July 28, 2014

Finding the Right Words 

 

by Roxanne Jones

 

With today's emphasis on health literacy, it's important to be understood. But the technical terms found in a lot of health information can be confusing, especially for people who don't speak English as their first language or don't have strong reading skills.

 

Here's the first of a series of Monday Minutes posts that'll provide some plain-language equivalents to terms, phrases and references we often use in our health communications. They offer the potential for better understanding by your consumer audience. Your comments and suggestions are welcome!

 

This Week: General Terms

 

Concur - agree, feel the same way

Consequently - so, as a result, which means that, this means that

Corroborate - confirm, agree with

Currently - now, today

Demonstrate - show, prove

Detect - find, discover

Determine - figure out, decide, find out, test to see if

Discharge - go home, leave the hospital

Exacerbate - worsen, make worse

Facilitate - help, make easier

Impede - get in the way, slow, slow down

Implement - start, begin, put into action, carry out

Intervention - care to improve a medical problem

Utilize - use

 

With thanks to the Plain Language Thesaurus for Health Communications produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Marketing. 

 

Roxanne Jones is a NESHCo board member and a freelance writer. Contact Roxanne here.

Featured Position 

Marcom Specialist, Lawrence General Hospital    

Lawrence General Hospital's Marketing Communications Department is seeking a high energy individual with experience in public relations, marketing or related field. Experience in healthcare is a plus. The well qualified candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in Public Relations or related field, well developed writing skills, demonstrated graphic design and desktop publishing skills, and a comfort level handling multiple projects and deadlines. Three to five years' experience preferred. Accreditation in Public Relations is a plus. Events planning, and experience working with the media are preferred. We're looking for a flexible team player with a cool head, eager to integrate into a fast-paced, professional environment.

 

Position Summary:  As part of Lawrence General Hospital's Marketing Communications Team, the Marketing Communications Specialist will assist in driving brand understanding, customer preference, and strategic marketing efforts, effectively representing the hospital's mission, services, affiliations and programs to physicians, employees, patients and the local community.

Enhance target audience access to hospital programming through an array of communication tactics, using brand and corporate messaging in addition to service specific information.

Cultivate internal audiences' knowledge and understanding of mission, brand and strategic objectives to foster ownership of hospital success

Assist in increasing website traffic, working with web partner on Search Engine Optimization, integrated tracking and analytics programs, interactivity and social media tactics.

Contribute to social media activity that will raise overall hospital profile increase customer engagement, and achieve targeted objectives using channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as appropriate.

Manage vendor relationships to help design and create marketing communication collateral, compliant with hospital branding and style guides, that supports hospital, partner and clinical growth strategies.

 

Position Requirements

* Strong team focus 
* Ability to work with multiple colleagues, partners and customers simultaneously and at all levels of the organization

* Strong organizational skills, ability to multi-task

* Work closely with other team members to provide seamless handoffs of project materials and tactical assignments

* Contribute to team projects and the team's success in the organization. 

 

Tactical communication expertise  * Possess and leverage expertise with target-and objective-appropriate communication tactics, both traditional and new media, to achieve stated objectives

* Coach clients on best practice communication execution

* Build objective-driven communication plans

* Work with our partners and strategically prioritized clinical service line directors to support coordinated multi-channel, multi-faceted communication

* Understand the importance of brand standards in design, communications and messaging

* Exercise resourcefulness, flexibility, and detail-orientation

 

Writing Excellence

Provide professional writing and editing without factual or typographical errors in a variety of media, including printed material, broadcast scripts, and digital copy.

Demonstrate ability to translate pertinent healthcare information for presentation to internal and external audiences.

Meet established deadlines.

Follow established protocols in securing interviews and photographs, including appropriate informed consent forms.

Present all work for timely and appropriate review by colleagues and director.

Serve as editor and proofreader for team members' copy.

Write and edit according to departmental writing style guide.

 

Digital marketing expertise

Demonstrate digital marketing knowledge, especially in areas of SEO, multimedia and social media

Exercise strong knowledge of web analytics and how to implement for best results

Leverage experience in digital and social media, including design, content management and strategy

 

Education and Training

Bachelors degree in public relations, marketing or related communication field required, Accreditation in Public Relations a plus

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Email marketing tools

 

Click here to apply or email your resume and cover letter.

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER

 

NESHCo 2014 Webinar Series


Spaulding Rehab: The Center of Recovery for Boston Marathon Bombing Survivors

 

Thursday, July 31

9-10 am

Presented by Timothy Sullivan, The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network & Partners Continuing Care

 

The twin blasts that occurred at the Boston Marathon in 2013 shook a city and region to its core. The response from all corners to provide support was immediate and immense. The region's medical centers shined as never before. In the weeks that followed and as the next phase of recovery began, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital found itself at the center of the response and media spotlight. Over the months that followed, Spaulding treated 32 survivors, many for limb loss and facilitated hundreds of media opportunities, all of this done while transitioning the entire hospital operations to the first new hospital in Boston a mere 12 days after the marathon. Learn how core communication principles, incident command structures and a lot of teamwork and long nights helped the Spaulding communications team navigate an unprecedented situation to ensure the best outcomes for their patients and the hospital.

 

About the Presenter
Tim Sullivan serves as the Director of Communications for the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, overseeing communications and media relations for 4 inpatients hospitals, 2 skilled nursing facilities, and 23 outpatient centers. He also serves as adjunct faculty at Boston University in the Online Graduate Health Communications Program.

 LAST CALL FOR JUDGES! 

 

If  you or your colleague has 5+ years of healthcare marketing communications experience and can give 5-7 hours in August (spread out over several weeks) for judging, please contact us ASAP by emailing

 

 

 
Please note
 

NESHCo has moved. Our new mailing address is

 

NESHCo
PO Box 581

West Newbury, MA 01985 

 

 

 

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For information, please contact us at [email protected] or call 978-948-8600.

Visit our website www.neshco.org