As a marketing agency with a focus on healthcare, I have had to clarify on numerous occasions that it is our mission to communicate effectively to better serve the health needs of our communities and not advertise a product – although we use many of the same tools. It is my argument that healthcare organizations in fact have a “Mission to Market” – that an essential part of their efforts to provide healthcare is the effective communication of the availability of services to meet conditions affecting members of the community. More on this to come later.

But for now, a small example of these efforts are Lassen Medical Group’s communications about symptoms, facts, and resources to understand and treat swine flu.

Swine Flu Communication Activities include:

• Frequent updates to their website pages related to swine flu
• Advertisements in local media
• Press releases to local media

Below is a sample of the Swine Flu Press Release that was sent out by Lassen Medical Group to media in Red Bluff and surrounding areas:

LASSEN MEDICAL GROUP SHARES LATEST ON H1N1 FLU

The outbreak of H1N1 flu in Tehama County has made this an anxious time for our community. This disease has been affecting primarily young healthy children but also some of the older adults. The Tehama County Department of Education and the Tehama County Health Services Agency, Public Health Division, are working together closely to deal with the situation and to keep parents aware of all-important information.

In the private sector, Lassen Medical Group is taking the lead to assist in the treatment and vaccination (when available) of affected individuals. As such, we have instituted a Centralized Flu Clinic at both the Red Bluff and Cottonwood offices. You may call 527-0414 or 347-3418 for more information. We anticipate this will cut down on time for evaluation and treatment and minimize exposure to other patients.

There have been questions regarding the closure of schools due to the widespread nature of this illness. Public Health, in conjunction with the Tehama County Department of Education, believes that students can safely attend classes, and school will remain open. A program is currently being organized to educate and immunize school-age children at the school sites. It is anticipated that the injectable vaccines will be available by late October or early November. Some intranasal vaccine is in the process of being shipped to Tehama County and will be administered by private providers.

Listed below are signs and symptoms of influenza, adult or child:

• Fever over 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C). The fever came on suddenly and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
  • Significant fatigue
  • Cough
  • Muscle aches
  • Sore throat
  • Headache

Here are some simple things that you can do to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu and to protect yourselves and your family.

• Stay at home if you are sick. Keep sick children home. Do not return to work or send children to school until fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications.
• Wash your hands a lot with soap and water for 20 seconds and teach your children to do the same. Set a good example for your children.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or cough into the inside of your elbows. Show your children how to do this.
• Do not let your children near sick people. Keep them 3 feet away.
• Stay away from shopping malls, movie theaters, and other places where there are large groups of people.

This information is provided by Richard Wickenheiser, MD, Chief of Internal Medicine, Lassen Medical Group, and Kimberli Frantz, MD, Chief of Pediatrics, Lassen Medical Group.