It's not always about the technology in healthcare

I have been fortunate to not have spent a lot of time in a hospital as a patient or even as a visitor. But, if I were asked to help envision my local hospital’s future, I would want it to include the best technology available. Isn’t that what most people want in their local hospital? Or do we expect more? It turns out, we DO want more as was discovered when two communities were asked to express their concerns and wishes during visioning sessions in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley.

To help develop their next five-year strategic plan, Sacred Heart Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital both invited the community to visioning sessions to gain input on what the people would like to see in their future hospital and hospital system. Surprisingly, their communities wanted more than just the best technology. Throughout the discussions, one common theme became obvious; residents wanted their future healthcare system to take a holistic approach and treat mind, body and spirit.

Patients want the comfort of touch while they are in the hospital. They want physicians to speak with them rather than at them and use vocabulary that is understandable. Community members also said that physicians, nurses and other healthcare personnel need to look their patients in the eye and connect with them.

So keep in mind that no matter your industry – healthcare, retail, building products – sometimes your best ideas come from those who use your services and products – your customers.

Tipping our hat to hospice professionals

Hospice. It certainly isn’t a word that comes up in conversation every day, but perhaps it should. All too often, people put off conversations about their wishes regarding end-of-life care until a devastating illness puts a time limit on their life.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is observed in November. This year’s theme for the observance is Seasons of Caring. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) put it best, saying “Hospice professionals and volunteers work in concert with the rhythms of the seasons, helping people recall, retell, reflect, remember and celebrate all the seasons of their lives.”

At R/P Marketing Public Relations, we operate a division dedicated solely to marketing hospice organizations. Transcend Hospice Marketing Group helps hospice organizations across the country differentiate their services from competitors, find their “voice” to tell the story of who they are and what they do and educate local communities about the benefits of hospice care. Promoting hospice is different than promoting other services – even other services encompassed in healthcare. Hospice care is a very sensitive subject for patients and families.

We pride ourselves on creating a seamless blend of marketing science and art. Our approach is based solidly on research of a specific service area – guiding strategies with data and providing a baseline with which to measure success. This science is combined with the art of developing a distinctive, memorable and consistent brand to help make a hospice organization the preferred choice for quality end-of-life care in its community.

During this Season of Caring, we tip our hat to hospice professionals who give tirelessly to provide support, care and compassion to people as they experience the end of life with dignity.