messaging and effective return on investments.

Strategic Growth Planning in the Age of Advanced Data Analytics

Nick Fromell, senior product manager for Optum

Data analytics is more important than ever, given industry pressures tightening health system budgets. Fortunately, expanding data resources provide planners with additional analytical tools they need to identify and capitalize on the most promising strategic growth opportunities. Discover how planners can leverage these information sources to develop effective growth plans.

Leveraging Data Analytics to Drive Strategic Growth

Brian Griffin

// By Brian Griffin // Data analytics is more important than ever, given industry pressures tightening health system budgets. Fortunately, expanding data resources provide planners with additional analytical tools they need to identify and capitalize on the most promising strategic growth opportunities. Discover how planners can leverage these information sources to develop effective growth plans.

Strategies to Turn Your Health System’s Executives Into Effective Thought Leaders

Among the most important currencies in health care is trust. Meanwhile, trust in leadership today is at an all-time low. According to PwC’s 2022 Consumer Intelligence Series on Trust, 87 percent of executives think customers highly trust their companies. In reality, it’s roughly 30 percent. That makes thought leadership from hospital executives a key method Read More

Transform Even Reluctant Speakers Into Stars: Proven Strategies and Tactics to Use with Hospital Leaders

Sharon Delaney McCloud, director of corporate communications at UNC Health

// By Wendy Margolin // Among the most important currencies in health care is trust. Meanwhile, trust in leadership today is at an all-time low. According to PwC’s 2022 Consumer Intelligence Series on Trust, 87 percent of executives think customers highly trust their companies. In reality, it’s roughly 30 percent. That makes thought leadership from hospital executives a key method of cultivating stakeholder trust. The more leaders are accessible and knowable, the more employees and patients can trust the institutions they guide.

Beyond the Headlines: Health System Leaders Share Their Crisis Communication Strategies

Lauren Landwerlin, vice president, strategy, marketing, and communications, Saint Francis Health System

Health systems rely on their communications teams to keep all stakeholders informed during a crisis and help to bring healing to the community in the aftermath, through empathetic messaging. At SHSMD Connections in September, three health system communications leaders shared their experiences following a crisis in their respective communities. “Sometimes the strength of the people Read More

Lessons from a Crisis: When You’re in the Eye of the Storm

Lisa O’Neil, system director of marketing and brand management, Lee Health

// By Susan Dubuque // You don’t know what you don’t know until you’re faced with leading your organization through a crisis. Here are three stories from leaders whose best advice is to expect that, sooner or later, a crisis will come. It’s not if – it’s when.

The Critical Importance of Transparency in an Age of Misinformation

Paul Gadd, director of internal communications, University of Utah Health

// By Wendy Margolin // In March 2020 Paul Gadd, director of internal communications at University of Utah Health, answered a call from the emergency management director. Senior leadership decided to set up BLU-MED tents — emergency management tents in preparation for a natural disaster or mass casualty incident. It was still early in the pandemic, and there hadn’t been a single diagnosed case in Utah. The site of sealed medical tents outside the hospital was sure to induce fear among staff and the public.

How Marketing and PR Collaboration Can Help Address Staffing Shortages

Suzanne Bharati Hendery headshot

According to a recent report in Becker’s Health IT, health care marketing budgets have declined by 8 percent over the past year — down markedly from 2019 when budgets peaked. Marketing leaders also indicate that they are experiencing increased pressure to quantify results and demonstrate a return on investment. Aligning marketing and public relations efforts Read More

Geisinger Unifies Efforts to Establish a New Brand Platform

Don Stanziano, chief marketing and communications officer, Geisinger

In the aftermath of COVID-19, hospitals and health systems are pressured to do more with less. The 2023 Healthcare Marketers Trend Report reveals that marketing and advertising budgets have shrunk by 8 percent. At the same time, marketing departments are being asked to produce measurable results and contribute to business objectives. One strategy to make Read More

Geisinger Maximizes Budgets by Aligning PR and Marketing

// By Susan Dubuque // The chief marketing and communications officer for Geisinger shares how collaboration between marketing and public relations enhances effectiveness and efficiency. Learn how unifying efforts between marketing and public relations can maximize budgets and generate better outcomes.

What Does It Even Mean to Be a “Nonprofit” Hospital Anymore?

Ross K. Goldberg is president of Kevin/Ross Public Relations

// By Ross K. Goldberg // One of the oldest and truest axioms in consumer advertising is that the most successful and persuasive messaging finds a way to turn a feature into a benefit. Nowhere is this on greater display than in health care, and smart public relations professionals have known this for years. The fact that your hospital operates a 24-hour emergency department is a feature. The fact that “we’re here to take care of your child at 3 a.m. when you don’t know where to turn” is a benefit.