As we wind down the year and the first decade of the century, we’re celebrating the launch of our new website and reflecting upon the lessons and insights we gained through what felt at times to be a challenging but necessary process of reflection and analysis.
Now that we’re on the other side of it, it’s clear that we’ve arrived at a whole new chapter as a company and like the saying goes, the journey was as important as the destination. Here are a few of our key findings:
PR is changing
Established and emerging technologies are creating a whole new definition of stakeholders who expect personalized information and experiences. Effectively connecting to them requires transparency and an openness that allows them to choose the content they want and gives them the ability to have their voices heard.
Healthcare Technology is Hot
Discussions about healthcare technology have gone mainstream. Case in point: back when we started in1998 it was a challenge to get people to understand what an Electronic Health Record (EHR) was or what benefit it would bring. Today EHR’s are understood at the mainstream consumer level (http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=C3K&q=ehr+electronic+health+record&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=0&oq=EHR+elect). And the conversation is heating up: with a $19B stimulus package and an impassioned healthcare reform debate, people from all walks of life are talking about healthcare technology in ways and through means never imagined before.
Credibility is More Important than Ever
Generating awareness will always be an essential outcome of PR, however strengthening credibility is equally important. In an era of perpetually evolving stakeholders, credibility and trust are the keys to building lasting relationships that deliver lasting value for our clients.
Measurement = Dialogue
Measurement is critical. We’ve learned that in order for PR to be truly relevant to the present and future of healthcare technology we must demonstrate the value that PR delivers beyond clicks or clippings. That’s why we examine the quality of engagement and the conversations so that clients can gain benefit from feedback and build stronger, better companies, products and services from it.
We started out focused exclusively on Healthcare Technology because we are passionate about playing an essential, integral communications role at the crossroads of science and society. While the conversations might change, our commitment to credibility and our dedication to clients’ success remain constant.
In the months ahead we’ll be adding new features, functions, and more to the site. But for now, I’d like to thanks everyone who contributed to the launch.
We will be at the annual RSNA conference (link to http://www.rsna.org/ )in Chicago this week. Join us to learn more insights and findings from the conference.
Shirin Bhan
