Lisa Mulcahy

Lisa Mulcahy is an internationally established health writer whose credits include the Los Angeles Times, Redbook, Glamour, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Health, Good Housekeeping, Parade, Woman's Day, Family Circle and Seventeen. She is the author of eight best-selling books, including "The Essentials of Theater," an Amazon No. 1 new release.

Her Contemporary Authors biography is available here.

Articles by Lisa Mulcahy

• 5 fresh ways to beat consumer decision fatigue in your social media and digital marketing

  Tuesday, September 07, 2021

  As a business owner or marketer, you've probably thought that the causes of decision fatigue which could stop a consumer from paying attention to your brand messages online are completely out of your control, right? Think again. Decision fatigue has everything to do with the specifics of your customers' lives at any given moment, and nothing to do with the quality of your brand and product.

• False negatives in COVID-19 testing and what they mean for your business

  Tuesday, August 10, 2021

  As the country reopens, the COVID-19 crisis will continue to impact your brand for the foreseeable future — sometimes in ways you never considered. What would the impact on your business be if your patrons or staff test negative for COVID-19 as you try to re-establish operations, but it turns out they are actually positive?

• 5 surprising ways consumers really think

  Tuesday, July 27, 2021

  Taking a deeper dive into the overall ways consumers think online can yield some pretty surprising insights — insights you can use to boost your bottom line, and give your customers what they truly seek. Use these science-driven tips to reboot your strategies as your company expands post-pandemic, and enjoy more success than ever:

• What lessons did COVID-19 teach your healthcare organization? Use what you learned to improve

  Thursday, June 03, 2021

  Every hospital administrator, physician and caregiver has been tested and changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the challenges your facility faced were no doubt huge and tremendously difficult, you and your teams can now take the lessons you learned while operating during COVID-19 to improve patient care to its highest degree — and you can innovate for the future through key steps that will ensure you’re prepared for anything. Use the following science-based advice for identifying and implementing the changes you need to offer your very best to your community.

• Tech tricks that could prevent future COVID-19 outbreaks in your healthcare organization

  Monday, May 10, 2021

  Even as the COVID-19 pandemic finally seems to be showing signs of slowing down in the U.S., you know as a hospital administrator or physician that you still can't take your eye off the ball in terms of prevention strategy. One of your top priorities will be stopping any further coronavirus spread in your facility until herd immunity and/or highly controlled case counts have been reached in your region, so you need up-to-date solutions your staff can swiftly and easily implement. The following cutting-edge techniques can mean simplified and highly effective infection control for your organization.

• Telemedicine post-COVID: How to implement key lessons from the pandemic to boost efficiency

  Monday, April 12, 2021

  As you no doubt have learned as a healthcare administrator or professional throughout the COVID-19 crisis, telemedicine is hugely beneficial when it comes to quick triage and treatment of patients at a distance. But that's not the only way you can incorporate this universal technology to help your hospital, clinics or office locations run better. New research is outlining fresh ways you can use telemedicine now and in the future to optimize how well your organization runs. Here are three areas you can focus on.

• 5 digital marketing strategies to plan as the pandemic begins to shift

  Monday, December 21, 2020

  As we look ahead to 2021, it's time to start proactively planning campaigns, launches and revenue growth — and feel some much-needed optimism. A stat to get you started is that 57% of surveyed small business owners say that they are optimistic or extremely optimistic about the future of their businesses, according to the 2020 Facebook Small Business Report. So, there are customers out there who will be eager to purchase your products and services, and partners waiting to work with you. What steps can you take now to facilitate this as soon as we move into safer times? Try these five clear, concise steps:

• Visual breakthroughs in social media marketing to take advantage of in 2021

  Tuesday, December 15, 2020

  As a digital/social media marketer, you know that innovation, especially in the time of a pandemic, can be a true asset when it comes to retaining your brand's customers and gaining new ones. Key elements you can use to ensure engagement across your platforms include exciting, fresh visual tools. From emerging technology to new angles in visual content design, there are a range of visual advertising enhancements that can help boost your brand's sales and sustain your profits throughout 2021. Here are five specific visual breakthrough areas you and your marketing team can use to best advantage.

• How subscription-based marketing can be a key tool in your digital strategy

  Wednesday, December 02, 2020

  As a digital/social media marketer, you know that an especially crucial task for your brand, as it moves through the pandemic and beyond, is customer retention. Your goal in this respect is to engage your existing demographic's interest in your products and services so they stay loyal and give you the repeat business you need. You also want to keep attracting new eyeballs to what you have on offer. An excellent way to accomplish all of this is with a subscription-based marketing strategy.

• Why attribution modeling is an effective way to improve your marketing might

  Wednesday, November 18, 2020

  As a marketer, you know how important it is for your messaging to resonate in the cost-conscious climate COVID-19 has created. A novel and highly efficient way to make this happen is with attribution modeling. As defined by Call Rail, attribution modeling is a process that lets you break down and assign credit to various key touchpoints that happen during a customer journey. Which initial touchpoints are key to incorporate in the attribution modeling process?

• How key performance indicators can help boost your brand during COVID-19

  Wednesday, November 04, 2020

  As a marketer, you know the importance of monitoring your brand's progress as the pandemic continues. Some great ways to achieve this are by using key performance indicators (KPIs) in brand-new and highly effective ways. Freshen up your goal-hitting strategy by looking at your KPIs through a brand-new lens — or put them to use for the very first time. Whichever way you choose to use them, it's crucial to recognize that KPIs can be an amazing growth tool for your brand. How should you be using them right now and after COVID-19? Take these essential, profit-building steps.

• Marketing ecosystems are new ways to connect now and after COVID-19

  Thursday, October 29, 2020

  As a marketer, you're no doubt familiar with the concept of "tribe" marketing — the practice of identifying consumer groups in certain interest bubbles that you can spread word of your products and services to. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, a fresh, excellent way to expand your business now and for the future is to take the "tribe" concept a step further. Think of your customer base as a series of "ecosystems" — self-contained groups that thrive and respond best within a certain communication climate.

• Avoiding customer churn: How to secure repeat business for your brand as the pandemic continues

  Wednesday, October 28, 2020

  Customer churn is rampant throughout today's marketing landscape. Data from Search Engine Watch found that, since the pandemic began, 46% of surveyed marketers report they have lost customers, and just 12% of those surveyed report they were able to gain new customers during the quarantine. How does a brand start to combat customer churn? Here are five key steps marketers should take to keep buyers interested, satisfied and secure during the pandemic — and preserve their loyalty after COVID-19.

• Why phased-in marketing is the right way to resume a top-selling product message

  Thursday, October 22, 2020

  As a marketer, you have no doubt needed to proceed with caution when it comes to product messaging during the pandemic. As the pandemic continues, however, consumers will want to refocus their attention on your top-selling items again out of need, the ability to spend a bit more, or for a much-needed impulse buy. How do you reposition these products in the marketplace delicately, fairly and appealingly? A phased-in marketing approach, in which you gradually reintroduce these products into your content across your platforms and on your website, is the smart way to go.

• Newsjacking is a powerful tool to boost your brand — if you do it right

  Wednesday, October 21, 2020

  As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you as a marketer are of course looking for appropriate ways to augment your brand's visibility and profits. One strategy to try is newsjacking. The term was invented by author David Meerman Scott, who defines newsjacking as implementing your brand's marketing or opinion into news stories that are breaking online through blog posts, tweets, or social media posts. So, how do you make the newsjacking process happen for your brand quickly and easily? Use the following five steps to ensure you're maximizing your ad potential and creating copy that is appropriate, sensitive and positive.

• How geofencing can help get your profits back on track

  Wednesday, October 14, 2020

  Geofencing technology allows you to reach customers at or near your store locations easily and inexpensively. In a nutshell, geofencing creates a virtual "boundary" around your business location using GPS- or RFID-enabled software. Geofencing can also be used to deliver key sales information to potential customers if your business is located in a competitive area. How can you use the technology to your greatest advantage? Focus on the following key points.

• 5 fresh rules for rebooting your brand’s keyword strategy as COVID-19 continues

  Thursday, October 08, 2020

  As a marketer, you know the crucial importance of monitoring consumer interest on an ongoing basis during the pandemic. One simple way to keep your ad content fresh across your brand's social platforms and in search results is to focus on your keyword choices. The great news is that revamping your keyword strategy to meet your existing and potential customers' needs is easier than ever. Here are five out-of-the-box, highly effective rules you can immediately put into practice to accomplish this goal.

• Study: How ‘empathy lens’ marketing can increase your brand’s profits as COVID-19 continues

  Thursday, October 01, 2020

  As a marketer, you know the importance of brand outreach. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more important than ever for your customers to respect and identify with the "faces" representing your products and services. You want your customers to like the point people they deal with initially and bond with them on a fundamental level. How can you most effectively achieve this goal? A recent study published in the Journal of Marketing may hold the key.

• How biometrics can help your patients during COVID-19 and beyond

  Tuesday, September 22, 2020

  As a healthcare administrator or physician, you know that your patients are dealing with heightened anxiety during COVID-19. Concerns about face-to-face treatment, financial worries, and a strong need for convenience and ease in interactions are just a few of the issues your patients are wrestling with. One powerful way you can help pacify their fears and make their treatments easier than ever is by implementing biometric technology within your organization, facilities and clinician practices.

• The right marketing strategies for keeping new customers your brand has acquired during COVID-19

  Thursday, September 17, 2020

  Your brand may have picked up some new audience segments during the COVID-19 crisis. Now is the perfect time for you to convince those new consumers that your brand has the features they want for the long term — do it effectively and you can hang on to your "COVID customers" for good. Focus on the following five key areas to impress your new audience now and preserve their loyalty as the pandemic continues — and beyond.

• 5 key factors in e-commerce to adapt your digital marketing strategy to as COVID-19 continues

  Thursday, September 10, 2020

  Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, your marketing strategies for your brand have likely boiled down to two essential goals: stay alive and be profitable. Now it's time to start shifting the nuance of your approach a bit. In order to thrive and increase your brand's profits as your customers accept their "new normal," you need to read some tea leaves. Specifically, you need to understand how to navigate five crucial e-commerce conditions that will determine how well your messaging reaches your audience.

• Intent-driven content: A fresh marketing strategy to boost your brand

  Wednesday, September 02, 2020

  When it comes to analyzing what your customers want during the COVID-19 crisis, your brand has most likely had to do quite a bit of scrambling. But a new marketing approach can give you the perfect bird's-eye view of what your existing (and potential) audiences need. Intent-driven content marketing is a strategy where you determine what granular information a customer is intending to gain when using a search engine and then tailoring your brand content to meet those detailed needs.

• How to review — and improve — your brand’s social commerce metrics throughout COVID-19

  Thursday, August 27, 2020

  As a digital marketer, you know all too well that communicating your brand strength during this ongoing pandemic is rife with challenges. Yet, there are still ways to make progress during this time and boost the bottom line. A key move to make now, and on a regular basis as the COVID-19 crisis continues, is to take a thorough measurement of your social commerce metrics.

• The virtual lunch: A new marketing tool to help boost your brand during COVID-19

  Wednesday, August 19, 2020

  As a digital marketer attempting to make the wisest pivots and adjustments possible in this pandemic age, you need to think outside the box. What's an extremely original way to network, keep in touch with your existing customer base, and introduce a new demographic to your products and services? The virtual lunch. The concept is simple, so read on to find out how it can give your brand a boost.

• How a new study can help identify patients at risk for COVID-19 due to lifestyle choices

  Thursday, August 13, 2020

  As a healthcare professional, you understand the importance of testing and treating at-risk patients for COVID-19 as quickly as possible. A new study from Carnegie Mellon University could change the way you ID these patients. Professor Sheldon Cohen's article reports that unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, avoiding exercise, and avoiding all social contact during the pandemic may make patients more susceptible to respiratory infections like COVID-19 and put them at risk for the worst outcomes.

• Why focusing on value-driven digital marketing could be the key to your brand’s survival

  Thursday, August 06, 2020

  As a digital or social media marketer looking to appropriately guide your brand messaging through the pandemic, your most important job throughout this sensitive period is to strike the right tone. The solution: focus on value-driven content. What points are most important to focus on so you're truly speaking to your audience's needs? Put your team's full attention on the following five essential areas.

• Study:  A look at how consumers are making real-time purchase decisions during the pandemic

  Thursday, July 23, 2020

  As a marketer, you understand that many factors go into the way families decide to purchase a product or not. Before COVID-19, consumers had ample opportunity to plan ahead for a large purchase. Now? Changing conditions regarding employment, lockdowns, and budgeting stringently means millions of consumers must make many buying decisions on a day-to-day basis. Fascinating new research can help you gain insights into purchasing behaviors during the pandemic.

• How doctors and patients can best use healthcare apps during COVID-19

  Wednesday, July 22, 2020

  As we continue to deal with life during the pandemic, physicians and healthcare organizations want to make essential medical information easier to access and more accurate. What are some of the most interesting and effective new app technologies being used for coronavirus-related healthcare concerns? Read on to learn more.

• 5 key rules for healthcare communications as COVID-19 continues

  Thursday, July 16, 2020

  You're no doubt seeking to communicate accurately and compassionately as our country continues to deal with COVID-19. Use the following five crucial rules to do this. By paying attention to these points, you'll provide your patients with the facts, reassurance, and adjustments they need.

• Brand altruism in the age of COVID-19: 5 marketing mistakes you should never make

  Thursday, July 09, 2020

  In the age of COVID-19, you know that many brands are attempting to "give back" to their loyal customers as a core messaging and business practice. Yet, when employed the wrong way, brand altruism can be disastrous for your reputation, not to mention a detriment to the customers you could be truly assisting. Here are five essential mistakes no brand should make when it comes to generosity during the pandemic.

• In-app messaging: A great strategy to boost business during the age of COVID-19

  Wednesday, July 01, 2020

  As a marketer, you want to provide your customers and clients ease and agility when it comes to purchasing products and services from your brand during the COVID-19 crisis. In-app messaging is an ideal tool to help you achieve this. Depending on your current products and services, you can use in-app messaging to pull new customers into your base, answer customer service questions, launch products, or make easier use of your products and services — the sky is truly the limit. Here are some key areas you can start with.

• 5 mistakes to avoid in marketing campaigns as the pandemic continues

  Friday, June 26, 2020

  As a marketer seeking recovery for your brand as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the nation, it's essential to adopt the right mindset. It's perfectly logical that you want to come out strong with digital communication right out of the gate and ensure the start of a robust profit recovery. Slow your roll, though — the last thing you want to do right now is read the tea leaves wrong and alienate your existing customer base and potential clientele.

• Study: How doctors can identify the kinds of stress patients are dealing with due to COVID-19

  Wednesday, June 24, 2020

  As a healthcare professional, you know the abrupt and traumatic physical impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your patient population. The life-changing emotional ramifications for those patients are much harder to assess for your organization but are no less important to address. A new study can help your doctors determine which stressors are causing your patients the most difficulty so action can be taken to help them get relief quickly and effectively.

• Neuromarketing: An exciting new technology to revolutionize your marketing potential

  Thursday, June 18, 2020

  According to a new report, the most significant adjustment in marketing activity during the age of COVID-19 has been to change messaging, with almost half (45%) of responding business owners doing so. Imagine how powerful and effective your updated messaging could be if you knew exactly what your consumers found exciting on a cellular level. This is entirely possible thanks to neuromarketing, an exciting, fresh technology that is tipped to revolutionize how brands can message their demographics. Here are some key points about neuromarketing you need to know.

• The new study on COVID-19 transmission that can help convince every patient to wear a mask

  Wednesday, June 17, 2020

  As a healthcare professional, you know the critical importance of face masks for stopping the spread of COVID-19. You no doubt also know that some of your patient population is not in compliance with doing so, which is a very worrisome issue. However, a brand-new study from researchers Renyi Zhang, Yixin Li, Annie L. Zhang, Yuan Wang, and Mario J. Molina, "Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19," can offer you the informational support your physicians and staff need to communicate the importance of mask-wearing to these patients.

• How split testing can give a big boost to your digital marketing strategy

  Tuesday, June 16, 2020

  As a digital media marketer helping your brand emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, you know that taking stock of where your ad planning stands is critical. A new report finds that 73% of all businesses surveyed are working on strategic planning. One powerfully effective way to evaluate your brand's strategy is with split testing. This is an easy way to determine how well your marketing assets will truly perform.

• How to power up your marketing might through improved browser push notifications

  Friday, June 12, 2020

  According to a new report, only one-quarter of surveyed businesses have been able to shift completely to virtual work environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. This news isn't all bad, though — most of your customers are living life through their phones and laptops, too, and they want more convenience than ever. What's one terrific way to freshly tailor your brand’s marketing messages as your clients, partners and customers start spending again? Amp up your browser push notifications.

• How a new study can help doctors identify COVID-19 infections faster

  Wednesday, June 10, 2020

  Outpatient presentations of COVID-19 remain a tricky management challenge for all healthcare professionals. When it comes to quickly triaging a patient, you need your evaluation to be as accurate as possible, especially when that patient's symptoms may or may not traditionally fit testing criteria — or if your organization has testing kit shortages. Good news: fresh research from Harvard Medical School may be able to help you determine which presenting patients need further COVID-19 workups and which patients may have another condition.

• Smart bidding can be your new digital marketing weapon for recovering brand profits

  Thursday, June 04, 2020

  According to a new report, 79% of surveyed B2B businesses say they've been negatively impacted by COVID-19. That same report finds that 28% of surveyed businesses think their sales cycle will be slowed by three to six months. How can you start boosting your sales as quickly as possible? Smart bidding is a tech tool you can use to analyze millions of signals within your customer data — something you could never do single-handedly.

• How to incorporate socially distanced influencers into your new digital marketing campaigns

  Wednesday, June 03, 2020

  A new report finds that 60% of surveyed B2B businesses are currently focusing on social media advertising due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world recovers from COVID-19, everything looks and feels very different. Incorporating socially distanced influencers into campaigns that reflect our new way of life may seem challenging. After all, you want your influencers to strike the right messaging tone as we proceed out of the worst of the crisis, but you also want contributions to be engaging and informative and to be seen by the right audience for your products or services.

• The pillar page: Your secret weapon to marketing growth

  Thursday, May 28, 2020

  During the pandemic, you're no doubt brainstorming ways to boost earnings as soon as possible. A fresh way to do it is by building the perfect pillar page. A pillar page is a lengthy explainer you use on your company website and across your platforms that will completely answer a question your audience has, using both text and graphics. According to data from Single Grain, a pillar page can help your SERP on Google if it's thorough enough in terms of its layout and content. Here's how to create the ideal pillar page.

• How your hospital’s radiology department can be a key line of defense against COVID-19

  Thursday, May 21, 2020

  As a healthcare professional, your goal has been to blunt the impact of COVID-19 as well as you can. Yet, you may have never considered how one specific part of your hospital could be a most effective containment area. Your radiology department can serve as an essential point of protection for all your patients and staff, according to fascinating, fresh research. The study, published in the journal Radiology, contains many important recommendations every hospital should implement.

• How to shift your marketing messages the right way as COVID-19 restrictions lift

  Wednesday, May 20, 2020

  As a marketer dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, you've learned to pivot on a dime — a strategy that has served you well and will continue to serve you well in the future. It's essential to look ahead now, though, and begin the process of tweaking your message to your customers in a timely and sensitive way. Sensitivity and customer consideration should be the hallmark of your strategy at this time. It's key to focus on the following five key planning points.

• How well can your hospital recover after COVID-19?  This new study can help

  Wednesday, May 13, 2020

  As a healthcare professional at a hospital, you know your facility has faced its greatest operational challenges ever because of COVID-19. You're no doubt thinking ahead to how your facility will normalize after the crisis eases — but how do you know what areas you need to focus your attention on? A new study from Colorado State University researchers Emad M. Hassan and Hussam Mahmoud, "An Integrated Socio-Technical Approach for Post-Earthquake Recovery of Interdependent Healthcare System," can help give you some vital guidelines.

• The new rules for working with influencers in the age of COVID-19

  Tuesday, May 12, 2020

  As a digital/social media marketer, you know the power and value of having strong influencers tout the benefits of your brand. In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, though, the way you work with and position influencers for your audience has to be appropriate and strategically wise. Consumers are focused on issues of survival these days, not as much about how a celebrity is promoting a product. Consumers still want influencer connection, though.

• How using Zoom as a marketing device can boost your brand’s profits

  Wednesday, May 06, 2020

  If your team is working remotely, chances are excellent that you've jumped on a Zoom conference call or two. But did you know that in addition to being a convenient meeting application, you can use Zoom right now to boost your brand's visibility and sales? Zoom is tailor-made for these tough times as you try to get your digital and social media messaging revamped — and your audience is eagerly jumping on the Zoom bandwagon. So, how do you incorporate Zoom into a campaign quickly and super-effectively?

• Ultraminimalism is a fresh, easy marketing approach to expand your brand’s reach

  Thursday, April 30, 2020

  Want to increase traffic and sales on your brand's site or platforms in the simplest, most vibrant way possible? As a digital/social media marketer, this sounds like a dream, but it can very much be your reality with an ultraminimalist revamp. In a nutshell, ultraminimalism as a brand strategy means cutting your text and images for message clarity, easier content navigation, and a streamlined message that has strong instant impact. So, what are the right ways to put an ultraminimalist site plan into motion?

• How robots can dramatically improve your hospital’s management of COVID-19

  Wednesday, April 29, 2020

  Whether you work as a physician or in administration, your attention is now squarely focused on reducing COVID-19 risk to your patients and caregivers in any way you can. One emerging solution that can help you achieve this goal is robotics. New research from the University of California San Diego found that mobile robots in a hospital setting can provide excellent results when it comes to key care areas related to COVID-19.

• Why every marketer needs to refine their voice search strategy in the age of COVID-19

  Friday, April 24, 2020

  As the coronavirus has caused consumers to stay at home, their search needs have become more specific and focused. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, your customers and clients want convenience as they search to buy what they need. The best way you can give it to them: positioning your brand for success with a great voice strategy. Focus on these key areas and you'll be covered.

• How marketers should use live chat to connect with customers during COVID-19

  Thursday, April 23, 2020

  As a digital/social media marketer, you know the importance of addressing your customers' concerns promptly and effectively. Live chat can be a great way to accomplish this goal anytime — but right now, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be a more important tool than ever. So, what are the right moves you need to make to employ live chat correctly at this sensitive time? Focus on the following points to ensure you're covering all bases.

• Product-focused videos: A key marketing strategy during and after COVID-19

  Thursday, April 16, 2020

  The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life in every imaginable way possible. Now more than ever, consumers are clamoring for products that meet their needs, not their wants — and they have to know how those products work before they buy. How does a digital marketer answer the call? With user-friendly and product-focused video content. Wyzowl's 2020 State of Video Marketing Survey found that 85% of brands use video as a marketing tool and 86% of consumers actually want more video from brands.

• How to make your livestream ads as effective as possible

  Wednesday, April 15, 2020

  Livestream video is exploding in terms of popularity and frequency of use. 2019 AudienceProject and eMarketer research found 60% of Americans who watch digital video do so on Facebook. Furthermore, numbers earlier this year from ReelnReel show that over 80% of people watch video content from a brand. As a digital marketer, you know the benefits of livestream advertising are plentiful — but how can you make your ad specifics as eye-catching, attractive and impactful as possible? Try these strategies.

• How visitor segmentation can powerfully refocus your digital marketing

  Friday, April 10, 2020

  As a digital marketer, you want to meet the needs of every single consumer who checks out your site or platform. A way to make this happen is through visitor segmentation. This highly granular approach basically means you're breaking your site’s visitors into clear and workable categories so you can target even the most niche customer with your full marketing might. It's personalized, it's effective, and it gives you excellent access to a new audience base. So, what visitor segmentation measures should you be using to reach your new and loyal visitors for best results?

• 5 ways all marketers should pivot during the COVID-19 crisis

  Wednesday, April 08, 2020

  When it comes to the shifting sands beneath your business model due to the coronavirus pandemic, the most important tool you need to employ as a digital/social media marketer is flexibility. It's crucial to read current conditions on a constant basis and be proactive in adapting your strategy to those conditions. You need to base your strategy on one word: pivot. The importance of a wise pivot is crucial to how well your marketing strategy will fare over the coming weeks and months.

• Virtual events are essential marketing tools for the short and long term

  Thursday, April 02, 2020

  During the coronavirus outbreak, live events for your brand have obviously been tabled. Planning virtual events, however, can very much be part of your present social/digital marketing strategy — and you may find they work for you in the post-COVID-19 times as well. Virtual events can effectively span the gamut from trade shows, sales environments, conferences and more; you can basically showcase every aspect and facet of your marketing might directly to your customers wherever they are. What key points do you need to keep in mind so you can plan and execute great virtual events? Pay close attention to these 10 smart moves to ensure clarity and great participant reactions.

• Adapting your marketing strategy for the aftermath of COVID-19

  Wednesday, April 01, 2020

  As we live through the COVID-19 pandemic day-by-day, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees — but this crisis will end, and that is a powerfully positive fact. Use your business now to plan for the aftermath so you can emerge in a strong position in terms of your brand's messaging. So, what are the right steps? Use these guidelines to help cover all your planning needs.

• How to digitally market appropriately and compassionately during the COVID-19 pandemic

  Friday, March 27, 2020

  You want to stay in touch with you customers during the COVID-19 crisis but you're acutely aware of the fact that a communication misstep can derail that good intention. Digital or social media brand messages that look opportunistic, insensitive or tone-deaf at this time could indeed be a deal-breaker for many consumers and decision-makers now and may be very difficult to recover from when sales conditions normalize down the line. How do you make sure you're communicating in a way that is humane, balanced, kind and altruistic? Here are 10 crucial, common-sense ways to accomplish your goal.

• Employee advocacy: A social marketing trend that can transform your customer base

  Thursday, March 26, 2020

  When it comes to using influencers in your social marketing strategy, you don't always need to look to outsiders with "power" profiles like local or national celebrities. Instead, you can use regular employees to tout your products and services across multiple platforms. This trend is known as employee advocacy, and it can be powerfully effective. According to the 2019 Dynamic Signal Customer Impact Study, brands that use employee advocacy programs enjoy a 39% increase in brand awareness.

• A lack of likes: Why Instagram’s vanishing feature can be a boon to your social strategy

  Friday, March 20, 2020

  Many marketers are panicking over Instagram's stated intention to reduce or do away with likes in the near future. But the truth is it won't be the end of the world if you can't use likes to monitor your brand's marketing progress. There are a number of incredibly powerful ways you can safeguard your social media marketing might apart from Instagram likes. Now is the time to start to diversify and put them into play. Here are five key points to incorporate as you expand your brand's messaging.

• Reputation management: A key healthcare strategy that’s crucial to your practice’s business

  Thursday, March 19, 2020

  As a practice administrator or physician, you know how important it is to earn and maintain your patients' trust. You no doubt work as hard as you can to deliver compassionate, quality care on a constant basis — yet you can't always control what is said about your practice online. You can, however, take steps to make the best impression possible. Reputation management is a key strategy for shoring up the way your practice appears online, especially when it comes to reviews — and it's crucial to maintain.

• New ways to use hashtags in your social media marketing

  Wednesday, March 18, 2020

  Almost everybody on social media uses hashtags, likely including your brand. But even though hashtags are ubiquitous, that doesn't mean they are always used most optimally when it comes to garnering the most attention. Your goals: make the most out of your wording; cover the right consumer communities; don't over- or undertag; and check your progress consistently to see how your efforts are playing. Here are the freshest, most creative, and most effective ways you should use hashtags to boost your marketing power right now.

• How your healthcare organization can ensure accurate patient matching

  Friday, March 13, 2020

  Correct patient matching on health records is an essential safety tool for any physician's office or hospital. Yet achieving it is a significant nationwide problem, according to eye-opening new research from eHealth Initiative Foundation and NextGate. Their recent study finds that 38% of surveyed providers report at least one adverse event due to patient record information errors in the past two years. You can do a lot right now to shore up your own patient matching system and cut down on confusion and possible life-threatening data mistakes. Therefore, it's crucial to put your attention and resources into five key areas, as follows.

• Why marketing tribes are demographics you should be targeting

  Wednesday, March 11, 2020

  As a marketer, you know the value of targeting the right segments and subtypes of your existing customer base and potential consumers — but did you know there's a highly effective way to take that strategy a step further? It's all about targeting marketing tribes. So, what's a tribe? It's a specific portion of your demographic who share the same specific mindset, regardless of age or geography. What key points do you need to keep in mind when it comes to effectively gaining the interest and trust of your targeted tribes? Pay attention to these important areas.

• Telepresence robots: A healthcare trend that’s surprisingly cost-effective

  Thursday, March 05, 2020

  Telepresence is an important trend for healthcare in 2020. As an administrator and/or physician, you may already use it for remote applications, such as consultations with patients and specialists. But adding robotics as a facet of your telepresence strategy can be a lot easier to implement than it may seem — and a lot less expensive, too. Here are some of the technology's most exciting applications that can be used at your healthcare facility today.

• How your digital marketing team can beat the ‘zero click’ trend

  Wednesday, March 04, 2020

  As a marketer, you want your website to be reached as easily and frequently as possible, but that can be quite the challenge these days. One culprit could be the emerging "zero click" trend. What is zero click? It happens when someone types a question or phrase into Google but finds the answer through search results alone, meaning there's no need to continue to click onto an actual website. Use the following smart strategies to optimize your website’s visibility and content. Then, you can powerfully counteract the impact of zero clicks on your profit margin.

• New ways to help shorten hospital stays for your critical care patients

  Thursday, February 27, 2020

  As a hospital administrator, your ongoing goals are to ensure your facility provides the best care outcomes possible and to get your patients quickly and safely back home. Your care teams may be able to accomplish these important goals more easily through innovations being developed via cutting-edge research. Read on about these simple, yet potentially game-changing developments. A few simple implementations could benefit your patients enormously.

• How user-generated content can improve your social media marketing strategy

  Wednesday, February 26, 2020

  When you're trying to reach new or existing customers on social media, you need to gain their confidence and speak their language. What better way to accomplish these crucial goals than by involving your audience directly in your marketing? So, how do you go about getting your consumers and followers to give you honest content they feel good about sharing and that potential consumers or clients will believe and take to heart? Implement the following five strategies.

• A look at the ways virtual and augmented reality can improve patients’ outcomes

  Friday, February 21, 2020

  Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are becoming unstoppable trends in medicine. According to research from Fortune Business Insights, the global VR healthcare market is projected to reach over $30 billion by 2026. That doesn't even account for AR. The possible applications for VR and AR treatments are numerous and incredibly promising. The possible applications for VR and AR treatments are numerous and incredibly promising. Consider these VR and AR options your hospital or facility could conceivably employ.

• How sentiment analysis can help you focus your digital and social marketing

  Wednesday, February 19, 2020

  It’s usually a good thing when customers or clients give you feedback, but it can be incredibly challenging to interpret the "gray areas" of what they are telling you. Within any positive or negative review, there's lots of nuance. For example, what emotions are customers really feeling as they describe their reactions? Knowing those can make a huge difference when it comes to refocusing your campaigns on a granular level. So, how do you determine them? Try sentiment analysis.

• How blockchain technology can benefit your patients

  Thursday, February 13, 2020

  As a physician or administrator, it's crucial that you keep patient transactions and data easily shareable and totally secure. Blockchain technology may be just the right way for your organization to do it. In a blockchain system, data is linked in a segmented system that makes for ease of sharing, eliminates the risk of inaccurate data being kept in a patient ledger, and automatically distributes to a set network of recipients. Blockchain is currently being used most in healthcare payment applications. However, as it matures further, it is being adapted for virtually every healthcare need.

• 5 types of interactive content marketing that pay off

  Wednesday, February 12, 2020

  Are you looking to bolster your digital marketing might through interactive audience engagement? You should be. According to research reported by Review 42, 82% of consumers would prefer to watch a brand's live stream than read its posts on social media. Clearly, it's time to hone in on the specific kinds of interactive offerings customers want to engage in and make them vivid, fascinating and easy to navigate. What areas should you put your efforts into? Focus on these five.

• Hotspotting: The pros and cons of a key healthcare trend for 2020

  Thursday, February 06, 2020

  "Hotspotting" is a new strategy in healthcare meant to reduce the medical expenses of the highest-cost patients in your system. The basic idea: "super-utilizers," or patients who have been admitted to a hospital three times in a brief time period, are identified. Using a range of healthcare team members, patients’ lifestyles and needs are analyzed to determine where their treatment costs can be cut without compromising their care. There are both pluses and minuses to consider. Take these considerations into account to see if hotspotting may be appropriate at your facility.

• How to use Google’s featured snippets to boost your digital marketing clout

  Wednesday, February 05, 2020

  When it comes to your brand's ranking in a Google search, you're most likely focusing your efforts on getting the top ranking in search results. In reality, gaining "featured snippet" status can be much more beneficial to your marketing efforts. So, what's a featured snippet? It's the "answer box" that is located at the very top of a Google page and directly answers a question posed in searches. That spot will create colossal exposure for your brand. While Google does determine which sites are chosen to be featured snippets, there are ways you can greatly improve the likelihood of becoming one.

• How to reinvigorate your digital marketing strategy with an all-video website

  Thursday, January 30, 2020

  According to research from Cisco, 82% of all IP traffic will be video content by 2022. Animoto also reports that video is the No. 1 type of content consumers want from brands. Video is where it's at for digital and social marketers. So, why not use it to its full potential to sell your brand? The great news is that all-video sites are still rare from a marketing standpoint. Therefore, if you focus your energy on making one that's lively, exciting, and clear, you've got a huge jump on the competition! This article covers all the key elements you need to include in a terrific all-video website.

• New resources in precision medicine that every doctor should know about

  Wednesday, January 29, 2020

  Precision medicine, or personalized medicine as it is sometimes referred to, is a most significant and promising healthcare trend. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines precision medicine as an individualized plan that uses a patient's genetic makeup and their environment and lifestyle to deliver the right preventative advice or targeted disease treatment. There are several exciting developments in this field that you, as a physician or hospital administrator, should know about and investigate further.

• Smart pills: The pros and cons of an important healthcare trend in 2020

  Friday, January 24, 2020

  Smart pills are highly promising, yet controversial, new developments that have many intriguing potential applications. They are drugs containing tiny sensors that monitor a patient's condition internally or target certain treatments. This monitoring may ultimately happen through telemedicine or other remote means. For example, researchers from Columbia University report they've developed a smart pill for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients that recognizes a specific protein made by cancer cells and delivers medication specifically to combat that protein.

• Niche social media platforms are hidden gold mines for marketers

  Wednesday, January 22, 2020

  You've thrown your marketing power heavily at Facebook — and you're far from alone. The Sprout Social 2019 Index study reports that 89% of marketers do utilize the social media giant as a brand booster. Yes, Facebook can get your brand massive exposure — as can Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest; yet, you may find your products and services getting lost in the vast sea of data flooding each of these platforms. Why not try advertising on niche social platforms?

• A new study could lead doctors to use a common diabetes drug to treat many diseases, conditions

  Friday, January 17, 2020

  A brand-new study from the Salk Institute may change the way doctors treat their patients. A team of researchers looked at the second-most prescribed diabetes drug, metformin, to see the exact ways it controls blood sugar levels — information that has eluded doctors previously. As a result, the researchers think metformin could be used to target new cellular processes; therefore, a great number of patients dealing with other medical issues may benefit.

• Trend alert: Social media communities are a powerful digital marketing tool

  Wednesday, January 15, 2020

  As a marketer, you want your audience to trust and respect the products and services you're offering. An excellent way to do this is by fostering an authentic sense of togetherness with your existing customers — and then inviting new and potential customers into the circle. Creating a brand-owned social media community is a lot easier than you think. How do you do it? With common sense and humanity. Begin with these key steps.

• Why you need to update your hospital’s ventilation system

  Friday, January 10, 2020

  As a hospital administrator, proper infection control is an incredibly important task. Nosocomial infections — the viral and bacterial illnesses that your patients may contract while at the hospital after being admitted for another reason — are a constant and vexing concern at most facilities. Yet, taking a fresh overview of your ventilation system, making easy and effective changes to that system, and sharpening your staff's germ control awareness can pay big dividends. This piece will incorporate the latest research to inform you of the latest technology and strategies.

• How long-form content can help boost your digital marketing profits

  Thursday, January 09, 2020

  When it comes to content marketing campaigns for 2020, the length of your copy, blog posts and content matters like never before. Long-form content — generally defined as 1,000 words or more — is a great way to engage your potential and existing customers. The benefits are great: Pew Research Center reported that online readers spend more time on 1,000-word pieces than on shorter ones. What's more is that, according to a study from BuzzSumo and Backlinko, long-form content yielded 77% more backlinks than shorter copy or posts.

• How to beat the trend of social media detox and boost your marketing power

  Wednesday, December 18, 2019

  One of the emerging social media trends of significance is the concept of "detox" — consumers who are unplugging from their social media accounts either partially or entirely. The numbers are significant: a study from Pew Research Center found that 26% of social media users deleted their Facebook smartphone app last year. How can you make sure that even those who detox keep up with your products, services and content online? Be their feel-good exception! Here are some strategies you and your team can employ.

• The pros and cons of wearable ECG technology

  Tuesday, December 17, 2019

  New, wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) technology can be a tremendous boon to heart patients if it's utilized in a very precise and specific manner with the proper guidance. According to Harvard Medical School data, 160 million people will soon be using wearable technology like smartwatches to monitor their physical activity and health. Yet, as a doctor, it's important to prescribe and interpret use of these devices carefully. It has been estimated that 30% of wearable devices yield inaccurate results. Here are the right ways to incorporate wearable ECG technology into a treatment plan.

• How to use digital twin technology to revolutionize your marketing approach

  Monday, December 16, 2019

  Digital twin technology can be an incredible boon to any online marketer. You may have heard of the term before, but you might not be sure what the technology entails or how you can use it to your marketing benefit. So, what exactly is a digital twin? It's essentially a near-real-time replica of an item or a person's online entity. This is data that can be applied to a digital product profile so you can monitor how your customers choose, use and accept (or reject) your product as you update or tweak it to better meet their needs. Here's what you need to know about the technology and how to utilize it.

• A new study on vitamin E may change how cardiac patients are treated

  Thursday, December 12, 2019

  As a cardiologist or hospital administrator, your priority is to give your heart attack patients their best fighting chance — and now there may be a simple new way to do just that. Researchers at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia, report that giving patients suffering from cardiac arrest symptoms a vitamin E dose may provide better procedure outcomes prior to vessel/stent surgery and may be beneficial to patients' overall outcomes if given before discharge after a procedure.

• How to improve your oncology patients’ treatment plans

  Thursday, December 05, 2019

  Cancer patients being treated at your facility face myriad difficulties, including physical challenges, treatment side effects and emotional stress. As a healthcare professional, you know this well, and are no doubt seeking to make a hospital stay as beneficial as possible for these patients. The good news is that you can make proactive management decisions that will truly benefit your oncology patients by following this easy but powerful advice.

• 5 ways to boost your social media brand strength in 2020

  Wednesday, December 04, 2019

  Are you looking for ways to position your brand as powerfully as possible in the coming year? Of course, you are. You can do it most effectively by eliminating worries about points that don't pose a threat to your established reputation while making fresh choices that will surprise and engage your consumer base and new audiences more than ever. How do you do it? Try these tricks and tips.

• How to stress privacy in your digital marketing campaigns for 2020

  Monday, November 25, 2019

  Online data protection is a key concern for digital consumers across the board. As a digital marketer, it's very important to make sure your customers' info is secure. But you also need to let your customers know how you ensure their privacy in all conceivable ways. How do you update and perfect your communication about this crucial info in your campaigns this coming year? Use these research-based strategies.

• 5 ways to update your IT to protect patient safety

  Friday, November 22, 2019

  As a hospital administrator, you always want to make sure that your IT is keeping complete pace with crucial services your patients need. Keeping on top of these tasks can be time-consuming, however, and you can't always immediately identify innovative ways to employ new technology. But you can update your IT strategies with your team using the following science-driven info, and your patient safety goals will be met more effectively than ever.

• How sharpening your voice search approach can boost your company’s marketing

  Wednesday, November 20, 2019

  Voice search is a popular way for consumers to seek out what they want to buy online. It's also crucial for you to understand on a granular level. When you provide a great response to a customer's audible query, you are establishing a powerful and definitive relationship with that customer instantly. Make sure the impression your voice search approach makes is helpful, human, and convenient to understand and navigate. You may win over that consumer immediately.

• 5 ways to help your patients achieve better rehab outcomes

  Thursday, November 14, 2019

  The rehabilitation process can be both physically and emotionally challenging for virtually any patient. You may need to frequently revisit your facility's inpatient approaches and work in tandem with outpatient rehab teams. What are some fresh and effective ways to make the rehab process easier on your patients and increase the odds of terrific outcomes? Let research be your guide. Incorporate the following tips to perfect your process.

• How omnichannel marketing can boost your bottom line

  Wednesday, November 13, 2019

  Omnichannel marketing might sound complex and confusing if you've never heard of it. However, the concept is quite simple and can be an incredibly effective way to remodel your digital approach. According to a study from Bright Pearl, 87% of top retailers believe that an omnichannel selling approach is extremely important for sales. So, what is omnichannel marketing, exactly? Technically, omnichannel marketing simply means you use every media channel possible to send out your message to your potential audience and existing consumers.

• How to maximize your social marketing might with ephemeral content

  Friday, November 08, 2019

  When it comes to garnering consumer attention online, ephemeral content is an easy, cost-saving and creative boon to any brand — if you use it the right way. Simply defined, ephemeral content is messaging that instantly captures the attention of your audience, then vanishes in 24 hours. How do you harness the power of ephemeral content using a clear, cohesive overall strategy that will pack the biggest potential punch? Use these tips to hone your approach.

• 5 ways to simplify key processes at your hospital

  Wednesday, November 06, 2019

  As a hospital administrator, you seek to streamline processes at your facility on an ongoing basis. Your institution likely uses focused studies and seeks complex feedback to make this happen. But sometimes the easiest fixes are the most effective. Consider these simple, research-driven strategies to make your staff’s jobs easier, increase your patients' satisfaction, save costs, and sharpen your focus. Plus, you can start implementing them immediately.

• 5 effective strategies to boost your engagement-based email marketing

  Friday, November 01, 2019

  When it comes to digital marketing, engagement-based email can be a gold mine for your company. The key is to look beyond the obvious when it comes to your subscriber base. Simply checking to see who opens your targeted messages and who doesn't won't get you sales, but the following research-driven, richly targeted strategies can do the trick. Try these tips to boost your bottom line.

• 5 ways your hospital can better ensure C-section safety

  Wednesday, October 30, 2019

  As a hospital administrator, you know that C-sections represent a potential minefield for health and malpractice issues. You want all OB-GYN patients who need or request a C-section for legitimate medical reasons to receive this important option immediately and safely. However, minimizing risk for your physicians and facility is an important consideration, too. The good news: research has looked at these concerns and has great guidance to offer.

• Simple ways to mine ‘micro-moments’ to your marketing advantage

  Thursday, October 24, 2019

  As a marketer, you're always looking for key nuggets to help you better target your audience. But do you have a consistent strategy when it comes to managing "micro-moments?" Simply put, "micro-moments" are those spontaneous consumer declarations about their online behavior that, if caught quickly, can help you retarget your audience quickly. How do you swiftly and smartly identify and mine a micro-moment? Let this research-driven advice lead the way.

• How to help your dementia patients have a comfortable hospital experience

  Wednesday, October 23, 2019

  As a hospital manager, you know how dementia patients in your facility often experience physical and emotional discomfort that seems difficult or impossible to ease. This is distressing to you, your doctors, your nurses, and, of course, to your patients’ families. To address these concerns, science has uncovered some innovative ways that hospital facilities can bring comfort to inpatients with dementia and make their stays less frightening, safer and more engaging. Implement the following research-driven advice at your organization to benefit everyone involved.

• How to boost pain management satisfaction scores at your hospital

  Thursday, October 17, 2019

  As a hospital administrator, analyzing patient comments regarding pain management is something you probably have to do. Yet, it's easy to overlook common issues that cause or increase pain for your patients. These could be issues your patients don’t even realize are causing them problems. Root out these problematic areas and implement solutions to make your patients more comfortable by utilizing this advice.

• 5 ways to avoid the dangers of viral marketing

  Wednesday, October 16, 2019

  When your brand or product goes viral on social media, you're in a win-win situation, right? Not always. Viral marketing is a lot like the Wild West — when you navigate it the right way, it can do incredible things for your visibility and sales. But you need to know that a lot of its mechanisms are out of your control. Viral marketing is, at its core, consumer-based — that means your campaign and approach can succeed or fail based on the whims of your audience.

• 5 ways to improve your pediatric patients’ hospital experience

  Friday, October 11, 2019

  As a hospital administrator, you know your pediatric patients have much different emotional and physical needs than their adult counterparts. But even though you think you're working effectively to address those needs, you may miss the mark. It's key to encourage kids and their families to express what they want and need from your staff during a hospital stay — but it's also key to anticipate what they will make them feel comfortable, too. Use this research-driven advice to ace the task and earn high patient satisfaction marks.

• How social listening can boost your digital marketing power

  Wednesday, October 09, 2019

  Do you know how to incorporate social listening as part of your marketing strategy? If not, it's time to start harnessing its power. Social listening is the practice of crawling the internet to locate all the mentions of your brand on social media platforms as well as your brand's related keywords. This way, you can very specifically target the consumers who will buy what you're selling quickly and easily. To do it most effectively, you need a strategy of do’s and don'ts that will maximize your time, marketing focus, and your campaign effectiveness. Use the following science-driven tips to do it right.

• Looking ahead: Key digital marketing trends for 2020

  Friday, October 04, 2019

  It's never too early to start planning your digital marketing approach for the coming year! You've probably been thinking about your options and are trying to figure out what trends are the most important to pay attention to as you look at your new campaigns. Now is the time to focus your efforts on the following key areas.

• 5 strategies for reducing medication errors

  Wednesday, October 02, 2019

  As a healthcare professional, you constantly monitor your hospital to make sure patient safety is the ultimate priority. But improving your approach on a constant basis is also vital. What strategies should you be implementing to ensure your patients receive their medication properly, without hazard and in a timely manner? Use these science-driven pieces of advice to accomplish these essential goals.

• How to avoid the perils of pop-ups

  Tuesday, October 01, 2019

  Pop-up advertising can be a digital marketer's best friend or worst enemy. If your target demo finds your pop-ups annoying or not intriguing, you're sunk from the get-go. The good news is that there are easy and super-effective ways to freshen your approach to pop-up placement. This way, your customers will be interested in what you show them and welcome seeing your content over and over. Try these tips to boost enthusiasm and sales!

• Tips for using chatbots to improve your marketing

  Wednesday, September 25, 2019

  Chatbots are both the wave of the present and the future. Research estimates that by next year, a whopping 80% of businesses will utilize this kind of AI technology, primarily as a real-time chat tool with consumers via instant messaging. How can you best refine your chatbot technology so it pleases your customers and provides them with the info and convenience they need to buy your products over and over again? Try these tips.

• 5 ways professional coaching can help hospital physicians

  Tuesday, September 24, 2019

  External coaching can be a valuable tool in helping members of your hospital’s staff navigate their tasks more effectively. You may have primarily used it to train IT or administrative workers — but did you know that outside professional coaching can help your physicians perform better, too? Here are five science-driven ways can coaching help your doctors feel and do better — and why it's well worth the economic cost.

• 5 lesser-known strategies for product placement in social media marketing

  Thursday, September 19, 2019

  Product placement can be an incredibly effective way to familiarize consumers with your brand — but when it comes to incorporating it into a social media sales push, you need to tread carefully. Your target audience on social media is opinionated and not afraid to share their impressions. You want to work with them and respect their viewpoints rather than try to tell them what they should think of what you have to sell. Need some fresh ideas on how to accomplish this? Research has your back.

• Is your hospital’s patient-centered approach specific enough?

  Wednesday, September 18, 2019

  As a healthcare professional, you strive to provide your patients with service that creates the highest level of satisfaction possible. Yet, even the best patient-centered approach may be overlooking small points that really matter. It's key to take a granular overview of whether you're getting as specific as you possibly can when it comes to the details your patients truly care about. Use this advice to provide the things they truly want and need.

• How a lean management approach can improve patient outcomes

  Tuesday, September 10, 2019

  Lean management: it's an interesting concept in the business world and sounds like a great way to streamline your approach as a hospital administrator. So, what is it, exactly? Lean management's core principles are that you deliver value from your customer’s perspective; you eliminate waste; and you continue to improve in every way possible as your work progresses. This sounds like a tall order — but if you do an overview of the way certain hospital procedures are currently handled, you'll see where you should focus your efforts to go lean, and things will fall into place.

• Overcoming social media bubbles in your digital marketing strategy

  Monday, September 09, 2019

  The social media "bubble" — the phenomenon of people sticking to the likes of their personal cliques on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook — can be a tough challenge for marketers to power past. But the good news is that you can learn how your consumers actually want to reach outside their peer groups for product info. Use these research-driven tips to burst the bubble and increase your influence dramatically.

• 5 ways to incorporate pharmacists onto your inpatient care teams

  Friday, September 06, 2019

  As a healthcare professional, you know the important role your organization's pharmacists play in every patient's treatment and recovery. But did you know that your pharmacists can have a much greater impact on improving outcomes beyond their traditional consult role with your physicians? Cutting-edge research has illuminated fresh ways that your pharmacists' knowledge can be used as active members of inpatient teams. Try this proven advice.

• How to run a happy hospital

  Thursday, August 29, 2019

  The concept of a "happy hospital" in which employees, caregivers and patients report high levels of satisfaction in their work and experiences may seem like an impossible dream. But you can make it happen more easily than you think! Research from the University of Michigan on community hospitals found that patients are happiest when hospital employees have high morale. You're aiming for low employee turnover and joy at the job to meet your patient satisfaction goals.

• 5 ways to harness the power of microinfluencers

  Wednesday, August 28, 2019

  When you think of social media marketing these days, one of the first things you probably think of are influencers. But the most beneficial influencer for your brand definitely doesn't have to be a celebrity with a massive amount of followers. Microinfluencers — who have fewer than 10,000 followers — are often extremely important in terms of directing their fans to niche brands and products. These influencers are often ignored by advertisers, which is a huge mistake. Working with them can definitely position your brand in a desirable and highly lucrative way.

• How to use personalization as a family marketing tool

  Thursday, August 22, 2019

  Personalization is one of the biggest trends in online marketing right now, and that’s for good reason. The closer you can tailor your marketing approach to the specific needs of your audience, the bigger the bang you'll get for your advertising bucks — and the more ad revenue you'll attract. Is your brand family-friendly? If so, personalization is an incredibly effective way to boost sales and loyalty. Try these scientifically tested tips to give your clientele what they want in a powerful way.

• 5 ways to reduce alarm fatigue at your hospital

  Wednesday, August 21, 2019

  Working at a hospital, you know that alarms on monitoring equipment in your ICU, step-down unit and general wards are a major challenge for your staff and patients. When false alarms happen, patients panic unnecessarily and staff become desensitized, increasing the chance of a missed emergency. The noise pollution can fray nerves and keep patients from resting so they can heal faster. Stumped as to how to handle this issue? Science can offer you innovative answers.

• Retiring? 5 ways to maximize your benefits

  Friday, August 16, 2019

  Ready to ride off into the sunset with your pension or 401(k)? Make sure you keep it plentiful — and growing. Here are some key, under-the radar tips for ways about-to-be retirees can best maximize their money and expand their finances in a solid way. Put this advice into motion before you leave your job — and look forward to some truly golden years!

• How to maximize the benefits of the intermediate care unit in your hospital

  Thursday, August 15, 2019

  As a hospital manager, you know that an intermediate care unit (IMCU), also called a step-down unit, can be an efficient and safe asset when it comes to caring for patients who have left the ICU. An IMCU allows for careful monitoring of patients who are showing progress in battling an acute illness; these units can also serve as a comfortable and safe place for patients in end-of-life care. Yet it can be difficult to determine ways that an IMCU can best function as a bridge from your ICU. Follow these science-driven tips to make your IMCU as supportive as possible.

• 6 ways to improve your confidence during a presentation

  Thursday, August 08, 2019

  A shaky voice...no projection...stuttering...you may have dealt with all these issues prior to a big presentation. A fear of public speaking, as you probably know, is an incredibly common issue even the most experienced businesspeople face. You might be unsure how to nip these problems in the bud if you're not used to speaking before groups, but you can. These strategies will stop public speaking jitters from becoming a long-term issue and give you a lot more confidence!

• 5 easy ways to protect your patients from superbugs

  Wednesday, August 07, 2019

  Antibiotic-resistant infections create massive challenges for hospitals. There’s no doubt you strive to practice scrupulous infection control procedures at your facility — but did you know that sometimes the easiest fixes may be among the most effective ways to protect your patients? Research backs this up — implement these tips immediately to potentially cut your hospital's infection numbers.

• The best ways to refocus your online healthcare content

  Friday, August 02, 2019

  Does the website for your healthcare organization really do you justice? The website instantly informs your existing and potential patient bases about the way your facility operates, so you want to make sure the impression it's making is accurate, current and as user-friendly as possible. You should continually monitor and update your site regarding medical information, services, and marketing. Here are some science-based points to put into practice as you review and refresh your content.

• 5 ways to attract millennial patients to your healthcare organization

  Wednesday, July 31, 2019

  As a healthcare professional, you understand that millennials are seeking traditional healthcare less frequently than previous generations — but do you really understand why? Researchers have been making fascinating inroads when it comes to determining how millennials really approach their healthcare. Understand the way they think and how they want to be served and you'll be able to attract them to your practice and/or hospital. Use these science-based strategies to make it happen.

• 5 ways you can identify fake and misleading consumer feedback

  Friday, July 26, 2019

  Consumer comments — whether they're online and given face-to-face to your company's service employees — are invaluable indicators of what your brand is doing right or wrong. When that feedback is fake, however, or when you don't get a complete or accurate picture of what your audience is trying to tell you, you don't make the right moves and your brand can suffer. You need to know when that feedback is fake and get the true picture of how your products and services are perceived. Want five outside-the-box ways to do it? Follow this science-driven advice.

• New ways to communicate better with your critical care team

  Wednesday, July 24, 2019

  As a healthcare administrator, you value the incredible skill and work ethic of your critical care physicians and nurses — but do they know that? A study from the American College of Chest Physicians found that up to 71% of critical care doctors and 86% of critical care nurses experience some form of work-related burnout. When a healthcare organization communicates appreciation for the physical and emotional health of their best and brightest through concrete and helpful strategies, it can make a huge difference in terms of bringing those numbers down.

• How staff debriefing can improve patient outcomes

  Thursday, July 18, 2019

  As a healthcare administrator, you know the importance of psychological debriefing for your doctors and nurses after an adverse event. Still, are you making sure staff debriefing is being used as expansively and effectively as it can be? Research shows that targeted debriefing can improve many diverse aspects of your staff's efficiency. As a result, your patients do better. Employ these science-driven strategies to help meet your most important objectives.

• 5 financial checks you need to make before you change jobs

  Wednesday, July 17, 2019

  You've said yes to the offer and given your notice. Now, all you need to do is pack up your desk and leave your old workplace behind, right? Not so fast. When you move from one company to another, you know the importance of verifying key financial issues like switching health plans and adjusting your retirement funds. Yet, you could be overlooking some small but crucial checks that can make a big difference in both the long and short term when it comes to your financial health. Here are five key financial checks you need to make before you leave your current company.

• 5 fresh ways to boost interest in an aging brand

  Thursday, July 11, 2019

  As a marketer, you know that when a brand starts slipping out of favor with the public, you need to act fast to stop the bleeding. The problem with this strategy is that it can make you seem desperate. For example, you may start making choices that seem like obvious ploys for consumer attention. Focused, intelligent shifts in strategy that respect your audience's core emotional needs are more effective ways to recapture their attention and attract new consumers.

• 5 ways to help your patients follow a home healthcare plan

  Wednesday, July 10, 2019

  As a physician, you know how important it is for your patients to follow your instructions when it comes to carrying out health recommendations on their own — and you also know a lot of folks simply don't do it right. Whether they ignore your instructions, follow a care plan incorrectly, or lose motivation to keep up with their meds or healthy practices, you have more control than you think when it comes to making your orders clear and keeping your patients motivated. How? Follow this advice.

• How to stop overnight communication errors at your hospital

  Tuesday, July 02, 2019

  Overnight shift workers at your hospital face unique challenges when it comes to effectively consulting each other. These issues can impact patient safety. From the sleep-deprived intern trying to ask the right diagnostic questions to optimum consultations strategies, you want to make sure your staff is always communicating wisely and effectively. The good news: these science-proven strategies can help cut confusion, refocus concentration and ensure accuracy. Use these strategies to make your overnight policies foolproof.

• 5 easy ways to repair a relationship with a patient

  Wednesday, June 26, 2019

  As a primary care physician or specialist, you know that patients stop coming to a physician for a wide range of reasons — some of which are understandable, some not. Perhaps a patient has had a frightening experience during a test or procedure, or maybe a patient feels he or she hasn't had their concerns taken seriously enough. The good news is that you can easily stop a patent from switching practices, or worse, avoiding medical care altogether, with these proactive and effective tips.

• 5 kinds of difficult managers — and how to retrain them

  Friday, June 21, 2019

  We all remember our favorite teachers in school — and those instructors we'd rather forget, too. Employees view their tough-to-deal-with superiors the same way, of course. A less-than-personable manager may be great for your company's bottom line in terms of achieving profit, but the way he or she deals with her team should be addressed. A difficult manager can sometimes have a long-lasting impact on your entire business. The good news is you can work with even a problematic manager once you understand the type of personality you're dealing with. Let's talk about some common tough manager types — and the smartest ways to collaborate with each type most fruitfully.

• 5 surprisingly simple cost-cutters to employ at your hospital

  Thursday, June 20, 2019

  As a hospital administrator, reducing expenses is always a top priority. There are many technologically complex strategies you can use to cut expenses. Sometimes, however, simple logic can be your best bet. Researchers have identified a number of simple but highly effective ways hospitals can save money and increase patient safety. You can put them into practice immediately. Try these recommendations.

• 5 questions you should always ask your doctor

  Thursday, June 13, 2019

  You want to be as proactive about your health as you possibly can. But did you know that certain questions you never knew you should ask your doctor can actually help he or she diagnose you or provide clearer and more effective treatment options? Whether you're seeing a specialist for the very first time or have concerns you're bringing to the attention of your longtime PCP, there are certain key questions it's good to be curious about — asking them shows you're responsible and want to be fully informed about your own health situation.

• Is your logo sending the right message?

  Wednesday, June 12, 2019

  Your company probably created a logo years ago and kept it ever since, believing that familiarity breeds brand loyalty. That can indeed be true if a logo truly serves its products' purpose. But is your logo sending the right message about your brand's specific attributes and benefits? Does it target your audience as effectively as possible? If not, a tweak or complete redesign could be in order to boost your visibility and sales. How can you analyze your logo's messaging strengths and weaknesses? Use these science-based strategies.

• 6 simple ways to boost your hospital’s hand-washing compliance

  Thursday, June 06, 2019

  Your hospital staff knows that hand-washing is essential for reducing infection rates, but sometimes they may cut corners when it comes to compliance. Stress, fatigue, and high workloads can lead to your doctors, nurses and workers skipping proper and continual hygiene steps. Also, patients very rarely wash their hands when they're in bed — and their visitors almost never make it a practice to so, either. Yet, boosting compliance rates can be much easier than you think. Here are six surprising (and easy) ways to identify hygiene risk situations and quickly fix them to protect everyone in your care environment.

• 8 great ways wine may make you healthier

  Wednesday, June 05, 2019

  You probably didn’t need any more reasons to have a glass of wine after work. However, your favorite beverage can help make you healthier than ever! Read on for eight ways research has shown wine to be beneficial to the human body.

• 5 easy ways to regain consumer interest

  Thursday, May 30, 2019

  The power of persuasion — as a marketer, it's your bread and butter. Sometimes, though, your brand might be going through an ebb...or you're trying to beat the drum from scratch for a familiar product you're repackaging. Whether really need to reboot your approach to a relaunch, revamp your sales approach, or simply freshen up your image, research has you covered. Try the following simple but highly effective tips to convince consumers you've got what they want now and in the future.

• What’s your office’s air pollution level?

  Friday, May 24, 2019

  You probably figure you don't need to worry about air pollution unless you're sitting in traffic. Think again — the way you go about daily tasks in your office can actually create unhealthy levels of harmful air, putting you and your team at risk for respiratory diseases and other health issues. What can you do to stop the problem?

• 5 surprising ways drinking coffee can boost your work performance

  Wednesday, May 22, 2019

  Coffee — you love it, you need it — you may be drinking a cup right now as you read this. You know caffeine makes you feel more alert and revved up to work — but there are surprising ways coffee can actually boost your performance on essential tasks if you consume it strategically. Try these science-based tips and tricks to be at your best with the help of that cup of joe.

• 5 surprising ways to decrease risk in your operating rooms

  Tuesday, May 21, 2019

  Operating room safety is a major, ongoing priority for your medical facility — and you no doubt practice scrupulous technique when it comes to monitoring procedures and equipment. Research shows, though, that employing unexpected personnel strategies can also be a highly effective way to cut risks and improve surgical outcomes in both the long and short term. Try these science-driven tips to improve your OR environments.

• You can do these things in your sleep

  Friday, May 17, 2019

  You never go to bed early because you're trying to get stuff accomplished, right? Rethink that strategy. Science is proving that your brain is surprisingly good at multitasking while you sleep — and your body functions at a surprisingly energetic level, too. Here are just a few of the surprising things you can do in your sleep. Your mental and physical health will thank you for these!

• 6 ways your hospital can reduce patient anxiety

  Wednesday, May 15, 2019

  In a hospital, you're always trying to improve patient satisfaction — but you might be overlooking the most crucial area that needs fixing. Anxiety is a well-established issue at varying levels for many patients facing a procedure, extensive treatment, or just waiting for test results. However, many physicians don't see the importance of systematically addressing it. It's important to do so, though. Implement these scientifically proven strategies to provide more calm and ensure better feedback for your organization.

• 5 ways wearable medical devices can boost patient outcomes

  Thursday, May 09, 2019

  As a healthcare professional, you know that wearable medical devices can benefit your patients in extremely valuable ways — if used correctly. Using wrist trackers, smart clothing and attachable sensors, it's possible for patients to determine how much physical activity they get each day, evaluate the impact daily stress has on their lives, and even self-monitor an ongoing medical condition. So how can you help empower your patients to use wearables correctly — and safely? These five science-tested strategies can help you give the correct instructions — and improve your patients' overall health most effectively.

• Smarter ways to use search queries to your marketing advantage

  Wednesday, May 08, 2019

  As a marketer, you no doubt spend a significant amount of time analyzing what consumer searches mean for your bottom line. Knowing how to accurately interpret the search engine data you compile is key to both holding on to your existing audience and attracting new buyers to your brand. Use the following research-proven strategies to enhance your understanding of the search trends you uncover — and utilize them to target what your consumers want more efficiently than ever.

• The stroke sign you might ignore — but shouldn’t

  Wednesday, May 01, 2019

  Your right eye goes blurry out of the blue. You blink, but the blurriness doesn't go away immediately. Ten minutes later, boom — it's gone. No big deal, right? Think again — you could have just had an eye stroke. Eye strokes are brief episodes of blurred vision or vision loss that last from a minute to a half-hour, then clear. You might chalk one up to a smudgy contact lens or just being tired, but any kind of diminished or missing vision should be taken very seriously. Eye strokes can be a sign that you've had a full-blown stroke — or a can be a precursor to one.

• 5 ways to perfect your identity marketing strategy

  Tuesday, April 30, 2019

  As a marketer, you know that targeting a potential customer as specifically as possible can be a powerful sales tool. But if you focus in on a consumer's identity the wrong way, you could alienate rather than motivate. So, you need to proceed carefully, accurately and respectfully. The good news: cutting-edge marketing research has you covered. Try these five easy and effective tips to make sure your approach will work every time.

• 5 ways to recruit the best nurses for your healthcare organization

  Thursday, April 25, 2019

  Many hospitals and healthcare organizations are trying to cope with an ongoing nursing shortage — both through hiring and retention issues. As an administrator, you always want to make sure the very best nurses are working to produce the very best patient outcomes. So how can you get and keep the best professionals to perform nursing duties? Use the following research-driven tips to identify the nurses who will benefit your organization long-term.

• 5 ways to improve patient satisfaction through pain management

  Tuesday, April 23, 2019

  When it comes to making positive impressions after a hospital stay, the level of discomfort a patient deals with is a key factor. Research presented to the American Academy of Pain Medicine found that when pain is managed properly after surgery, patients reported higher satisfaction with their overall experience at a facility. It's easy to see why. A comfortable patient not only isn't in distress, but he or she feels listened to and truly noticed by hospital caregivers. Here are five crucial points you should to employ to make your organization's pain management protocol more patient-friendly — and do it safely.

• How to increase safety for your hospital’s outpatient procedures

  Thursday, April 18, 2019

  Outpatient surgeries are becoming more and more common, even encompassing procedures like spinal fusion, retinal operations and total joint replacement. Hospitals and patients often prefer outpatient procedures because they lower costs and take less time than surgery might during a traditional hospital stay. Yet, safety must also be paramount. As a hospital administrator, it has be your first priority. Research has shown how specific outpatient procedure strategies can ensure great outcomes, so use the cutting-edge info in this article to evaluate and improve your facility's ambulatory care approach.

• 5 surprising ways to create a more patient-friendly vibe at your practice

  Wednesday, April 17, 2019

  You know that patient satisfaction is crucial. Because of this, you no doubt check all the standard boxes to keep people happy — you're flexible with appointment times, try not to make patients wait too long, and instruct your staff to be courteous. Cutting-edge research suggests that these steps may not be enough. Your patients can feel a lot more reassured, supported and comfortable if you make the effort to employ some unexpected — but incredibly effective — steps to create a more helpful, inclusive practice environment.

• 5 fresh ways to reduce consumer risk aversion

  Thursday, April 11, 2019

  As a marketer, your one of your goals is to keep your demographic as reassured as possible about parting with their hard-earned cash when choosing your brand's product. Yet, consumers can be risk-adverse about spending in surprising ways. Cutting-edge research has been looking into the phenomenon of unusual reason for risk aversion. The good news is you can use these findings to make what your brand offers more appealing to your target demographic. Use the following strategies to obtain great results!

• The skin cancer you don’t know about — but should

  Wednesday, April 10, 2019

  You're no doubt well-aware of the potentially deadly consequences of melanoma. That's why it's so crucial that you do a monthly skin check of your moles and see a dermatologist for any changing lesions, as well as an annual full-body examination. Chances are, however, that you've never heard of the fastest-growing and most deadly form of skin cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) — and you need to get up to speed. The good news: with early detection and immediate evaluation by your doctor, MCC can be treatable.

• 5 ways to feel less isolated at work

  Friday, April 05, 2019

  Do you feel less than connected to your co-workers on a personal level? It might not be that you don't have things in common with them. Feelings of isolation might be caused by behavior you routinely practice but don't even recognize as a problem. Don't just accept feeling alone in your cubicle — use these science-driven tips to feel better physically and emotionally.

• Are e-consults right for your practice?

  Wednesday, April 03, 2019

  Studies show that referring a patient to a specialist can often be a stressful and time-consuming enterprise for a primary care physician. Not only does that PCP have to identify the correct doctor to refer to, he or she must then, in many cases, set up a meeting to discuss the patient's case. What's the latest high-tech solution to save this kind of effort and energy? Electronic consultations, often called e-consults or e-referrals. The process works this way: a PCP who needs to ask a specialist about a specific patient's care — such as a symptom that needs to be discussed — emails a specialist. Then, the PCP and specialist discuss the patient's situation through messages.

• Tips to help your staff prevent patient data breaches

  Thursday, March 28, 2019

  As a healthcare administrator, you know how important it is to reduce any risk of a patient health information (PHI) data breach. Yet, breaches continue to be a vexing and dangerous problem. A study from Michigan State University found that about 1,800 large data breaches over the course of seven years had to do with lax hospital policies putting information at risk. How can you best assist your staff and your IT to secure the data at your organization? Let the research-based advice in this article be your guide.

• How to help your ER doctors make faster, more accurate diagnoses

  Wednesday, March 27, 2019

  Time is of the absolute essence when it comes to making critical calls in the emergency room. Your hospital's doctors are no doubt experienced in fast evaluation — but could they be making diagnostic decisions even more effectively? Researchers have come up with cutting-edge methods doctors can use to do their jobs better. Consider giving the following advice to your emergency department physicians.

• Why it might not pay to be a night owl

  Thursday, March 21, 2019

  Love staying up late to catch up on extra work? You may think you're a natural night owl — but you could be hurting your overall physical and emotional health. Intriguing research suggests you might want to flip the switch on your schedule to improve both your work and personal lives. For example, a study by the University of Surrey in the U.K. found that night owls have a 10 percent higher risk of dying sooner than people who go to bed early in the evening. How come?

• 5 sales-boosting strategies you’ve never tried — but should

  Wednesday, March 20, 2019

  As a retailer, you want to keep your sales environment as fresh and as customer-friendly as possible — and the most surprising details can have a big positive impact in helping you do it. Want to give your sales a fast and easy boost? Science has you covered. Try the following research-proven tips to positively influence your customer base and move that merchandise like never before.

• 5 ways to make your marketing images more effective

  Thursday, March 14, 2019

  Are your advertising graphics making the biggest impact possible? If you're focused on other, less effective revenue-building strategies, they might not be. A study from the University of Cologne found that focusing on being a market leader is not as important as building customer relations and building your brand. This includes revamping the images you present in campaigns. If your gut says you could be doing better when it comes to capturing consumer interest with graphics, no worries: more studies have been uncovering ways to change up your approach.

• How to protect yourself from blood clots during business travel

  Wednesday, March 13, 2019

  How much do you know about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)? Both of these conditions can result if you develop a blood clot — a risk for business travelers who sit for long periods on a plane, train, or in a car. The CDC reports that as many as 900,000 Americans will suffer a blood clot this year. Also according to the CDC, DVT can form in your legs during travel because you are sitting still in a confined space for long periods of time — specifically, four hours or more. Life-threatening problems can occur when a part of the blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, becoming a PE, which can cause a fatal blockage. What other essential information do you need to know about protecting yourself from clots while you travel?

• Make your team’s one-on-one communication more effective

  Friday, March 08, 2019

  As a manager, you know how to take control of your group's dynamic in a meeting and draw the most fruitful comments and ideas out of your employees. Yet, when you observe your workers collaborating on their own, you might have noticed that their direct communication isn't as sharp. How can you help your staff members get their points across to each other, making for better project outcomes? It's easier than you think. Call a "communication cleanup" meeting and stress the following research-driven points.

• Are your doctors asking patients the right questions?

  Wednesday, March 06, 2019

  In healthcare, you know how crucially important good doctor-patient communication is. So are the doctors in your organization shedding enough light on the key information needed to make an accurate diagnosis every time? It's vital for doctors to utilize the best verbal and nonverbal forms of communication in order to determine what each patient needs. The good news: research has focused on how doctors can perfect their Q&A skills so they get the patient the accurate info they need. Suggest that your organization's physicians put this advice into practice.

• How to be a better mentor to your medical residents

  Thursday, February 28, 2019

  As a teaching physician, you no doubt take the job of providing guidance to your doctors-in-training very seriously. Still, there are probably areas in which you'd like to improve the interaction you have so your young doctors glean the most professional and personal benefits — but you're not quite sure how to proceed. Good news: there's a wealth of research that covers solutions to navigate a variety of mentorship challenges with great results. Try these proven strategies.

• Surprising strategies to boost consumer happiness

  Tuesday, February 26, 2019

  As a marketer, it's your ultimate goal to make every consumer happy with your product once they get it home. But did you know that the specific amount of personal happiness that a consumer feels at the time of potential purchase has a surprising impact not only on whether they buy but how they'll feel about the product down the line? Science has taken a fascinating look at this phenomenon. Use these cutting-edge strategies to build upon their research and ensure that consumer joy has a positive effect on your profit margin.

• How to help improve your surgeons’ job performance

  Thursday, February 21, 2019

  As a hospital administrator, you want your surgeons to do a peerless job when it comes to the health and safety of every single patient. A great way to make this happen: improve their sense of job satisfaction. Research shows that the happier surgeons are in specific aspects of their work lives, the higher their rates of skill and patient safety can be. Try these science-tested tips to get a fresh start when it comes to helping your doctors do their very best.

• 5 surprising ways to improve your marketing reputation

  Wednesday, February 20, 2019

  Consumer trust: it's every company's bread and butter. Yet you may be damaging that profit cornerstone in ways you aren't even aware of, causing unnecessary dips in your bottom line. Subtle mistakes in misreading your audience or larger issues with the way your organization does business can have an unexpected impact on how well you do with the next marketing campaign you launch. Try these surprising strategies to reboot your rep.

• Are you sabotaging your workers’ productivity in ways you never realized?

  Thursday, February 14, 2019

  As a manager, you might think you're doing a great job at creating a work environment that helps your employees thrive. But are you making unintended mistakes that could be zapping your staff's physical and emotional strength? If you have been, here's some good news. Researchers have been looking extensively at ways workers' performances can be affected in unexpected ways. The result: they've come up with some great solutions for how you can recognize where you can easily improve your workers' productivity.

• 5 new ways to protect your heart

  Wednesday, February 13, 2019

  Keeping your ticker healthy should be a priority for everyone. That's why new research on cardiovascular health can help us all take fresh, proactive steps to safeguard our hearts and feel a lot better, too. This piece will outline science-based advice we can put into practice right away.

• Ways to protect your healthcare workers from workplace violence

  Thursday, February 07, 2019

  Patient-driven abuse: it's a sad but true reality for nurses, doctors and medical assistants today. As a hospital administrator, keeping your staff safe is obviously an essential priority, and your organization no doubt has policies in place to make this happen. Are those policies as effective as they can be, though? Reassess your strategies by reviewing and implementing the following research-driven findings.

• Help your employees use their smartphones more productively

  Wednesday, February 06, 2019

  A smartphone can be an incredibly helpful tool in helping your employees get their work done better and faster in many ways. Or...not so much. As a manager, you want to encourage your workers to engage with their technology in ways that benefit their productivity and avoid becoming distracted by their devices in ways that can affect your bottom line. So how do you do this? Use these science-tested tips to encourage great results.

• Bust these 5 bad work habits for good

  Thursday, January 31, 2019

  New year, new you — that applies just as strongly in your work life as it does in your personal life. As a manager, you want to set a good example for your team members who take their cues from your work style and philosophy. Are you making this happen? If not, it's easier than you think to break bad habits that may be holding you back from doing your best work — and inspiring your staff to do their best work. Check out the following list of common behaviors you'll want to change.

• 5 easy ways to boost your heart health

  Wednesday, January 30, 2019

  Making positive changes to help your cardiovascular system doesn't necessarily always mean grueling exercise and eating even more kale. Sometimes, the simplest moves are just the ticket for seeing meaningful improvements in your numbers. For example, a study from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta found that drinking just one milkshake made with whole milk, ice cream and whipped cream was enough to turn healthy red blood cells into spiky cells, which are a key risk for a cardiovascular event like a heart attack.

• Make your company’s email practices more effective than ever

  Thursday, January 24, 2019

  Email — it's essential for your business, of course. But are you using it as productively as possible or is it actually taking away from your company's efficiency? From shaping email content to helping your employees deal with the onslaught from their inboxes, there are easy and effective strategies you can adopt so email further enhances your overall success throughout every single workday. Use these pieces of science-driven advice to whip your email system into shape today.

• How empathy training for your doctors will benefit your patients

  Wednesday, January 23, 2019

  Compassion is a key quality that every physician should demonstrate — and when they don't, patients notice. Research from Massachusetts General Hospital found that patients who have a good relationship with their doctor can benefit as much as they would from taking a daily aspirin to prevent a cardiac event. What's more, research from the Loyola University Health System found that residents who scored high on emotional intelligence and empathy also demonstrated better impulse control and more social responsibility — making for safer and more humane care as a whole.

• When it’s better not to focus on profit

  Thursday, January 17, 2019

  Making as much money for your company as possible is a no-brainer — that's why you're in business, right? That's true, but there are some situations in which it can actually benefit your company's long-term bottom line not to strategize for immediate maximum profits. Your reputation, relationships, and long-term planning can be used to an even greater advantage if you know when to pull back and how to refocus your aim. Use these tips to reboot for the short term and become even more successful in the long term.

• New ways to help your physicians deal with pharma marketing

  Wednesday, January 16, 2019

  In healthcare, you know that drug companies are going to target your organization's doctors no matter what. But are you as fully engaged as you should be in terms of helping your doctors avoid troubling incentives? Use the following research-driven advice to guide your doctors in their dealings with pharma marketers — it's crucial for upholding their integrity as well as the overall integrity of your organization.

• 5 simple steps to cut workplace frustration

  Thursday, January 10, 2019

  We've all been there: a day filled with looming deadlines, uncooperative team members, and unexpected disasters cropping up. It's easy to let frustration overwhelm you — but if you do, you'll lose control of your perspective, making you susceptible to lashing out at your team, and making you a less productive manager. The good news: science has your back. Use these five simple research-based steps to cut your frustration and regain your perspective:

• Improve the way your physicians use EHRs

  Wednesday, January 09, 2019

  Electronic health records (EHRs) can be an incredibly helpful tool in providing targeted patient care and reducing medical error. Yet many hospitals' EHR systems can be difficult to navigate for many doctors due to poor technology, confusing or time-consuming notation requirements, or a lack of understanding how to utilize EHRs to provide the best patient care. The solution? Take stock of your EHR system for efficiency — then use the following advice to make it easier for your doctors to work with, with life-saving, cost-saving results.

• Improve the way your employees see you

  Friday, January 04, 2019

  As a manager, you try to be fair, clear and helpful to your employees. Yet what's your real reputation as a boss? You might not have a clue as to how your employees truly see you. What's more, you may be making key mistakes that hamper their connection to the person you really are, making you less effective as a supervisor than you ultimately can be. Use these research-driven tips to accurately convey your real personality to your staff — and improve the way you relate to them so they can work better with you.

• How to give your cardiologists the support they need

  Thursday, January 03, 2019

  As an administrator, you know that cardiologists are often nothing short of miracle workers. A little-considered fact, however: these highly skilled and brilliant physicians often work under emotional and physical constraints that make their jobs difficult, even dangerous — and that can compromise patient care. To give the cardiologists in your organization the assistance they may need, but may not ask you for, implement these important research-driven points. Doing so will ensure safe, satisfactory outcomes.

• Help your pediatric patients beat dental fear

  Wednesday, January 02, 2019

  As a dentist, you understand that many of your patients have anxiety over visiting your office, of course. Yet what may be a simple case of nerves for an adult can be full-blown terror for a child who fears visiting your office. You want your young patients to get the care they need without seeing you as the bogeyman or woman — so how can you quell their fear? Science has your back. Try these easy, research-driven tips to help your pediatric patients feel comfortable — and even look forward to — their next appointments.

• Make sure your employee harassment policies are strong enough

  Wednesday, December 19, 2018

  In today's workplace, managers can't be too careful when it comes to issues regarding employee harassment. It is key that you protect your company against internal legal claims, and you certainly don't want your staff members to feel uncomfortable, or worse, afraid when they are trying to do their jobs on a daily basis. Researchers have been looking into which company policies are the most effective in terms of shielding both your workers both physically and emotionally from various forms of co-worker or supervisor abuse. Use what they've learned through the following tips to make sure your policies offer the proper protection, and make changes where they're needed.

• Are you a workaholic? Easier ways to get more accomplished

  Monday, December 17, 2018

  If you're a workaholic — meaning you're on the job 50 or more hours per week — your physical and emotional health can easily suffer without you even realizing it. Poor sleep, weight gain, stress at home, and multiplying mistakes as you start to burn out won't lead to a good outcome for you or your company. No worries, though: science has several easy and effective solutions to help you treat yourself better — and do your best work. Try these tips.

• Help your doctors get more rest on duty

  Wednesday, December 12, 2018

  Sleep deprivation: it's a fact of life for both practicing physicians and residents alike. As a hospital administrator, you know this, but there's no doubt you wish you could help your doctors get a least a little more shuteye. You're in luck: cutting-edge research has identified strategies that physicians can use to rest more efficiently while performing their duties during shifts or prior to procedures. Help your doctors by employing the following science-based tips.

• How to improve your patient disclosure practices

  Monday, December 10, 2018

  As a physician, you know that communicating the right information to disclose to your patients at the proper time is critical. Not only does doing so properly cut down on confusion for your patients, it can also reduce informed consent claims against your hospital or practice. Yet many doctors don't provide their patients with enough information when it comes to crucial safety and risk factors regarding treatment. So how do you determine the difference between providing useful knowledge versus giving out unhelpful information?

• New benefits to incorporating a nurse practitioner for your practice

  Wednesday, December 05, 2018

  Nurse practitioners are a boon for both patient outcomes and administrative progress. They can relieve a physician's workload and provide patients more extensive care in terms of both time and information. Interested in incorporating a nurse practitioner into your office? Consider the following research to understand the advantages further.

• Smart strategies for cutting competition between your employees

  Monday, December 03, 2018

  Competition in your marketplace is part of the drill when it comes to doing business. When your employees start to compete with each other in potentially destructive ways, however, your business can quickly suffer. As a manager, it's key to shape your policy so that team success always overrides the personal gain of the employees who work for you — so how do you handle the personnel conflicts that aggressive individual team members can cause?

• Take an overview of your hospital’s discharge protocol

  Wednesday, November 28, 2018

  You undoubtedly know how important it is for patients to be discharged promptly and safely at your hospital — but at so many facilities today, making that happen is a challenge. Time constraints, confusion during handoffs, and a lack of patient post-care awareness can make discharges unsuccessful and can lead to readmissions, or a worst-case scenario, patient mortality. Use a focused approach to evaluate how well your discharge system is working, and make necessary changes using this research-based information.

• How to build a better meeting

  Monday, November 26, 2018

  Meetings are an essential tool in the work your team does, of course — but are you running yours as productively as you can be? You could likely improve the way you plan, conduct and follow through on the important points you and your staff members are covering. But how do you know where to start? Use this new research to step up your game — and boost your company's productivity and profits.

• New ways to help patients with chronic conditions

  Tuesday, November 20, 2018

  As a physician, bringing relief to patients with chronic conditions, which include everything from diabetes to high blood pressure to arthritis and more, is a top priority. Yet aside from prescribing the proper medication and charting your patients' progress through appointments, there are a number of strategies you can employ to make them feel better on a daily basis. These strategies are low-tech, easy to implement and follow, and can make a huge difference in terms of quality of life, according to recent scientific research. Try these proven tips.

• Boost patient safety at your hospital by reducing little-known risks

  Friday, November 16, 2018

  As an administrator, patient safety is a top priority — and you no doubt are on top of as many established health risk elements as you can be. Research has shown that little-known environmental risks can be surprisingly detrimental to patients' welfare, however. How can you cut these potential hazards before they become bigger problems? Use the following science-driven info to recognize and reduce risk.

• How to improve your workplace wellness approach

  Wednesday, November 14, 2018

  If you're like many companies, there's a good chance you have a workplace wellness program in place — maybe more than one — or a program that addresses multiple health components. But how well is what you're doing really working? Ideally, you want the program you're offering employees to not only improve their health and quality of life but also to cut healthcare expenses significantly and help your business run more effectively. Take an overview of how well your program is performing and make the changes it needs by using this advice.

• Is your big idea the best idea?

  Friday, November 09, 2018

  You think you've come up with a winning concept that will garner huge profits for your company, so of course you want to get working on its specs ASAP. Not so fast: before going any further, you need to step back and review your idea's merits with an eye toward quality control. According to research, the best concepts have the following factors in common.

• New reasons to establish a rural primary care practice

  Thursday, November 08, 2018

  Many new doctors and established primary care physicians looking to relocate avoid setting up shop in rural areas. In fact, a study from the University of Missouri-Columbia found that only 10 percent of doctors practice in rural communities, and just 3 percent of medical students intend to do so. Why? Bigger profits may be had in large cities, of course. Yet research shows that there are significant upsides to physicians who choose to treat patients in more distant locations. Shift your perspective by considering these important benefits.

• Strategies to help your team members become more proactive

  Thursday, November 01, 2018

  It's a familiar scene: you explain the general outline of a project to your team — but no one takes the immediate initiative to contribute fresh ideas to the plan. If your employees routinely seem to hesitate when it comes to jumping into a new task, it's probably not a lack of motivation — it's most likely because they don't know how proactive you really want them to be. Yet you no doubt want your employees to bring you their A-game when it comes to giving each project their all from the start — so let them know it and help them do it!

• Simple steps to cut your hospital’s malpractice risk

  Wednesday, October 31, 2018

  As an administrator, you know that eliminating as much risk as possible when it comes to malpractice and patient safety is job No. 1. Outside of the complex legal advice and institutional safeguards you already have in place, it's always a good idea to double back and make sure that your staff is implementing more simplistic, yet equally vital, steps during the course of daily patient care duties. Utilize these scientifically backed advice pieces of advice to keep your hospital covered.

• Provide the most productive feedback for your healthcare workers

  Thursday, October 25, 2018

  Every medical organization's most important ongoing efforts include thorough evaluation of worker performance. Surprisingly often, though, the most helpful feedback often never gets delivered — because you, as an administrator, aren't aware of the key details your doctors, nurses and residents need to hear to make their work the best it can be. The good news: researchers have analyzed and identified a number of several specific feedback areas you can cover that will allow your healthcare workers to provide better and safer patient care. Here's what you need to know.

• 5 outside-the-box profit boosters for your business

  Wednesday, October 24, 2018

  The healthiest bottom line possible is what every company is constantly striving for. Your team has no doubt brainstormed many effective conventional ideas to boost short-term profits — but a good, unexpected approach can often expand your earning capacity in fresh, long-term ways as well, as proven by research. Put these outside-the-box strategies into practice to garner excellent results.

• Help your patients comply with getting vaccinated easily

  Thursday, October 18, 2018

  As a primary care physician, you know the importance of making sure all of your patients are properly immunized — but in today's healthcare climate, compliance is sometimes tough to come by. Some patients don't remember they need to come in for a shot; other patients question the safety and necessity of vaccinations due to media reports. The good news: there are simple and highly effective steps you can take to ensure your patients understand the medical purpose of their essential vaccinations, and comply with receiving them.

• Give your team a motivational makeover

  Wednesday, October 17, 2018

  Want your staff to run like a well-oiled machine on that new project? The key to making that happen is to whip up some good old-fashioned group enthusiasm. You need to stress the importance of true team spirit, so that your workers help each other help your organization. The result: each person is motivated to work to the best of their ability at the exact same time — and everyone enjoys doing so. Research is here to help you get your group enthusiastically in sync. Try these scientifically-tested tips.

• Encourage stronger cooperation in your workplace

  Monday, October 15, 2018

  As a manager, you understand the critical importance of each member of your team working harmoniously toward a common goal. Yet sometimes, an individual staff member's personal agenda can interfere with your group working together seamlessly — and your projects can suffer. Here’s what you need to do: identify foolproof ways to foster cooperation, and get your group dynamic in sync. Follow this clear, research-proven advice to ensure excellent team collaboration, day after day.

• Safer strategies for patient care transitions

  Thursday, October 11, 2018

  Patient handoffs at every hospital are a constant fact of life — as an administrator, your aim is, of course, to make them as seamless as possible. Yet so many elements can go awry during any care transition. If your healthcare workers don't utilize proper communication and procedural protocol, confusion and medical errors can occur, unfortunately. Great news, though: the following research-proven strategies can protect your patients physically as they move from one provider to another, ease their stress levels regarding medical instructions, and improve comprehension of their treatment.

• Innovative ways telemedicine can benefit your patients

  Tuesday, October 09, 2018

  Using videoconferencing equipment to diagnose and evaluate patients at an ER or clinic is a well-established way to help patients experiencing a medical emergency. Yet, research has also now established that telemedicine can also help patients dealing with chronic conditions manage their treatment much more easily. This will save both patients and doctors time and money. Adapt these proven facts about telemedicine to benefit your organization's patients more effectively.

• Help your senior workers master new technology with confidence

  Thursday, October 04, 2018

  As a manager, you no doubt greatly value the experience, talent and wisdom your senior team members bring to your organization. Yet you're probably aware that many workers in their 60s and older aren't as comfortable, or as proficient, with new technology as they might like to be. No worries, though: there are a number of simple and supportive steps that you can employ to help your senior workers learn what they need to know about using fresh technology on the job.

• Eliminate hidden germ hazards at your hospital

  Wednesday, September 26, 2018

  Every hospital administrator knows that a clean, safe environment for patients is a top priority. There are great, new innovations in terms of bacteria control that many hospitals are implementing — a study from Duke University Health reports that the use of ultraviolet (UVC) light machines are on the rise, for instance. Yet, research also shows that, surprisingly, many areas in the hospital are overlooked when it comes to harboring hidden germs — and often aren't disinfected thoroughly as a result. Focus your cleaning protocol more thoroughly in the following places.

• How to keep your work environment safe

  Tuesday, September 25, 2018

  These easy, research-driven common-sense tips will nip many problems in the bud, keep you informed in case of emergencies, and create a much less hazardous daily environment.

• Strategies to help your nurses provide safer patient care

  Thursday, September 20, 2018

  RNs are the backbone that makes every care team in your hospital run like clockwork. Yet these caregivers are often unsung heroes and heroines as well — they routinely work beyond their physical and emotional limits for the good of their patients, and do so without complaint. As a hospital administrator, however, it's crucial to realize that the more essential support you provide your RNs with, the sharper they'll be when it comes to caring for every patient — improving health outcomes across the board. Employ these proven points to help your nurses accomplish their best work every day.

• How to improve your organization’s telecommuting policies

  Wednesday, September 19, 2018

  For many employees, there's no greater perk than working from home. Workers appreciate the opportunity as well: a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign study found that remote workers often go above and beyond what's expected of them, and are "good citizens" in an organization — positive, cooperative and friendly to their peers. As a manager, it's helpful to re-examine your telecommuting philosophy from time to time for a few important reasons. You want to make sure your remote workers can always receive the info they need, feel fully engaged as part of your organization, and stay as productive as possible.

• Effective strategies to stop workplace bullying

  Thursday, September 13, 2018

  Many managers aren't aware of how pervasive the problem of workplace bullying is today. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, one in every 20 employees faces disrespectful behavior, most often from co-workers or direct supervisors, on the job. Bullying can take many forms, from humiliation, to offensive remarks, shouting, scapegoating, excluding an employee from group activities, and gossiping about that employee. What can you do to prevent bullying from happening in your organization — or stop the behavior in its tracks if you find it occurring?

• New ways to support your hospice caregivers

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018

  The generous and caring determination of a hospice caregiver is truly an honor to behold. As an organizational administrator, your goal is no doubt to help these excellent professionals provide the most help to their patients as they can — and you want to offer them all the professional and emotional support they need as well. Fortunately, research has pointed out new directions administrators can go in terms of making their staff members' daily experience as streamlined and trouble-free as possible.

• Help your emergency room team fight burnout

  Thursday, September 06, 2018

  It's a fact of life: the emergency department of any hospital can be a chaotic, hectic and frustrating environment for overworked doctors and nurses. And the pressure is nonstop: a University of Maryland study found that almost half of all U.S. medical care is given by ER health providers. Obviously, that level of responsibility can only add to those workers' stress levels, and raise their risk of short- and long-term burnout. Try these constructive, research-based solutions to help your team out.

• Quick and easy tricks to sharpen your focus

  Tuesday, September 04, 2018

  Concentration — it's the key element you need in order to do your very best work for your organization. Yet, even the most dedicated managers can get distracted from time to time. Between those emails you think you must answer right this second, the unexpected fire on a project you needed to put out an hour ago, or responding to pressing questions from your staff, your attention is being pulled in many directions. Want to reboot your focus immediately, so you can do an amazing job on that important report or presentation that's waiting on your desk?

• New strategies to facilitate patient advocacy at your hospital

  Thursday, August 30, 2018

  As a hospital administrator, your goal is to help your patients become as empowered and informed about their health decisions as possible. Yet, you're no doubt familiar with the very common problem of patients having difficulty advocating for themselves. They may feel intimidated in a healthcare setting, so they don't speak up about what they want. Patient advocacy is the obvious solution to the problem — but many healthcare organizations aren't tapping into all of its potential.

• Better ways to brainstorm with your team

  Wednesday, August 29, 2018

  When working on your approach to an important project, there's nothing better than bold, original creative thinking. Yet as a manager, you understand that brainstorming with your team members can sometimes be a hit-or-miss prospect. It's sometimes too easy for the more outgoing members of your staff to dominate the discussion, which means other people's valid ideas get overlooked. Also, there may be times when your group just doesn't feel as creative as they could be.

• How to cut the stress at your practice

  Thursday, August 23, 2018

  As a physician, do you find yourself feeling depleted, exhausted, and isolated? You're not alone. A new Stanford University School of Medicine study found that at physicians' practices worldwide, the emotional and physical impact of managing daily workload is causing doctors more stress than ever. Out of 6,695 doctors surveyed by the researchers, 55 percent reported feeling burnt out. The good news: there are positive and concrete steps you can take to alleviate your stress, forge stronger bonds with your staff, colleagues and patients, and physically recover so you're refreshed to do your best work.

• Use positive persuasion to meet your organization’s goals

  Tuesday, August 21, 2018

  When trying to land a new client, close a sale, or win approval for a new project, selling your idea factually is, of course, your first priority. Yet, you also know it's crucial never to lose focus of the human element of connection — finding just the right way to convince the person in front of you that doing business with you will be beneficial, and will be a pleasure as well. This is where mastering the skill of positive persuasion comes in.

• How to best support an employee on sick leave

  Thursday, August 16, 2018

  If you have a staff member who's dealing with an unexpected major illness or must take time away from work to deal with treatment for a chronic condition, you can only imagine how difficult their absence must be to deal with. From worrying about falling behind on their work, to dealing with unsympathetic peers who have to pick up their responsibilities, a worker on sick leave will often imagine the worst — but you, as his/her supervisor, can do a lot to relieve this stress.

• New ways to meet all of your daily work goals

  Wednesday, August 15, 2018

  Imagine looking down tonight at your to-do list — and seeing every single item has been checked off. It's not a dream — starting today, you can accomplish each daily work goal you set for yourself with accuracy and ease, all by employing some excellent research-tested tips. Try these simple and surprising tricks.

• The benefits of incorporating a mobile medical unit through your practice

  Friday, August 10, 2018

  Mobile medical units have proven to be a money-saving, health-boosting boon to patients across the U.S., and in other countries as well. Many doctors are eager to expand care to more patients by directly traveling into their communities, but aren't really clear on how to properly utilize a mobile medical unit for maximum positive impact. Here's everything you need to know about the benefits of putting your practice on the road, so you can truly improve the lives of those you meet and treat.

• Fast strategies for defusing team conflict

  Wednesday, August 08, 2018

  Your staff is in the middle of a huge project — and stress levels are rising. A small misunderstanding between two team members can lead to a mistake that the whole group then needs to pitch in and take care of — and if you're not careful, resentment and disagreement can fester and make everyone less than productive. Need to step in? Use these proven tips to restore harmony and get everyone back to doing their best work.

• New ways actors can benefit your doctors-in-training

  Thursday, August 02, 2018

  You're no doubt familiar with "standardized patients" — professional actors who role-play with medical students and residents to simulate real-life patient interactions. Often, these interactive experiences teach doctors-in-training how to handle basic communication situations, such as how to prescribe medication or explain a diagnosis. New research initiatives, however, are greatly expanding the knowledge medical students and residents can glean from working with actors, leading to more emotional insight when they work with real patients, as well as better effectiveness at sharing medical information with those real patients.

• Quick tricks to boost your workday memory

  Monday, July 30, 2018

  You're meeting with a trusted client — and you blank on her name. You can't remember for the life of you where you put your pager. You forgot to return one email — which started a chain reaction of confusion among your colleagues regarding tomorrow's presentation. We've all made a memory-related work mistake or two — it happens when you've got lots on your plate. Here's some good news: there are fast and easy strategies you can employ to effectively jog your memory in the moment, helping you to remember everything you need, no matter how busy your workday is.

• How to provide more transparency for patients at your practice

  Friday, July 27, 2018

  Every primary care physician knows this undeniable truth: patients today are more informed about their health than ever (which is a very good thing). Thanks to information about vital concerns like medical conditions, insurance and billing that they can read about on the web, many patients aren't shy about wanting you, as their doctor, to allow them as much access to their care and records as possible. Read on to find out the right ways to provide more transparency for your patients, while respecting the rules of your healthcare organization, and relevant laws as well.

• Successful strategies to multitask more effectively

  Monday, July 23, 2018

  You're laser-focused on preparing for tomorrow's presentation — but the phone won't stop ringing. And the emails keep pouring in. Your staff members are popping in, one after another, to report fires you have to put out right this second. Yep, you're distracted. Juggling essential tasks doesn't have to result in chaos, though. Use these easy, science-driven multitasking tips to accomplish everything on your plate, without sacrificing accuracy or quality.

• How to make more effective patient referrals

  Friday, July 20, 2018

  When it comes to sending a patient to the proper specialist for the right reasons, some doctors tend to over- or underperform. You never want to deny a patient the care he or she truly needs, but you also want to make sure you're not causing that patient undue stress or financial hardship for an unnecessary referral, either. Research into this topic has made it easier for doctors to decide the right course of action when it comes to appropriate referrals. Here's what you need to know.

• The right way to use your professional intuition

  Wednesday, July 18, 2018

  You probably know the value of trusting your gut in your life — often, going with that instinct is the best course of action to take. Yet, when it comes to using your intuition professionally, things can seem a bit trickier. You don't want to make a hasty move without backing up your hunch with concrete facts and data; but at the same time, ignoring your intuitive feelings, which are often honed through years of experience, is unwise if your choice becomes too technical. Use the following science-based strategies to utilize your instinct most effectively.

• New ways to improve patient satisfaction at your hospital

  Thursday, July 12, 2018

  As an administrator, there's no doubt that you're aware of the value good patient feedback has on your facility. Hearing and understanding what works and what doesn't is key in terms of adopting policies that will benefit future patients' physical and emotional comfort. Additionally, as patient satisfaction can determine Medicare reimbursement rates, it's imperative for your bottom line that the environment you provide is pleasant, safe and medically excellent.

• How to provide a more heart-healthy workplace for employees

  Wednesday, July 11, 2018

  You appreciate how conscientious and loyal your employees are, and you want to keep them with your organization for many years to come. Letting them know by words and actions that you care about their health and well-being is a first step in making this goal happen — and letting your staff know their great value to you. Creating a more heart-healthy workplace is an effective and easy way to make this happen, according to multiple studies.

• Help your employees meet their deadlines more easily

  Monday, July 09, 2018

  You know the drill: the minutes are counting down until a big, officewide project needs to be completed, and your staff members are frantically working to finish what they should have started days — no, weeks — ago. If this kind of situation frequently happens in your organization, it may be time to rethink your procedure for setting, monitoring and completing deadlines. Try these smart, simple strategies to revamp your system to get excellent results immediately.

• Use easy technology to improve your patients’ treatment

  Thursday, July 05, 2018

  Online patient portals and automated visit reminders are standard components of care for most hospitals and practices today. But did you know that there are other simple uses of technology that can raise the quality of care you provide — and contribute to better outcomes across the board for your patients? Research shows that implementing the following technological strategies can lead to excellent results.

• Techniques to hire your best candidate

  Monday, July 02, 2018

  You're sure about what key qualities you're looking for in any new hire — professionalism, reliability, intelligence and versatility. But did you know that by how you approach the hiring process, you might be disqualifying the best candidates without even realizing it? This article will use proven, yet little-known science-based tips to make sure you're considering those folks who will best benefit your company. Follow these strategies to ensure you choose the right person for your organization's needs.

• How extending hours can benefit your practice and patients

  Thursday, June 28, 2018

  As a busy primary care provider, you're no doubt always looking for ways to maximize the care options you can provide your patients. Yet there never seem to be enough hours in the day to do so. The simplest solution? Make more hours and extend your practice's daily appointment times. There are multiple upsides to adding additional office availability each week, as research has shown that patients, physicians and staff can all benefit from a practically planned expansion.

• Successful strategies to cut patient readmissions

  Wednesday, June 27, 2018

  As a hospital administrator, there's no doubt that you're seeking to avoid readmissions in any way you can. You want your patients to do well health-wise after discharge, first and foremost, and you also want to avoid any financial penalty from Medicare for especially high readmission rates at your institution. This can be hard to accomplish, however. The good news? There are concrete steps you can take to reduce this issue, improve your patients' outcomes and strengthen your staff members' collaborative efforts as they work to make the post-care transition as safe and seamless as possible.

• Fresh tricks for a great negotiation

  Tuesday, June 26, 2018

  You're heading into a high-pressure meeting with a potential client, so of course you want to obtain absolutely everything you can for your organization. Even the most experienced leader can feel a little intimidated in this situation, or a bit unsure as to how to maximize the odds of success. There's no reason to worry! Try these outside-the-box, foolproof research-based tips to bring your A-game to any negotiation, and get exactly what you want.

• Be positive to solve a tough business problem

  Friday, June 22, 2018

  When you're trying to decide how to put out an emergency fire before it torpedoes a key project, your emotional state is probably not at its most upbeat. Yet, making the conscious effort to reject any feelings of pessimism about your situation is actually your best shot at a successful solution. It's not just wishful thinking — science shows that a positive attitude has a powerful effect on making the right choice when meeting an important challenge.

• Take the stress out of testing for your patients

  Thursday, June 21, 2018

  For most patients, medical tests are obviously necessary protocol — but they're not a lot of fun, for a number of reasons. Testing can cause much more emotional distress to patients than many doctors suspect, in fact. A study from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that many people reported serious symptoms of anticipatory anxiety in a situation like waiting for test results, such as worrying for an entire day. The positive news: you as a physician can do a lot to take the stress out of the testing process.

• New ways to become a more inspirational leader

  Wednesday, June 20, 2018

  Every manager's goal is to spur his or her team members to do their very best work — and a truly great leader does this through example. The best way to do it? Understand which attributes make a leader truly inspirational, and cultivate these positive traits within yourself. To make this task easier, use the following research-based tips for strengthening your leadership abilities easily and effectively.

• Tips to boost your energy in the morning

  Monday, June 18, 2018

  Imagine tackling your workload with enthusiasm, energy, speed and accuracy every single morning (without downing five cups of coffee). Sounds like the impossible dream, right? It's actually easy to achieve. Research has found that the key to maximizing your a.m. performance as soon as you get to work is to simply make a few easy, enjoyable adjustments to your routine. Not only will you actually enjoy making these changes, you'll effortlessly boost your mental and physical stamina.

• Help your doctors and nurses work better together

  Friday, June 15, 2018

  A great hospital administrator is always looking for ways to improve patient care and satisfaction. One very important component toward achieving that goal is properly integrating the collaboration between doctors and nurses — but unfortunately, this key relationship is rarely optimized. How can you encourage your doctors and nurses to work in tandem more closely and effectively to help your patients achieve better outcomes? Try these research-proven strategies.

• How house calls can benefit patients — and your practice

  Wednesday, June 13, 2018

  In today's modern healthcare environment, you may think that house calls have gone the way of the horse and buggy. Not so: research shows that in recent years, the number of house calls made to out-of-the-office Medicare patients has more than doubled. Interestingly, this same study notes that those house calls are made by a smaller number of physicians than in previous years — leading to plentiful care opportunities for doctors who do practice in the real world.

• Sleep better to work better

  Monday, June 11, 2018

  Your inbox is filled to the brim, you're cruising toward multiple deadlines, and you're facing a day full of meetings — all on four hours of sleep. There’s no doubt about it: we all face insomnia from time to time, and it's bound to make an impact at the office. Yet, you can break the pattern. If you've been feeling extra-exhausted lately, here are a range of surprising but surefire tips for rebooting your internal clock and making a fresh start when it comes to getting the rest you need.

• New ways to help your patients comply with medical instructions

  Thursday, June 07, 2018

  Every doctor has to deal with a difficult, frustrating fact: some patients simply don't follow their recommendations properly. Obviously, this situation is worrisome in that it can lead to adverse outcomes, hospitalizations and drug interactions. There's good news, though: researchers have been looking into innovative ways for physicians to encourage more convenient compliance. Try these fresh, proven tips to help your patients more effectively focus on participating in their own care.

• Ways to calm an anxious dental patient

  Monday, June 04, 2018

  Sure, you can break out the gas or needle to sedate a nervous patient in your chair — but setting a accepting, relaxing and communicative atmosphere in your practice can actually be a better way to calm things down. These simple and research-proven tips can help your patients relax, and see you as an empathetic professional who has their emotional comfort, as well as their physical comfort, as a priority.

• How to prepare family caregivers to give the best post-hospital care

  Wednesday, May 30, 2018

  More than 40 million relatives in the U.S. provide unpaid care to chronically ill moms, dads, spouses, children and others, according to statistics from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. Caregiving is a supremely selfless, medically complex and challenging task, yet there are ways to make the process easier for the family members who will undertake it. This piece will cover essential strategies for preparing your hospitalized patient's family member to become a confident and effective caregiver.

• Use these strategies to improve communication with your patients

  Tuesday, May 29, 2018

  Even the most experienced physicians may find that relating to their patients constructively and positively can be a challenge. Maybe you're a doctor whose greatest strengths are academic, so you feel uncomfortable making small talk; maybe patients have told you that they have a hard time clearly understanding how you give diagnostic and treatment information. No worries: it's surprisingly easy to rethink the way you communicate with your patients, improve your clarity and strengthen your interpersonal skill set.

• Help your residents cope better with long shifts

  Thursday, May 24, 2018

  Night float, overnight calls and 28-hour days have become the norm for today's medical residents — they're a necessary evil in terms of the immersive learning young doctors need. Yet the residents you supervise are human, and the easier they can get through a tough shift, the better their results, their productivity, and the safety of your patients will be. Employ these research-proven tips to help your residents stay on their toes for the long haul.

• How to have a great first day at your new managerial position

  Tuesday, May 22, 2018

  No matter how experienced you are, starting a new managerial job is bound to give you a butterfly or two. The good news? Preparing yourself with a calm mindset and an effective game plan that you can implement on your very first day will guarantee you have a smooth entry, and positive productivity from the get-go. Use these easy, science-based tips to excel from the start.

• How to respond to a patient’s thank you

  Friday, May 18, 2018

  Receiving a letter of appreciation or a card from a patient expressing gratitude after a doctor's treatment is a rare and generous gesture. The benefits of expressing your gratitude in turn for this kind of acknowledgement are many — a study from the National Communication Association points out that the emotional act of saying thanks can even reduce job stress and burnout. Still, for some doctors, it can be tricky to know exactly how to respond to such a message — they may feel a bit awkward, and unsure of what to say.

• Help your employees boost their creative thinking skills

  Thursday, May 17, 2018

  Creativity — it's one of the most vital and valuable traits any employee can bring to the table. Unfortunately, creative thinking can be a little elusive at times. But new research is shedding light on ways managers can boost creative thinking and inspire their staff to come up with fresh and exciting ideas and solutions. This piece will cover easy-to-implement strategies you can start using today.

• How to cut the stress from frequent business travel

  Tuesday, May 15, 2018

  Are you on the road two weeks or more out of the month? If so, there's a pretty good chance you feel more than a little burned out. A Columbia University study found that professionals who travel for business at this rate suffer more anxiety and depression than their non-traveling colleagues, are more likely to be smokers, tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle, drink too much alcohol and have trouble sleeping. All of these factors will not only make you miserable now, but can lead to a range of long-term health issues. So how can you regain your equilibrium and sense of well-being?

• How to reassure your patients about practice cleanliness

  Thursday, May 10, 2018

  Patients are becoming more and more informed about the important issue of cleanliness when they visit the doctor's office. This is a good thing, because your patients' concern about germs in the treatment environment should be your concern, and your staff's responsibility. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a surprising 48 percent of healthcare workers don't wash their hands between patients.

• How to give a more humane evaluation

  Monday, May 07, 2018

  Few face-to-face meetings are more nerve-racking for employees than biannual or annual evaluations. Because of this fact, it's key for a manager to understand that even if the criticism you must dispense during these meetings is constructive, a nervous worker will most likely hear your words as coming from a negative place, and this can instantly foster distrust of you as a supervisor. How can you provide your employees essential feedback with the utmost humanity and respect so they will feel supported and ready to implement your instructions for their work without any hard feelings?

• New ways to make great business decisions

  Thursday, May 03, 2018

  ​Trying to settle on an important work choice? We all know about the value of researching your options, making a pros and cons list, and talking over the details with objective and informed colleagues. However, employing an out-of-the-box and effective science-based trick might just be the ticket when it comes to clarifying your thoughts and options. Use one or more of these strategies to help yourself come to the correct conclusion.

• How to create more camaraderie in your workplace

  Tuesday, May 01, 2018

  Office collaboration is essential for great overall productivity in your company, but it's so easy for individual workers to get so caught up in their own tasks and goals that they don't feel this sense of friendly community. Want to encourage your workers to feel closer to each other, and subsequently more eager to do great work together? Try these research-proven tips to foster more camaraderie your organization.

• Encourage your employees’ independence

  Friday, April 27, 2018

  Autonomy at work — that's what employees truly crave. A sense of control and freedom of choice regarding how they accomplished their tasks can have a hugely positive effect on workers' well-being, including increased self-esteem, improved job performance and a renewed sense of enjoyment and pride regarding their jobs.

• How to command attention during a presentation

  Wednesday, April 18, 2018

  You've done quality research and work through every step of prepping your presentation — the last thing you want to see are glazed eyeballs while you're talking through each key point.

• Help your patients and staff by reducing hospital noise

  Monday, April 16, 2018

  Blaring alarms. Beeping machines. Loud pages over the intercom. Intrusive cellphone conversations in the hallway. Noise at all hours in virtually every American hospital is a huge problem for both patients seeking rest to recover and doctors and nurses who need to concentrate on care without distraction.

• Want to boost your brainpower? Check out this research

  Thursday, April 12, 2018

  Want to boost your capacity for memory retention, better learning, plus creative thinking and problem-solving? Sure you do! And the good news? The latest scientific research is making it easier to boost your brainpower than ever.

• Help your employees deal with grief

  Monday, April 02, 2018

  It's a common scenario, unfortunately. One of the best members of your team suffers the loss of a spouse, parent, sibling or child. Corporations, of course, allow for some bereavement time, but experts say the process of working through the initial stages of grief can last on average between six months and a year, and in some cases even longer.

• 4 ways to help your patients trust treatment by a resident

  Friday, March 30, 2018

  Put yourself in your patient's position: You're in your hospital bed, awaiting the doctor's arrival for your initial workup. But hold on. The white-coated young man who comes into the room couldn't have a medical license — he barely looks old enough to have a driver's license.