Underserved Communities

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

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

While traditional wisdom once held that nonprofit hospitals maintain a firm advantage over for-profit hospitals, the tides seem to be turning. // 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. Read More

Building a Web of Trust to Overcome Health Disparities

Terris King, Sc.D., CEO of the Lukan Group, and pastor of Liberty Grace Church of God in Baltimore

This is a tale of three cities, or more accurately, two cities and a state, where partnerships between faith-based organizations and health systems — built on trust and mutual respect — are solving some of health care’s toughest challenges. // By Jane Weber Brubaker // An article titled “COVID and Race” appeared in the New Read More

UCLA Health Is Tackling Health Care’s Racial Inequities Head-On

Mikel Whittier, director, health equity, diversity, and inclusion, UCLA Health

UCLA Health is emerging as a national leader in addressing racial inequities in health care and across society. In light of growing local and national awareness, the health system became one of the first health care organizations in the country to form an Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. “It’s perhaps the most visible Read More

Tele-Mentoring Model Connects Specialists with Primary Care Providers

Sanjeev Arora, MD, MACP, FACG, director and founder, Project ECHO

Health care industry expert Paul Keckley challenges the belief that all health care is local, calling it “the myth that refuses to die,” in his 2018 post on The Health Care Blog. But he notes one exception: “For the least fortunate in our communities, staying at home for care is reality.” Taking time off from Read More

UCLA Health Leading the Way in Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Linda Ho, executive director, marketing innovation, technology, and operations, UCLA Health

// By Brian Griffin // A prominent West Coast health system is building a care environment, work culture, and community presence that takes health equity, diversity, and inclusion to the next level. UCLA Health is emerging as a national leader in addressing racial inequities in health care and across society. In light of growing local Read More

Project ECHO Moves Knowledge, Not People

Ben Cloutier, director of communications and marketing, Project ECHO

// By Jane Weber Brubaker // One physician specialist’s vision for sharing his expertise with primary care providers has grown into a global movement that extends specialized care to patients in underserved communities. Health care industry expert Paul Keckley challenges the belief that all health care is local, calling it “the myth that refuses to Read More

How Walmart Is Remaking Itself as a Health and Wellness Destination

Karissa Price, vice president of marketing, food, consumables, and health and wellness, Walmart

Notwithstanding the health care industry’s keen interest in Walmart and figuring out what its next move might be, most consumers still think of Walmart as a retail store, not a health and wellness destination. Karissa Price, Walmart’s vice president of marketing, food, consumables, and health and wellness at the time of our reporting, sought to Read More

Personalized Content Key to Earning Consumers’ Trust in Walmart As a Health and Wellness Destination

Diana Jones, communications and wellness consultant, Walmart

// By Jane Weber Brubaker // Walmart’s marketing VP believes that high-quality, personalized health care content is the start to building trusted relationships with consumers, and supporting them on their health care journeys. Notwithstanding the health care industry’s keen interest in Walmart and figuring out what its next move might be, most consumers still think Read More

Looking Toward the Future by “Unscaling” Health Care

Jefferson Health

Things are changing when the CEO of a major health system comprising 14 hospitals — soon to be 18 — tosses around phrases like “health care at any address” and says things like, “We want to be the partner for those people who want to thrive without health care getting in the way.” The definition Read More

Multiphase Campaign Seeks to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations Among Adolescents

Donna Teach, Nationwide Children's

// By Brian Griffin // Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio is leading the way in vaccinating children against COVID-19 with a multichannel campaign targeted at parents, physicians, and even adolescents themselves. The move comes after the Food & Drug Administration granted emergency approval to vaccinate 12- to 15-year-olds. The campaign is taking on even more Read More

The Key That May Finally Unlock the Door to Health Care Transformation

Steve Klasko, MD, MBA, CEO of Jefferson Health and president of Thomas Jefferson University

View from the C-Suite: Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, President, Thomas Jefferson University and CEO, Jefferson Health // By Jane Weber Brubaker // There are two words Steve Klasko uses a lot: “What if…?” Like other visionary health system leaders, he’s scaling up to meet the reality of health care today, while at the same Read More

Providence CEO Discusses Current Issues and Future Challenges for Health Care

Providence

Rod Hochman, MD, president and CEO of Providence, kicked off the Becker’s Healthcare 11th Annual Meeting Virtual Experience in May with a discussion of issues of greatest concern to health care leaders. The conversation between Hochman and Rhoda Weiss, Ph.D., conference co-chair and president of Rhoda Weiss Consulting Group, provided insight into strategies employed by Read More

Kiosks Can Bring Telehealth To Populations That Need It Most

Broadlawns Medical Center logo

Telehealth usage has skyrocketed across the country. In the past year of the pandemic, the weekly number of behavioral health visits increased 25 percent on average compared with before COVID-19. This is due to expanded use of audio and video technology. But a study of insured patients published in Health Affairs found that in poorer Read More

Hip Hop Public Health Reaches Communities With Music, Not Talk of “Herd Immunity”

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has become the new challenge in conquering the pandemic. Getting vaccines into the arms of vulnerable populations, including underserved communities of color, is a priority despite systemic distrust of the medical field resulting from generations of disparities in health care. “Medical institutions really have to find a way to speak the language Read More

Building Vaccine Confidence in Communities That Need It Most

Helen Shelton, global chief diversity officer, Finn Partners

// By Marcia Simon, APR // Who wants to be part of a herd anyway? So why not call “herd immunity” “community immunity” instead? Hip Hop Public Health promotes Community Immunity as the ultimate act of love. Who doesn’t want more of that? COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has become the new challenge in conquering the pandemic. Getting Read More

Filling In the Gaps Left By Telemedicine

Ann Mond Johnson, CEO, American Telemedicine Association

Telemedicine came to the rescue when COVID-19 first rattled the capacity and safety of health care delivery. It didn’t take long for hospitals, providers, and patients to embrace the conveniences, especially when federal waivers allowed for expanded access to virtual care services, and payers relaxed their reimbursement guidelines. But there’s a problem: The pandemic shed Read More

Telemedicine a Saving Grace — Unless You’re Poor or Don’t Speak English

Marcia Simon

// By Marcia Simon, APR // Telemedicine came to the rescue when COVID-19 first rattled the capacity and safety of health care delivery. It didn’t take long for hospitals, providers, and patients to embrace the conveniences, especially when federal waivers allowed for expanded access to virtual care services, and payers relaxed their reimbursement guidelines. Hospitals Read More