Cardiovascular referral sources should move to the forefront this February

Hearts are everywhere this time of year, including on all your collateral focusing on heart month. While you may be prepared for Valentine’s Day, National Wear Red Day, and even Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, you’re may be leaving out an important heart-related health observance that can help you market your office this February.

Feb. 11-17, 2018 is Cardiovascular Professionals Week. It’s a time to stop and shine a spotlight on the professionals who work tirelessly to keep hearts thumping and patients healthy. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Caring hearts healing hearts.”

Make a commitment to celebrating the cardiovascular professionals in your community this February. Here are some tips to help you get started.

• The job of cardiovascular professionals literally is to try to fix broken hearts every day. Create buttons with an image of a heart with an adhesive bandage announcing Cardiovascular Professionals Week. Distribute these to all the cardiovascular professionals you encounter, including physicians, nurses, rehabilitation specialists and more.
• Valentine’s Day is falls right in the middle of this important observance. Deliver clever Valentine’s Day cards with a healthcare theme to all your cardiovascular referral sources. Be memorable by using a cardiac themed message – maybe try something like “We’d never BYPASS a chance to tell you how much matter.” Don’t forget to include a small heart-shaped lollypop or other sweet treat.
• Write a post for your company blog about cardiovascular professionals and all the good they do for your community across the expansive discipline. Make sure to share the link via your social media profiles.
•  Visit the Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals’ web page for this observance. Find additional ideas there, including a planning guide.
• Get branded stress balls in the shape of a real human heart and distribute them to your physician referral sources for a low-cost promotional product they’ll hold onto for years. Call TAG Partners at 866-232-6477 for available options.
• While you’re in the room with these referral sources, make sure you show off your relevant Home Health Compare scores in a format that assures them you’re the best choice to care for their cardiovascular patients in need of home health care.

January 2014: New Year, New Plan

Now that January is here, it’s time to push marketing efforts into high gear and get focused on growing referrals and revenue in 2014. Let’s start by focusing on February’s emphasis on cancer awareness and prevention. February is National Cancer Prevention Month, and Feb. 4 is World Cancer Day. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 13 million Americans are living a current or previous diagnosis of cancer. Experts estimate about 41 percent of all men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lives. Spread the word about the seriousness of this disease and how home care can help.

• Distribute flyers about the benefits of to hospice the oncologists in your area. Be sure to discuss the appropriate time for hospice admission. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/hospice-specialty-care-flyers.php.
• Place brochures about cancer and your agency’s services for patients with the disease in the waiting rooms of oncologists, surgeons and infusion centers. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/disease-information-brochures.php.
• Demonstrate to referral sources that your agency is serious about making patients active participants in their care. Patient Education Guides not only help patients be more compliant and informed about their condition, but they are a tangible example of your agency’s dedication to patient care and unnecessary hospitalizations. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/patient-education-guides.php.

The heart takes center stage this month. Not only does the organ synonymous with love find its way onto store shelves and greeting cards, but it’s a vivid reminder that it’s also the time of year when we should all stop and focus on keeping our own hearts healthy. February is American Heart Month, and National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week and Cardiovascular Professionals Week take place Feb. 9-15. Remind people in your community that one of the best ways they can show their love for someone else is by taking care of his or her own heart.

• Participate in a local health fair and distribute flyers about heart disease, high blood pressure, myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/health-care-flyers.php.
• Spread the word about your agency’s commitment to heart health with “We’re all about heart” flyers, brochures and magnets that highlight heart disease and congestive heart failure. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/heartmonth.php.
• Use blood pressure logs to help patients stay on top of their condition while educating them about proper blood pressure tracking. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/bloodpressurelog.php.

You already know you wouldn’t be in business without your patients. It’s time to let them know how much you appreciate them. National Patient Recognition Day is Feb. 3. Make sure you do everything you can to convey the message that they are the reason you work hard every day to provide stellar service.

• Connect with seniors and raise awareness of your agency with puzzle books personalized with your logo and contact information. Display them in referral source waiting rooms, distribute them at senior centers, and offer them to your patients, too. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/puzzlebook.php.
• Give patients a powerful tool to improve compliance, disease monitoring and overall health. Patient Scorecard Logs are informative, helpful and easy to use. Get them at www.tagwebstore.com/patient-scorecard-logs.php.
• Host a community education class on a topic such as nutrition, making the most out of your doctor’s visit, or understanding Medicare. In addition to the participants at local senior centers, be sure to invite your clients’ family members to attend. Find ready-made classes at www.tagwebstore.com/healthmatters-education-series.php.