Hot Topics from SHSMD

We had a great time at SHSMD this year mixing with all the brilliant healthcare minds in Philly. We reunited with old friends, made some new friends + filled our brains to the brim over many exciting healthcare discussions. So, what were the hot topics? Digital Marketing – Interesting factoid: only 6.2% of attendees tweeted using the hashtag #shsmd12. What does this mean? Well, for one, many healthcare marketers aren’t completely comfortable with Twitter. It appears that for those hospitals who are just dipping their toes in the social media waters, the place to start is with Facebook, rather than Twitter. In our own research we have found that the most coveted healthcare consumers are more likely to spend their time on Facebook than any other social media platform. But digital marketing is so much more than social media: web, mobile, email, content strategy, blogs… Healthcare marketers’ heads are understandably spinning with so many options to explore. Physician Engagement + Alignment – Among the current challenges of healthcare reform, the relationship between hospitals and physicians stands out as a key factor. Particularly, there is a strong need for hospitals to achieve physician engagement as a way to ensure a healthy bottom line. From cultural changes to the regulatory environment, from patient satisfaction to Medicare reimbursement, physicians are increasingly at the center of hospital viability. Patient Experience – Hospitals are taking a long hard look at their mission, business models, marketing strategy, brand and the needs of the community they serve. Already many hospitals are measuring and placing great importance on the concept of patient experience. A combination of increased consumer access to information, rising healthcare expectations, the importance patients place on “softer” things like bedside manner and empathy, as well as greater community awareness of the importance of wellness, means that hospitals are accountable as never before to those they serve. These are just a few of the hottest topics discussed by many at SHSMD 2012. What are the hot healthcare topics that you deal with on a daily basis?