Reputation Management

How OSF Healthcare Makes Its Presence Known Nationally

Cheryl L. Serra

An effective public relations effort can give organizations a megaphone to amplify brand recognition. // By Cheryl L. Serra // As a faith-based, mission-oriented organization, OSF HealthCare (OSF), founded in the late 1800s, has historically met internal and external challenges through innovation. In the past decade OSF, headquartered in Peoria, Illinois and serving patients in Read More

The Critical Importance of Transparency in an Age of Misinformation

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

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

Healthcare PR: Strategies for Navigating Today’s Complex Media Landscape

Bryan Kawasaki, director, national communications, Providence

Public relations, or PR, is first and foremost about building and maintaining trusted relationships externally, with consumers and patients, providers, the media, and the larger community. We spoke with two healthcare PR leaders about how they forge those connections and raise the profile of their organizations to key audiences. Their work requires a multifaceted approach Read More

A Tale of Two Health System Public Relations Teams

Sean Couch, executive director, communications & consumer strategy, Northeast Georgia Health System

No matter how large or small or rural or urban a health care organization is, there are certain universal truths that apply when it comes to being the guardian of its reputation in the community. But the way public relations and communications teams approach things may vary greatly depending on how they are structured, the Read More

How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market? Lessons From Emory Healthcare’s Rebranding Success

Amy Comeau, vice president of marketing, Emory Healthcare

Emory Healthcare’s rebranding initiatives enable the health system to stand out in Atlanta’s crowded market. Emory’s success should serve as an example for other hospitals and health systems looking to develop a successful rebranding strategy and drive growth. There are hospitals and health systems with reputations verging on veneration. But for all the world-renowned research Read More

Navigating a Health Care Rebrand: A Guide to Managing Your Assets

Brian Bekins

A successful health care rebrand requires two things: effective project management and clear communication. Your brand is more important than ever, especially for organizations seeking to be recognized over an expanding number of marketing platforms and sales channels. Shifts in the market, mergers and acquisitions, and other company changes also drive the need for brand Read More

Don’t Drop the Ball: How to Track and Update Assets During a Rebrand

Effective project management and clear communication are critical to keeping a rebrand on schedule. // By Brian Bekins // Your brand is more important than ever, especially for organizations seeking to be recognized over an expanding number of marketing platforms and sales channels. Shifts in the market, mergers and acquisitions, and other company changes also Read More

Marketing’s Role in Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Victor Reiss, vice president— Consumerism & Insights, UNC Health

DEI is about more than representation. It’s all about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and empowered. No other industry has more of an imperative to embrace DEI than health care as the path to a healthier future for everyone. At this year’s Healthcare Marketing & Physician Strategies Summit (HMPS23) in Austin, Texas, Read More

Children’s Hospital Colorado’s “Miraculous Everyday” Campaign Designed to Increase Brand Awareness, Showcase Innovation and Compassion

Cheryl L. Serra

Medical experts collaborated with the marketing team to showcase complex procedures that change lives. // By Cheryl L. Serra // Being in the middle of the western half of the United States — between well-known East and West Coast medical facilities — presented Children’s Hospital Colorado with a marketing challenge. In addition to making potential Read More

Best Practices for Bringing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to Life

Deb Pappas, chief marketing and communications officer and executive champion for DEI Education & Awareness Pillar, Connecticut Children’s

Executives from Connecticut Children’s, UNC Health, and Stanford Health Care share how they integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the organizational culture. // By Susan Dubuque // DEI is about more than representation. It’s all about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and empowered. No other industry has more of an imperative Read More

Hospitals Step Up Efforts to Curb Workplace Violence: What You Need to Know

Mark Moore, corporate director of protective and support services at Dayton Children’s Hospital

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

Measures to Curb Workforce Violence Ramp Up in Hospitals Across America

John Marzano

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

Hospital Billing Overhaul: Northern Light Health’s Reputation Rescue

Vince Galloro headshot

Hospital billing practices have a direct and significant impact on a health care system’s brand reputation. Take this first-hand account shared by Suzanne Spruce and Vince Galloro in a new article: “In August 2022, the Portland Press Herald — the paper with the highest circulation in the state of Maine — published a long article Read More

How to Manage the Reputation Risks of Hospital Billing

Headshot of Suzanne Spruce smiling. She has short blonde hair and is wearing a black blazer with a white shirt.

Focus on what you can control and create patient-friendly bill pay web pages with clear financial assistance information. // By Suzanne R. Spruce and Vince Galloro // In August 2022, the Portland Press Herald — the paper with the highest circulation in the state of Maine — published a long article on unexpected medical bills. Read More

Successful Online Scheduling in 5 Steps

// Sponsored Post //

Today’s healthcare organizations are not only challenged with staffing shortages and budget cuts, but also rising consumer demands that make it more important than ever to implement new solutions that both increase organizational efficiencies as well as digital innovation. Online scheduling is no longer a “nice to have,” but instead an essential investment for organizations to meet the needs of patients, providers, and staff alike.

To launch a successful online scheduling program, organizations can follow these 5 steps:

  1. Establish a single source of truth for provider, service, and location data.
  2. Engage cross-functional stakeholders across your organization.
  3. Create a standardized, repeatable launch plan.
  4. Broaden booking options across specialties, appointment types, and services.
  5. Optimize and expand upon self-service capabilities.

For more in-depth detail on best practices for launching online scheduling — plus a vendor evaluation checklist — download the full guide.

Download now »

Listening, Learning, and Partnering: Lessons From Michigan Medicine’s Leadership Success

Rose Glenn, chief marketing and communication officer, Michigan Medicine

In the middle of the pandemic, Michigan Medicine launched a new brand campaign, Michigan Answers, spearheaded by Rose Glenn, the organization’s chief communications and marketing officer. In explaining the meaning of the campaign, the branding guidelines emphasize, “At Michigan Medicine, we believe there’s a difference between an answer and a Michigan Answer. Michigan Answers are Read More

Leadership Begins with Listening: View from the C-Suite with Rose Glenn, Chief Marketing and Communication Officer, Michigan Medicine

Jane Weber Brubaker

To find the right answers, ask the right questions. // By Jane Weber Brubaker // In the middle of the pandemic, Michigan Medicine launched a new brand campaign, Michigan Answers, spearheaded by Rose Glenn, the organization’s chief communications and marketing officer. In explaining the meaning of the campaign, the branding guidelines emphasize, “At Michigan Medicine, Read More

Does Your Health System’s Referral Management Process Need an Overhaul?

Angela Pettigrew, director of Provider Connect, Texas Children’s Hospital

For complex health systems with numerous specialties and subspecialties, referrals are their lifeblood — particularly referrals from external providers. Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), a specialty pediatric hospital, was having difficulty keeping track of referrals. There wasn’t a standard process for sending and receiving referrals or tracking them once they were received, usually by fax, and Read More

Want More Referrals? Build a Better Provider Experience

Jane Weber Brubaker

Texas Children’s Hospital overhauled its referral management process and saw a 23 percent increase in referrals from external providers within two years. // By Jane Weber Brubaker // For complex health systems with numerous specialties and subspecialties, referrals are their lifeblood — particularly referrals from external providers. Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH), a specialty pediatric hospital, Read More