Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Thought Leaders Redefined

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

Want to know what the most influential folks in healthcare are pondering?  Check out Mayo Clinic’s Center for Innovation’s annual Transform Conference.  Given the slate of speakers, I see this event as the health care version of TED.  A great combo of innovators on the front lines, academia and those not even in the healthcare industry.  My favorite part:  they save five 5-minute slots (called iSpot) on the main stage for the public.  (That’s us folks.)

Another similarity to TED:  every speaker is doing “cool projects”, things that don’t involve a stage of audience.  They were invited to speak or share their views on what’s next.  My guess:  they were chosen not only because of their backgrounds, but also because of their current work.

Why do you care?  Two reasons:  if you’re going to speak for free, these are the venues to do it.  Anyone can apply for the iSpot slots.  And second, this is how the marketplace defines thought leaders.  Brand yourself accordingly.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Health, Speaking, branding, strategy | No Comments »

Healthcare Reform Boosts Sponsorship

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Healthcare reform is good or bad, depending on your politics or perspective.  One thing:  the key players — pharma, hospitals, health insurance companies — are beefing up their brand awareness efforts.  And they are using sponsorships to reach out directly to consumers.

Yes, consumers will make their choices in 2014.  But many organizations are starting now to build momentum.  Expect a wide range of opportunities, from more partnerships with associations to sports sponsorships.  If you have mass market appeal (or a book with a lot of buzz), check out this market segment.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Health, Sponsorship | No Comments »

Hidden Opportunities on Healthcare Reform

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

At the risk of skating on thin ice, I just have to report in on some major whispering among insiders about the new healthcare reform.  Conventional wisdom has it that insurance companies will got into retail marketing mode to get customers who operate outside the employer plans.  This means more outreach and more targeted approaches aimed at diverse market segments.

And they aren’t the only players.  Watch for hospitals, physician groups and even pharma manufacturers to get into the act to a lesser extent.

Why do we care?  Two big categories of opportunities for experts:  1) more initiatives for marketing experts to help out on, more social media efforts for the geeks among us; and, 2) sponsorships will rise both in sports / events segments as well as associations.  And even better:  we have time to plant seeds in this fertile ground.  Marketing activity will go into full swing in 2013 and 2014.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Health, Marketing, Sponsorship, strategy | No Comments »

Medical societies and the Feds

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Here we go again…Congress is asking 33 top medical societies for a list of funding sources going back to 2006.  What are they looking for?  Ties to the pharma and medical equipment industries.  “Transparency” is the reason cited.

My prediction:  look for a chilling effect.  Pharma funding is big here and the last thing they want is an “AIG” incident.  There’s no evidence that conference content is bought and paid for — and that doesn’t matter.  Watch for even more scrutiny on the horizon.  The antidote:  independent content from folks like us.  Look for topics on soft skills and running a better practice.  It won’t completely replace clinical education — just a safe alternative.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Health, Marketing, Speaking, branding, strategy | 1 Comment »

Are health insurance meetings next?

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

First, it was the banks that got TARP funds. Now Congress is setting their sights on health insurance companies. Democrats Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak sent a letter to 50 companies asking about all conferences, retreats, and events not only held, but also sponsored by the companies. They want location, number of participants, and all expenses incurred. By every unit, affiliate and subsidiary. Wow. Can you spell witch hunt?

Responses are due later this week. If this info goes public, watch for media reports of lavish spending. Healthcare is one of the few bright spots in the meetings industry. My prediction: hospitals are next. Get ready for the cancellations…

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Health, Marketing, Sponsorship, strategy | No Comments »

Wellness that works

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Heads up wellness experts: Corporate America still wants to reduce health care costs. What success looks like now: programs that employees actually use.

That puts behavior modification programs on the ropes, according to a recent study by HR consulting firm Hewitt Associates. What’s hot now? Onsite medical clinics, pharamcies and preventative services, such as flu shots.

Wellness wizards, don’t give up. Focus on employee participation and the employers will continue to find it. Focus on implementing already funded programs, and get your share of the budget.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Health, strategy | 3 Comments »

Unique opportunity for health care experts

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

All those give-aways are gone in medical meetings thanks to the latest Pharma rules. And those rules are clear — no gifts, regardless of minimal value, can be distributed to healthcare personnel. What can a pharmaceutical company do? Give away educational items of course. Key word here: educational. Watch for a flood of anatomical models and CDs at these meetings. Health care experts who apply their expertise with interactive products are going to have a field day. Anything less than $100 is fair game.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Health, strategy | No Comments »

Wellness programs under the microscope

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

For all you wellness experts out there:  your programs are about to get a hard dose of “put up or shut up.”  In the good ol’ days, Corporate America was willing to pay for the promise of lower health care costs.  Now, that assumption has to be backed up with facts.

Like most programs, lack of standards was a big obstacle.  But a couple of non-profits have developed tools that not only determine Return on Investment (ROI), but can also be used in the sales process to make a business case for your help.  Efforts are underway to standardize definitions and develop models by the National Committee of Quality Assurance and the Alliance for Wellness ROI.  Get intelligent about their efforts and watch your buyers see your programs in a new light.  Looking for a free online tool that might help?  Check out Wellness Council of America’s ROI Calculatorfor estimated savings on a variety of wellness programs.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Health, strategy | 1 Comment »