Duke's Nicholas School - Forging a Sustainable Future

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending some time in a recording studio with Dr. Bill Chameides, Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. I'm fortunate to have some video clips from my conversation with Bill and will share them with you here. Bill has spent more than 30 years in academia as a professor, researcher, teacher, and mentor with a 3-year stint as the chief scientist of the Environmental Defense Fund. According to his bio on the Nicholas School Website, "Bill’s research focuses on the atmospheric sciences, elucidating the causes of and remedies for global, regional, and urban environmental change and identifying pathways towards a more sustainable future." In short, he is a rock star in the world of sustainability. And there's nothing "academic" about his quest for a sustainable future. He is after real solutions.

Not only is the Nicholas School leading the way in creating a sustainable future, but they have embraced social media and are using blogs, Facebook and YouTube to spread the word. Bill maintains his own blog called The Green Grok. You can visit it online at http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/thegreengrok/. There you'll find both video and text posts from the Green Grok himself. "In The Green Grok, Dr. Bill Chameides elucidates causes of and potential remedies for environmental change and identifies pathways towards a more sustainable future." Bill recognizes that we are currently on an unsustainable path that threatens our way of life. He is on a quest for a more sustainable course - and for solutions that lead to a sustainable future. If this interests you, the Green Grok is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/thegreengrokcom/18954548244?ref=ts. Meanwhile, the Nicholas School's Facebook page can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ygohagw. Check it out.

Here's Bill talking about why he's excited to be at the Nicholas School and how it differs from other academic programs:

They are doing remarkable things at the Nicholas School of the Environment. I encourage you to follow them online and learn more about how you can become part of their drive toward a sustainable future.

Post by Dan Dunlop, Healthcare Marketing Done Right

Survey Indicates Signs of Optimism Among Healthcare Providers

In my local business journal (Triangle Business Journal) there was an article this week about a new study by Grant Thornton that indicated that healthcare executives predict an increase in hiring at a much hire rate than non-healthcare executives. They surveyed 846 CFOs and senior comptrollers from public and private companies, of which 72 were from health care organizations. You can access the Grant Thornton website and their press release about the study by going to http://tinyurl.com/ybpqzd6.

Although there are signs of optimism in the survey results, there are also indications that healthcare CFOs are having to deal with the realities of the recession by cutting bonuses and reducing health benefits for employees. Here is an excerpt from the Grant Thornton press release dated October 28, 2009:

"In a survey of health care CFOs and senior comptrollers conducted by Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, 38 percent say their organization will increase hiring in the next six months - 14 points higher than the national number - and one of the highest industries surveyed. More than half (52%) plan to reduce bonuses and half (51%) believe the U.S. economy will improve in the next six months.

In terms of pricing pressure, health care CFOs are overwhelmingly concerned about the cost of employee benefits (83%), such as health care and pension costs. Not surprisingly, 41 percent report that their company is reducing health care benefits and 21 percent are reducing 401(k) matches."

You can check out the original Triangle Business Journal article at http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2009/10/26/daily59.html.

Post by Dan Dunlop, Healthcare Marketing Done Right

Social Media Today Post - New Pew Internet Study

If you don't follow Social Media Today, I suggest you consider doing so. Go to http://www.socialmediatoday.com and take a look. I've found it to be a great resource.

On October 30, 2009, I found a post by Jill Kurtz titled "Data on Twitter and Social Media Use" that caught my attention. Jill reviews the findings of Pew Internet & American Life’s daily tracking survey on Americans’ use of the Internet just released in October 2009. Check out Jill's post at http://www.socialmediatoday.com/SMC/138349.

To download a PDF of the Pew Report, or to view it online, go to http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/17-Twitter-and-Status-Updating-Fall-2009.aspx. According tot he Pew Report, one in five Internet users are now on Twitter or another status update service, representing a significant increase over prior studies. As common sense would dictate, social network users are much more likely to be found using Twitter than non-social network users.

"Internet users who already use social network sites such as MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn are likely to also use Twitter: 35%, compared to 6% of internet users who do not use such social network sites." (Source: Pew Internet Study, October 2009)

The report also shows that people using mobile devices to access the Internet, and people with multiple Internet-connected devices, are more likely to use Twitter. Again, nothing surprising there.

I encourage you to check out Social Media Today and to visit the Pew website to download the new Internet Report. While you're there, you can review the other free resources they have available: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/17-Twitter-and-Status-Updating-Fall-2009.aspx.

Post by Dan Dunlop, Healthcare Marketing Done Right

Familiar with the Journal of Communication in Healthcare?

For the last month or so I've been getting email solicitations from the Journal of Communication in Healthcare. Every heard of it? Here's what the email messages have to say about the publication:

Journal of Communication in Healthcare is the major new peer-reviewed journal publishing high quality articles, research and real case studies on how to improve communication with patients, the public and media. It does not publish advertising or sales pitches, but rather detailed guidance and invaluable 'lessons learned' from fellow professionals that you can apply in your organisation right now, including:

• in-depth and unbiased examination of innovative strategies, techniques and campaigns

• information perceived as 'insider' or not generally available, including insights from clinicians, healthcare providers, charities and businesses

• controversial viewpoints on current issues and trends that challenge conventional mindsets

• input from influential policy makers reflecting their opinions, current thinking and views on the future

• in-depth, actionable guidance on best practice from PR, marketing, brand management, sales and other professionals

Evidently the Journal is produced by Henry Stewart Publications and Mario Nacinovich, President-Elect of the Healthcare Communication & Marketing Association is serving as Editor-in-Chief. I believe an annual subscription is $335 US. If you're familiar with the publication I'd love to hear what you think of it. You can learn more about the Journal of Communication in Healthcare online at http://www.henrystewart.com/jch/index.html.

Post by Dan Dunlop, Healthcare Marketing Done Right

Are Hospitals Missing the Web Bandwagon?

In the Sunday, October 18th issue of Suburban Journals there was an article about hospitals' reluctance to engage the social web - specifically Twitter. Here's a link to the story: http://tinyurl.com/yh4dxlx. If you're not already burned out on articles and posts about why healthcare organizations have been slow to adopt social media, then this piece by Eric Becker might be of interest. It is titled: "Why some hospitals keep missing the web bandwagon: Concerns about new technology hobble industry." Here's an excerpt from the story:

"But of all the factions that have embraced Twitter and other social media tools, one is largely absent from the mix, even though it relies heavily on making sure resources are available for customers: the hospital.

The reason, hospital and regulatory officials said, is because of the health care industry's complex nature, difficulties pegging emergency room wait times and even concerns about private information. For them, the social media tools that have been so widely lauded for improving lines of communication present largely uncharted waters, something few are ready to test." (Source: Suburban Journals, October 18, 2009)

Consider this article just another data point in the ongoing discussion about healthcare and social media. Sooner or later the industry will be far enough along that articles like this will no longer capture anyone's attention. I look forward to that day!

Post by Dan Dunlop, Healthcare Marketing Done Right

Fundraising and Social Media - Ragan.com Article

On October 29, 2009, Ragan.com posted an article by Jessica Levco titled: "Boy’s cancer battle inspires fundraising via social media." It is the story about how one boy's battle with cancer ended up inspiring the development of an entirely new development program to raise money for cancer treatments for children. They are finding that their Facebook page has been an essential element in the success of the program.

I've had a number of fundraising professionals from hospitals, medical schools and hospital foundations attend my webinars and contact me over the last few months with questions about social media. My answer is always that I believe social media is an ideal tool for fundraisers. The social web is all about creating communities (or the spaces where communities can flourish online) of shared interest. Individuals come together to exchange ideas, revel in their passion for a given subject or brand, and feed off of one another.

So think about donors to your institution and potential donors (grateful patients, for example). Doesn't social media offer the opportunity for you to bring these individuals together in an environment where you can showcase your institution and all of the good things it does in the region and community? In the past I've often heard development people lament the fact that they don't have a better way to engage grateful patients. Well let me tell you, that day has now arrived. The social web now gives you that opportunity. Colleges and Universities are jumping on the bandwagon, forming alumni groups on Facebook, just as one example.

To check out the article on ragan.com go to http://tinyurl.com/yhztf3h. Read this article and get a glimpse into the potential power of social media in fundraising! On Twitter, Curing Kids' Cancer can be found at http://twitter.com/curingcancer. The organization's website is located at http://www.curingkidscancer.org.

Post by Dan Dunlop, Healthcare Marketing Done Right

Article: Planet Cancer - A Place Where Cancer is the Norm

In Sunday's New York Times, passed on to me by my co-worker Bob Kochuk (he's highly literate), there's an interesting article titled: "A World Where Cancer Is the Norm." This great article, written by Gina Kolata, is an extensive and intimate profile of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the largest of its kind in the world - seeing 90,000 patients each year. It is a massive article with tons of detail. I highly recommend that you check it out online by going to http://tinyurl.com/ykw9qrh.

Here's an excerpt from a section of the article titled "Planet Cancer":

"For the nearly 90,000 patients who will go to the center in Houston this year, that mission cannot be fulfilled soon enough. They and their families arrive at the world’s largest freestanding cancer hospital from around the world, often leaving behind jobs and stashing children with relatives for months. Some rent apartments or stay in mobile home parks near the hospital.

They enter through a soaring lobby, with cheery aquariums and exuberant volunteer greeters eager to help in any way. They come looking for hope.

But there is no mistaking what this place is: the front line of the frustrating war on a still largely incurable disease." (Source: New York Times, Sunday, October 25, 2009)

The article goes on to tell a number of patient stories. That is where it is at its best. It is an amazing piece by Gina Kolata. A ton of work went into researching and writing this article. Find it online at http://tinyurl.com/ykw9qrh.

Post by Dan Dunlop, Healthcare Marketing Done Right