Dear Annette, True there is limited literature and although I am not familiar with any studies or reports evaluating PR and Marketing in health care (except Van Riel on reputation Erasmus University hospital Rotterdam) in my practice I try to develop a monitor based on aimes / objectives defined to execute marketing. This makes the internal dialog on PR and marketing more mature and accountable.

Dear Dr. Annette,

I would say it depends on the hospital objectives as well. In my country, Tourism HealthCare is booming here and for private hospitals can measure the effectiveness of their marketing link to the number of customers from oversea and satisfaction. Medical Check-up is also a boom in the country until doctors feel the marketing team over sell packages not necessary to customers. Marketing team very efficient in closing deals but when don't match with customers need - effectiveness become ?

PR becomes the main tool of HealthCare marketing because medical doctors actually can't advertise due to regulatory constrain here. Professional like doctors usually get referral from their customers become common here. 

I love to see more HealthCare studies with the deployment of new technologies like facial measuring emotion looking at the advertisements, WIFI usage at waiting area (e.g: registration, waiting for doctors & Pharmacy) with information deliver to their mobile phone, etc. We've technologies for the suggested and ping me if you like to work together.

Thanks & Regards,

Joan 

Dear Annette,

'The proof of the pudding is in the eating'. Well, the only measurement in my opinion is RESULT. Has there been any improvement in sales and market share? Has there been an interest shown by hitherto unknown customer for your product? How did the competition react to your efforts?

Regards,

Dr.K.R.Subramanian