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
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. // By Susan Dubuque // Health systems rely on their communications teams Read More
How University of Utah Health intentionally becomes the voice of authority for internal and external audiences. // 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 Read More
U.S. hospitals are seeing a dramatic rise in workplace violence. While some organizations are taking active steps to address the issue — including developing internal and external campaigns — more is needed: Only 43 percent of workers believe their organization’s policies against workplace violence are effective. In most hospitals today, electronic medical records and patient Read More
U.S. hospitals are seeing a dramatic rise in workplace violence. While some organizations are taking active steps to address the issue — including developing internal and external campaigns — more is needed: Only 43 percent of workers believe their organization’s policies against workplace violence are effective. // By John Marzano // In most hospitals today, Read More
As marketers, we often preach the importance of data-driven decisions. Without data, marketing feels like a guessing game. But at UNC Health, describing the marketing and communications department as “data-driven” feels like an understatement. With an in-house consumer insights team and a robust survey process, data truly sits at the core of everything the team Read More
// By Melanie Graham // The pandemic has renewed focus on certain health care pain points: consumerism, funnel wars, and employee retention. UNC Health is taking on all these challenges with a data-first mindset. As marketers, we often preach the importance of data-driven decisions. Without data, marketing feels like a guessing game. But at UNC Read More
An industry leader recently used a phrase we hadn’t heard before: “The NEXT Normal.” What has the pandemic taught us? How did it stretch us as an industry, and how can we use what we’ve learned to shape strategies in the future? We asked our editorial advisory board members to weigh in on one question: Read More
// By Jane Weber Brubaker // An industry leader recently used a phrase we hadn’t heard before: “The NEXT Normal.” What has the pandemic taught us? How did it stretch us as an industry, and how can we use what we’ve learned to shape strategies in the future? In this article, our editorial advisory board Read More
Health systems activate their hospital incident command systems (HICS) during a crisis, but usually the crisis doesn’t last for more than a year as the coronavirus pandemic has. From the start of the pandemic, hospital incident command centers became the temporary headquarters for crisis management. Leaders had to adapt day-to-day to keep their organizations and Read More
// By Marlene Kurban // Health systems activate their hospital incident command systems (HICS) during a crisis, but usually the crisis doesn’t last for more than a year as the coronavirus pandemic has. Four health system leaders share how the structure helped them navigate during the worst of it, and how its flexibility continues to Read More
Trust. Respect. Transparency. These are the words that describe how a good relationship between the CMO and CEO can lead to effective investment in marketing communications. “It is important to listen and ask questions of the CEO and other C-suite members to discover what is important to their stakeholders,” says Christine Albert, senior vice president, Read More
View From the C-Suite: Greg Feirn, CEO; and Christine Albert, SVP; Marketing & Communications, LCMC Health Anthony D. Slonim, MD, DrPH, CEO; and Suzanne Hendery, Chief Marketing & Customer Officer; Renown Health // By Sheryl S. Jackson // Strong relationships between CEOs and CMOs help organizations align on a shared vision, invest in the right Read More
Health care marketers know that building a successful brand is not just about new logos, taglines, and ads. The brand must accurately reflect the vision and beliefs that make up the culture of the organization, drive all strategic decisions, and form the foundation for communications with all audiences. “If your brand is authentic, you can Read More
View from the C-Suite: Don Stanziano, Chief Marketing Officer, Geisinger // By Sheryl S. Jackson // Health care marketers know that building a successful brand is not just about new logos, taglines, and ads. The brand must accurately reflect the vision and beliefs that make up the culture of the organization, drive all strategic decisions, Read More
For most marketers, a pandemic like coronavirus is uncharted territory. Health care marketing and communications teams are working around the clock to craft and distribute content for patients, visitors, and staff. With the demand to churn out reliable content quickly, organizations may need help staying organized. “While media budgets for our clients are dropping by, Read More
// By Althea Fung // For most marketers, a pandemic like coronavirus is uncharted territory. Health care marketing and communications teams are working around the clock to craft and distribute content for patients, visitors, and staff. With the demand to churn out reliable content quickly, organizations may need help staying organized. “While media budgets for Read More
“If you become a trusted source of information in a time of crisis, you are demonstrating leadership rather than simply claiming it. And people notice,” says veteran copywriter and frequent SHCM contributor Peter Hochstein. In his new article, he discusses the value of becoming a source of information and reassurance during a crisis, with key Read More
Crisis management is a standard part of hospital communication preparedness, but who could ever have anticipated the coronavirus pandemic? How do you communicate to your community and patients about a pandemic when nobody anywhere has all the answers? Yale New Haven Health clinicians and ancillary staff quickly came together, launching a call center to handle Read More
// By Peter Hochstein // If you become a trusted source of information in a time of crisis, you are demonstrating leadership rather than simply claiming it. And people notice. Are we all actually dealing simultaneously with two pandemics? There must be millions of Americans who are simultaneously struggling to avoid a pair of plagues. Read More
// By Marcia Simon, APR // Crisis management is a standard part of hospital communication preparedness, but who could ever have anticipated the coronavirus pandemic? How do you communicate to your community and patients about a pandemic when nobody anywhere has all the answers? Yale New Haven Health clinicians and ancillary staff quickly came together, Read More
In the wake of three shootings in Texas and Ohio in August and September, Strategic Health Care Marketing reached out to Kena Lewis, APR, director, public affairs and media relations at Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida. Lewis managed communications after the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting that killed 49 and wounded more than 50. We asked Read More
// By Wendy Stark Healy // How well prepared are you to help your organization manage the aftermath of a mass shooting? Comprehensive preplanning and practice are critical to navigating a chaotic, evolving situation. Sadly, it’s not a question of if but when. In the wake of three shootings in Texas and Ohio in August Read More
The evening of January 11, 2018, Steve Long, president and CEO of Hancock Health and Hancock Regional Hospital, got a call he’s not likely to soon forget. “Our administrator on call had received a call from the lab. They said there is something wrong with our computers,” says Long. Not long after, the nursing staff Read More
View from the C-Suite // By Althea Fung // The evening of January 11, 2018, Steve Long, president and CEO of Hancock Health and Hancock Regional Hospital, got a call he’s not likely to soon forget. “Our administrator on call had received a call from the lab. They said there is something wrong with our Read More