Category Archives: Healthcare Internet

Join fellow marketers at the 19th Annual Greystone.Net Healthcare Internet Conference

Posted on September 9, 2015 | Leave a comment

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Every fall, I make plans to attend the Greystone.Net Healthcare Internet Conference to network with colleagues and learn about the latest in digital trends, strategies and innovations from leading healthcare marketers and digital experts. It has become one of my favorite educational events and I wanted to let you know about this discount offer before it expires – register by September 11 and take $100 off the registration fee.

HCIC offers 3 days of educational programming showcasing 5 dynamic keynote sessions, 4 pre-conference workshops and 56 concurrent sessions. The exhibit hall will feature nearly 80 exhibitors and sponsors (including Corrigan Partners) so you can learn about the latest products and services to support your organization.

Visit the 19th Annual HCIC Website today and learn why this is a “can’t miss” event. And register now to take advantage of the early-bird discount.

To download a copy of the brochure, visit www.hcic.net/brochure.

Hope to see you there!

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Share your digital marketing expertise at Greystone.Net’s 17th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference

Posted on March 29, 2013 | Leave a comment

HCICLogoSpeaker Proposals are due Wednesday, April 3, 2013

This coming November 4 – 6, Greystone.net will host the 17th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference in New Orleans.  For 17 years (can you believe it!), this has been the go-to forum for health leaders seeking to learn and share their knowledge, expertise and experiences in web, social media, mobile and clinical information technologies.

It’s a conference I look forward to every year.  In this space, both the magnitude and pace of change are significant. When it comes to digital strategies, opportunities and practical applications in healthcare, there is always something new to learn, and this is the place to do it.

The 2013 conference will feature workshops and concurrent sessions in six educational tracks:

  • Strategy development
  • Patient engagement
  • e-Metrics, ROI and business value
  • Social media
  • Web solutions and tools
  • mHCIC: mobile and emerging technologies

I hope you’ll consider sharing your own successes (and lessons learned).  The Call for Speakers is still open but closes on Wednesday, April 3, 2013.  Submit your application here.

See you in New Orleans.

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Posted in Digital Strategy, Healthcare Internet, Healthcare Marketing

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Engaging healthcare consumers through content marketing

Posted on March 25, 2013 | Leave a comment

content marketing rxContent marketing is a hot topic for healthcare marketers.  And no wonder.  More than ever, healthcare consumers are seeking information, sharing healthcare experiences, exploring treatments and selecting providers online. And the vast majority of online health-related discussions take place without input from healthcare professionals.

A recent Pew Internet and American Life Project study revealed that 81% of U.S. adults use the internet and 59% say they have looked online for health information in the past year. Over a third of U.S. adults say they have gone online specifically to try to figure out what medical condition they or someone else might have.

Also consider:

  • 47% have looked for information about a doctor
  • 34% have read about someone else’s healthcare experience
  • 16% have consulted online rankings or reviews of providers

Professional Research Corporation’s (PRC) 2012 National Consumer Perception Study also found that one-fourth of healthcare consumers use the web to find a doctor, and 16% say that blogs and posted comments impact which physician or hospital they chose for care.

Content is about strategy, not just promotion

The challenge for healthcare marketers is having the right content in the right place at the very time that consumers are searching. To do this, they must develop a thorough understanding of how consumers discover, consume and share information on-line; and the role of search and social interaction across the consumer buying cycle.

The bottom line is that content marketing isn’t about self-promotion; it’s about engaging consumers through relevant information, resources and tools, discoverable at a time and place when they are most open to receiving messages.  It’s about building your brand and strengthening relationships at every point through the consumer decision-process. And encouraging your audience to act through strong calls to action with content that positions you as the preferred choice.

Learn more at PRC’s upcoming Webchat on content marketing

On Thursday, March 28, 2013, I’ll be joining Janna Binder, director of marketing and public relations for Professional Research Corporation (PRC), on a webchat to discuss the role and power of content marketing in healthcare. During the one-hour session, we’ll talk about how content marketing can engage healthcare consumers, build your brand, drive patient acquisition and cultivate customer loyalty. Key discussion points will include:

  • The role of search and social interaction in the healthcare consumer’s selection process
  • Where consumers discover, consume and share information
  • What constitutes relevant, valuable content, tools and relationships
  • How marketers can build content marketing plans

I hope you’ll join us. The 60 minute PRC Webchat starts at 1:00 pm central time. And, there is no charge for participation. Just click here for more information and online registration.

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Posted in Content Marketing, Digital Strategy, Healthcare Internet

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Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame now taking nominations for 2013

Posted on March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Do you know an individual or organization that has significant contributions to the healthcare Internet field at a local, state or national level?  Someone who has:

  • Assumed a leadership position across the health industry?
  • Demonstrated a willingness to share their expertise with others?
  • Served as a role model or mentor to others in the healthcare Internet industry?
  • Shown the ability or influence to effect change in the industry?
  • Been engaged in the field of healthcare Internet for at least 5 years?

Then you may have the perfect candidate for the 2013 Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame.

The Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame was established in 2011 to honor both individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the healthcare Internet industry, and to ensure that the history of the industry is preserved for the future generations.

Each year, new members of the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame are inducted at the industry-wide Healthcare Internet Conference. The 2012 inductees included:

  • Ed Bennett, director of web and communications technology for the University of Maryland Medical System
  • Mark Gothberg, editor of eHealthcare Strategy & Trends and chairman of the eHealthcare Leadership Awards for Health Care Communication
  • Community Health Network of Indianapolis, whose eBusiness team has demonstrated, over a decade, innovations in the use of Internet technologies for healthcare consumers
  • PatientsLikeMe, a free online community where patients can connect with each other to better understand their diseases, share condition and treatment information, and get the support they need to improve their health.
  • Mayo Clinic, who launched one of the earliest health information sites on the Internet, and today, receives nearly 30 million unique visits per month from all over the world.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2013 class.  Information regarding criteria and the nomination process can be found at the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame website (www.hihof.com). All nominations must be received by August 2, 2013.

Learn more about the 2012 honorees.

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Posted in Digital Strategy, Healthcare Internet

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Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame Announces 2012 Inductees

Posted on November 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

Congratulations to the 2012 Class of Inductees to the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame (HIHOF):

Innovative Individuals:

  • Mark Gothberg, Editor, eHealthcare Strategy & Trends, and Chairman, eHealthcare Leadership Awards
  • Ed Bennett, founder of the Hospital Social Network List.

 Innovative Products and Services:

 Innovative Provider Network:

The Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame honors men, women and organizations that have made outstanding, long-lasting contributions to the healthcare Internet industry. The organization’s purpose, while honoring innovation, is to ensure that the history of the industry is preserved for future generations new to the healthcare industry. Inductees are selected annually by an independent Board of Judges, on which I had the privilege of serving this past year.  Learn more about the 2012 class at www.hihof.com or click on the links above.

The five inductees will be honored at an awards luncheon held November 13, 2012, at the 16thAnnual Greystone.net Healthcare Internet Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Congrats again!  Well deserved.

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Should You Bag Your Facebook Advertising?

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 2 comments

by Katie Adams, Corrigan Partners

Just days before Facebook’s scheduled $100 billion IPO one of the largest U.S. manufacturers has dropped all of its paid advertising on the social media site. GM made the decision to axe its $10 million advertising budget based on findings that paid ads on the site “had little impact on consumers.” Before rushing to join the crowd suspect of the relevance of social media, it’s important to note what the car giant said about how they plan to continue interacting with Facebook users. According to a Wall Street Journal article GM marketing chief Joel Ewanick said that GM is “reassessing our advertising on Facebook, although the content is effective and important.”

Did you catch that? “Content is effective and important.”

As chief marketing officers grapple with continued tight budgets and increasing demand for ROI it’s worth examining how you’re using social media as a marketing tool. First, focus on the main reason people use Facebook in the first place. According to the study “Why Do People Use Facebook?” by Boston University researchers Ashwinin Nadkarni and Stefan G. Hoffman, the two primary needs that Facebook satisfies for its nearly 1 billion users are (1) the need to belong and (2) the need for self-presentation. Conversely that means that Facebook is not viewed by the majority of its users as a way to find or buy services or products. So it stands to reason that if you are purchasing ad space on the social media site as a way of quickly generating sales you may be disappointed.

The question isn’t if Facebook is effective as a marketing tool, it’s how is Facebook MOST effective? Are you using the platform to its best marketing objective? GM has chosen to maintain its Facebook presence because it provides a powerful way to engage with customers and influencers as well as to have a pivotal presence in conversations about the industry and its own brand. But the company is aware that it can do that solely by providing CONTENT, not by purchasing paid ad space.

While GM’s decision may have prospective shareholders concerned it should be welcomed by chief marketing officers. GM’s insight should give you pause about your own organization’s position on Facebook as a marketing tool. If the two primary motivators for Facebook users are to belong and to be able to share personal stories and opinions (“self-presentation”) what types of material are you giving them to be able to do just that? Are you creating an engaging community for users? Are you sharing content — information, tips, and tools that they can use and share with others for free? Are you customizing your content so that you are one perceived as a highly relevant voice in their social media world?

Despite the contrarians Facebook isn’t going anywhere. The question is where are you going with Facebook?

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Posted in Content Marketing, Digital Strategy, Healthcare Internet, Healthcare Marketing, Social Media

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Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame Names Judges Panel

Posted on May 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

Note:  June 1, 2012 is the Deadline for 2012 Nominations

The Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame has selected its inaugural judges panel, and I’m honored to be a member of that team.  The panel members include:

  • Dan Ansel, President/CEO, Private Health News
  • Stephanie Cannon, Director Web Communication and eBusiness, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Karen Corrigan, Co-founder and CEO, Corrigan Partners
  • Michael Cutter, Vice President Sales, Krames Staywell Communication
  • Ben Dillon, Vice President, eHealth Evangelist, Geonetric
  • Daniel Fell, Executive Vice President, Neathawk Dubuque & Packett
  • Andrew Gradel, Director of Internet Marketing, Cooper Health
  • Paul Griffiths, CEO, MedTouch
  • Shawn Gross, Director Service line Marketing & Web Strategy, Tufts Medical Center
  • Neal Linkon, Assistant Director Internet Marketing, Northwestern Mutual
  • Robin Snow, Principal, Aefinity Interactive, LLC
  • Becky Daghir Wardzala, Marketing Director, Hendricks Regional Health
  • Kathy Divis, President, Greystone.Net – (Chair)

Each of us has agreed to serve a 2-3 year term and judge the candidates for the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame in a fair and unbiased manner while adhering to the Hall of Fame’s mission to “honor men, women and organizations that have made outstanding, long-lasting contributions to the healthcare Internet industry.”

The Hall of Fame’s purpose is to “ensure that the “history” of the industry is preserved for future generations new to the healthcare industry.”

Launched in 2011, its ‘freshman class’ of inductees included:

Click on the links above to learn more about the roles these esteemed individuals and organizations made in making healthcare internet history.

Nominations for the 2012 Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame class will be open until June 1st. So, there is still one month left to nominate the man, woman or organization you feel has made lasting contributions to the healthcare internet industry.

Please visit the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame Web site for more information on candidate criteria, or to nominate a qualified candidate.

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Posted in Digital Strategy, Healthcare Internet, Healthcare Marketing, Innovation

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Healthcare Digital Strategies Must Move Beyond the Website and Facebook

Posted on April 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

This Changes Everything . . .

We’re witnessing an amazing shift in terms of how people are relying on web, social networking and mobile technologies.  And that changes everything for healthcare providers in terms of how they reach, engage and communicate with healthcare consumers and patients.

The rise of smart phones and tablets such as the iPhone and iPad have put information, communications and commerce just a click or voice command away.  Digital strategies must move beyond the hospital website and Facebook page, to a fully integrated approach for reaching and engaging consumers, supporting patients with care management, facilitating workplace communications and promoting clinical decision-making. 

A comprehensive web, social and mobile capability, integrated with clinical IT systems such as EMR and patient portals, and embedded in physical environments , is no longer optional for organizations that want to remain relevant. 

Today, consumers don’t have purely offline or online experiences. They weave technology through nearly every point of contemplation, purchasing and use of products and services.  People may get healthcare in the physical world, but some of their best data, decision support, buying and communications tools exist in the virtual one. More than ever, patients are seeking healthcare information, sharing experiences and selecting treatments and providers online.    

A few facts to consider:

  • Over 80% of the U.S. population gathers health information online.
  • 55% of internet users look online for information about medical treatments or procedures.
  • 66% of internet users look online for information about specific diseases or medical problems.
  • 60% say the information found online affected a decision about how to treat an illness or condition.

Terms like eHealth and mHealth are used to describe healthcare practices supported by the internet or mobile technologies.  Videoconferencing, remote monitoring and tracking devices for patients with chronic disease, electronic health records, on-line consults, and health topic chats and support groups are just a few of the ways technology is being used for care delivery purposes. 

Industry investments in the application of these technologies for purposes of healthcare are significant and projected to increase.  We can expect these to be important components of future delivery models where patient engagement and cost effectiveness are crucial aspects of performance.

Marketers can be change agents in helping health systems, physicians and other providers better understand how to employ these technologies. Many have had a head start by integrating digital technologies with traditional communications tools to engage stakeholder audiences.   And marketers have the communications expertise to influence consumer perceptions and behaviors.

What it will take is a stronger marketing, care delivery and operations partnership.  But, oh, the possibilities.

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Posted in Digital Strategy, Healthcare Internet, Marketing Management, Marketing Strategy

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Industry Pioneers Honored by Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame

Posted on April 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

Do you know a person or organization that has made numerous, lasting and significant contributions to the healthcare Internet field at a local, state or national level?  If so, you have until the end of day Friday, June 1, 2012 to nominate them for the 2012 Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame.  Nominations will be accepted for the following categories:

  • Innovative Individuals
  • Innovative Provider Organizations
  • Innovative Products and Services

The contributions of the nominated organizations and individuals to the industry must be extraordinary and far exceed what might be generally expected or accepted.  Candidates selected by the Board of Judges will be individuals or organizations that clearly standout from the mainstream, and whose work and accomplishments distinguish them from others working in the same field.

The Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame was established in 2011 to honor men, women and organizations that have made outstanding, long-lasting contributions to the healthcare Internet industry. The organization’s purpose, while honoring innovation, is to ensure that the “history” of the industry is preserved for future generations new to the healthcare industry.  

Although initially organized by Greystone.Net, the Hall of Fame is an independent organization whose annual inductees are selected by an independent Board of Judges. Inductions are made at the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame luncheon during the annual Healthcare Internet Conference.

The 2011 inductees were John Eudes, co-founder of Greystone.Net, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Sharp Healthcare, Epic, Estrada CMS and WebMD.  Click here to read more about their accomplishments.

So, who would you nominate?

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