As health care costs in the U.S. continue to rise, hospitals haven taken a disproportionate share of the blame in the media. While they bear some responsibility, current news coverage pins most of the blame on them. So how can your health system take control of the health care cost narrative? The cost of health Read More
Health care costs in the U.S. continue to rise. Who’s responsible? There are many contributors, but hospitals are taking a disproportionate share of the blame in the media. While they bear some responsibility, current news coverage pins most of the blame on them. How can health systems take charge of the narrative? // By John Read More
Although cancer affects all populations in the United States, because of various social, environmental, and economic factors, some groups bear a disproportionate burden of the disease than others. For example, Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer than non-Hispanic White men. In addition, Hispanic women are 40 percent more likely to Read More
Seizing the moment, Moffitt Cancer Center gives corporations a way to contribute to the vision of health equity for all. // By Althea Fung // Although cancer affects all populations in the United States, because of various social, environmental, and economic factors, some groups bear a disproportionate burden of the disease than others. For example, Read More
Hospitals meet a vital need in the communities they serve. In 2016, hospitals spent $157 billion on financial assistance and community benefit activities across the country. To better understand the needs of the communities they serve, triennially, nonprofit hospitals are required by the Internal Revenue Service to complete a community health needs assessment (CHNA). The Read More
Giving back to the community is a requirement of nonprofit health systems. This New England health care organization identified four priority areas and developed a print and online publication to provide information and resources for community members. // By Althea Fung // Hospitals meet a vital need in the communities they serve. In 2016, hospitals Read More
We’re all storytellers these days. Well-told stories have the power to influence behaviors and decisions. We tend to “lend an ear” to our neighbors. Community experiences matter, which is why tapping former patients from small towns and cities across a vast geographic service area made perfect sense to Geisinger for its health care brand journalism Read More
Patients speak from the heart about their health care experience at Geisinger in unscripted videos shot from their hometown. “What’s more powerful than that?” asks the health system’s marketing chief. // By Marcia Simon, APR // We’re all storytellers these days. Well-told stories have the power to influence behaviors and decisions. We tend to “lend Read More
When the Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development’s SHSMD Connections 2022 conference convenes September 11-14 in the Washington, D.C. area, it will aim to inspire, challenge and empower today’s health care professionals. But it will also be a celebration of the many leaders driving growth and innovation in the industry. “This isn’t just Read More
SHSMD Connections 2022 will inspire, challenge, and empower health care professionals to reclaim their resilience, roll up their sleeves, and get creative in solving the industry’s biggest challenges today and in the future. // By Jane Weber Brubaker // When the Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development’s SHSMD Connections 2022 conference convenes September Read More
Death and dying is a reality we are all going to face. So it is remarkable that end-of-life care isn’t as freely spoken about between providers and patients as it should be. This highlights an often overlooked communication challenge in the health care industry: How do you integrate end-of-life care into the patient experience in Read More
Imagine a world where everyone has advance care planning documents — and they’re accessible on the cloud. Why not start with your own community? // By L. Scott Brown // Health care gets a lot of things right, and a hospital is an amazing place filled with good-hearted heroes doing heroic things every day. But Read More
// By Brian Griffin // Two tragic events sparked Johns Hopkins Medicine to strengthen its commitment to racial justice and HEDI through microsites and community outreach. In May 2020, the killing of George Floyd rocked the nation and sparked civil unrest and cries for racial justice that continue to reverberate today. At Johns Hopkins Medicine Read More
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
// 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
During the past two years of a pandemic that continues to rage, health care brands have absorbed the additional burden of managing their reputations in the throes of unprecedented consumer demand for needed services to counter COVID-19 within their communities. Hospitals and health systems across the U.S., including Johns Hopkins Medicine, have overwhelmingly answered the Read More
// By John Marzano // In the middle of a pandemic, with the world tuning in daily to view the latest alarming statistics on infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, Johns Hopkins Medicine launched a new brand campaign centered on hope, connection, and progress. During the past two years of a pandemic that continues to rage throughout Read More
“Patients are still postponing routine care and preventive screenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Rhoda Weiss. “In one dramatic example, the CDC reported in June 2021 that breast cancer screenings through its Early Detection Program had declined 87 percent. Additionally, a National Poll on Healthy Aging taken in January 2021 reported nearly one in Read More
// By Rhoda Weiss, Ph.D. // Patients are still postponing routine care and preventive screenings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In one dramatic example, the CDC reported in June 2021 that breast cancer screenings through its Early Detection Program had declined 87 percent. Additionally, a National Poll on Healthy Aging1 taken in January 2021 reported Read More
“For two years, marketing and communication professionals have faced the excruciating crisis of a pandemic nothing fully prepared us for,” says Rhoda Weiss, president of the Rhoda Weiss Consulting Group. “We’re changing how and from where we work, balancing dichotomies of layoffs and staff shortages, experiencing colleague and personal burnout, dealing with new and conflicting Read More
// By Rhoda Weiss, Ph.D. // As we approach the two-year mark of the pandemic, it’s clear that the crisis has forged strong alliances across the industry. Leaders have come together to share best practices and help one another address challenges common to all. For two years, marketing and communication professionals have faced the excruciating Read More
Getting a cancer diagnosis is bad enough. Having to jump on the freeway and drive two hours each way to access care adds significantly to the stress. But that’s what many residents of Orange County, California did when they needed highly specialized cancer care. “Your first shot is your best shot, because it’s really important Read More
// By Jane Weber Brubaker // To meet the expected demand for highly specialized cancer services in Orange County, City of Hope has opened four cancer treatment sites and is currently building a 190,000-square-foot cancer center, scheduled to open next year. A separate specialty hospital will be ready to open its doors in 2025. The Read More
“Physicians travel around the globe to donate their time to help others less fortunate, sharing their knowledge and skills while expecting nothing in return except the self-satisfaction that comes from their acts of unselfishness,” says Ross K. Goldberg, president of Kevin/Ross Public Relations and member of the SHCM editorial advisory board. “But what about those Read More
// 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