Being Visible: Hartford HealthCare Productions

They can quickly compare healthcare systems, physicians and hospitals.  Patients are more selective than ever, which is why being visible is more than a marketing strategy; being visible helps define the customer experience and is a strategic growth imperative for Hartford HealthCare.

Being visible means going beyond traditional publicity and marketing plans. That is how and why the Hartford HealthCare News Service was born. Under the direction of Rebecca Stewart, the Hartford HealthCare News Team includes producer, Melissa Dethlefsen; videographer editor, Nick Dethlefsen; and reporter/producer, Tina Varona. Together, the team’s unique skill set delivers the most engaging patient stories and health news with a clear mission: to grow Hartford HealthCare and let the public know what our experts do best. We don’t wait for news coverage, we create it.

This year, productions like Hope After Heroin: Stories of Recovery helped define Hartford HealthCare’s position
as a leader in behavioral health. The special was produced entirely in house, with interviews recorded in the Hartford HealthCare production studio. The show profiled compelling patient stories and aired on NBC Connecticut in primetime to critical acclaim, highlighting the remarkable efforts of the BHN and MATCH^TM
(Medication Assisted Treatment Close to Home) to help communities fight the opioid epidemic. It was later used by the FBI in its efforts to raise awareness of the issue.

A Night of Black & Red put a spotlight on the Bone & Joint Institute, the beneficiary of the Black & Red Gala. Through patient stories and live interviews, the program defined Hartford HealthCare as a leader in musculoskeletal care, and highlighted how we are transforming patient care inside the state-of-the-art Bone and Joint Institute. The program also highlighted a unique public facing campaign: “Step it Up,” which urged the public to step it up for their health and choose a healthier lifestyle.

Hartford HealthCare CEO Elliot Joseph hosts a monthly segment on WTIC NewsTalk 1080, Connecticut’s largest talk radio station. HealthCare Matters focuses on transforming the American
healthcare delivery system and encourages listeners to call in and ask questions.

Every Sunday morning on NBC CT, Connect to Healthier highlights patient stories, remarkable medical breakthroughs and the latest technology to advance care. On WFSB each week, you’ll see Medical Rounds as our experts offer live, weekly interviews from the Hartford Hospital studio. All segments are thoughtful and deliberate, with clear calls to action so that potential patients can learn more. Since we have adopted this strategy, we have filled rooms at community education events — and created thousands of patient leads.

If content is king, distribution is queen. Many health care organizations create content; not many have a cohesive content distribution strategy to generate leads, elevate reputation and grow the healthcare system. In this era when patients have choices, our remarkable team of Emmy-award winners reminds them that Hartford HealthCare is consistently the best choice.