I come from a very politically minded family – my parents, brothers, husband and I all take voting very seriously.  At family gatherings, there is sure to be at least one conversation that is political in nature.

I do my research, especially at election time, to understand the candidiates’ platforms and agendas.  I know this is not always the norm, though.  I know many that do not vote, or vote randomly.  This may be for a number of reasons – maybe they don’t understand what the issues are, if they can actually make a difference, or they are not concerned.

Whatever the reason, if you are reaching out to the community, it is important that your agency communicates the right message to the appropriate group of people.  Using social media is one idea – I am a Facebook follower of candidates I support – or start by developing a civic education program.  4imprint recently published a newsletter with some ideas on starting a program to educate your community.

It is never too late to begin a program, and with fall elections just around the corner, it may be the perfect time.

I spend a lot of time in the doctor’s office, since I will soon be adding to my family (baby # 2!).  At a recent appointment, I was thinking about how pleased I am with our physicians.  I had options when I chose our family doctors, and I made the right decisions for my family.  Just as I do research when purchasing a TV, refrigerator, or vehicle, I was able to do research before deciding which doctor to see.

If I am doing research, so are other patients.  So where are we getting this information?

Since almost 75% of the United States population uses the internet, it seems reasonable that this is a key source of information.  There are a number of government websites, such as AHRQ website, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Medline Plus, that provide insight for patients on what questions to ask and how to check the quality of a doctor.   Patients can also check the websites or social media sites of a particular organization to understand what they offer.

In my case, I also talked to family, friends, and coworkers for their input on particular physicians.  Real-life examples and experiences can have a huge impact on the decisions we make when it comes to healthcare.  Some of this may even be communicated through Facebook, Twitter, and even traditional email, where word travels quickly.

Do you know what patients are saying?  For ways you can appeal to potential patients check out 4imprint’s Healthcare newsletter.

We’ve all seen the statistics of unhealthy eating on children’s physical health, but recently I have come across some research about the impact of student nutrition on academic performance.

The studies I have found show that breakfast is important for students of all ages, from early childhood to college level.  According to a study by the Food Research and Action Center, children who skip breakfast before school have slower memory recall, lower cognitive test scores, and attendance issues.  Surveys of college students have indicated that as a result of skipping breakfast, they tend to fall asleep during class and become unable to concentrate.

While over 10 million students are participating in a school breakfast program, many more, approximately 30 million, participate in school lunch programs.  Whether your school offers breakfast and lunch, or just lunch, it is important to be sure that your nutrition programs offer healthy options.

Changing your school’s nutrition program to offer healthier options can be a high-profile event in which you involve students and parents.  Getting their buy-in upfront, as well as that of the school district, will make the transition easier, and minimize any negative reactions.  By building awareness about why the changes are necessary and enlisting the support of influential students or organizations, implementing the healthy eating during the school day will be seen as a positive change.

Has your school implemented any special programs to encourage healthy eating?

Read more why and how to promote a healthy meal program in 4imprint’s Education Newsletter.

We’ve all attended open houses for schools, neighborhood gatherings, and family events, but have you ever thought of holding an open house at your healthcare facility to network or offer new specialties to patients?

• Set up a meet & greet for staff to get to know new and existing patients.  Staff will have the opportunity to meet with patients on a personal level to get to know them better, understand their concerns, and learn about their families.  When greeted by name at the next appointment, both staff and patients will feel appreciated.
• Introduce the opening of a new location to the community.  Invite local media to the open house, as well as new and potential patients.  It’s a great opportunity to talk about the benefits of the new location, and make patients aware of your presence.
• Recruit new staff.  Invite prospective job candidates in to meet your staff currently in you organization.  They can get to know what positions and opportunities are available, and understand more about your business and plan.

Open houses provide many public relations opportunities for your healthcare facility, and provide an ideal occasion for you, your staff, and patients to network in a more casual setting.

For more information on planning an open house, take a look at 4imprint’s Healthcare Newsletter.

A phrase that we have been hearing quite a bit is ‘transparency in government.’  As a public we expect to hear what is going on within our government agencies and offices, and much of the information we get is from the internet.  While the internet is a great resource to find information, there is so much out there that it can be difficult to find complete and current information.

Where can we go to find information regarding what is going on in our government?  With email available, as well as social media options, there are many opportunities to communicate clearly and accurately with the public.

E-newsletters are an ideal way to communicate with the public.  About 79% of adults in the U.S. are online, and 90 of these use email, so it is a quick and effective way to communicate to a large group of readers.  4imprint’s recent Government newsletter offers some valuable steps for setting up your agency’s e-newsletter.

Another option is a social media site.  Facebook, for example, has over 250 million active users worldwide.  This type of site offers a great way to share documentation and articles with the public, by allowing users to ‘join’ the group.

Are you currently using technology to communicate to the public?  If so, I’d love to hear what you’re using and you’re applying it.  If you’re not, there is no better time to get started.

One of the fastest growing trends in medicine is not a specific treatment, but an approach to care. The existence of medical spas is on the rise, and offer patients relaxation during procedures which can be nerve-racking. Dermatologic and cosmetic treatments are the most common types performed at medical spas, but there are many other specialties that are beginning to use the medical spa strategy. Patients dealing with dialysis, cancer, and even fertility issues can find comfort and care in a spa setting. There are even spas popping up in hospitals, in an effort to provide overall health and wellness to patients.

For some ideas on making your practice more spa-like, check out 4imprint’s latest Healthcare newsletter.