News from Greystone.Net

Recent research results released by Greystone.Net highlight the Web’s increasing importance to hospitals and health systems

Wed, 5 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT

May 3 2010 – ATLANTA – Recent research results released by Greystone.Net highlight the Web’s increasing importance to hospitals and health systems, and underscore key investments they are making to improve their overall presence on the Internet.

Despite an overall downward trend in marketing spending, nearly half of the survey respondents reported that spending on the Web has increased. According to this study, the biggest beneficiaries of the increase in Web spending were social media, search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM).

“Taken together, we believe these findings are a strong testament to the growing importance of social media , and the continued increasing focus on the Web in healthcare as key strategic components for organizational marketing and operations.” said Mike Schneider, Executive VP of Greystone.Net.

Other major findings include:

A nearly equal number hospitals/health systems reported an increase in revenue over the previous year as reported a decrease. Academic Medical Centers appear to be weathering the storm better than other types of organizations, with nearly half reporting increased revenue in 2010.
The decision to increase spending on the Web appears to be independent of the status of hospital/health system revenues. In fact, more hospitals with declining revenues are increasing spending on the Web compared to those with increasing revenues.
Approximately one in three hospitals is looking to hire at least one Web-focused FTE this year, while an equal number is currently in a hiring freeze. The good news for healthcare marketers is that very few respondents (3%) expect to lay off people in Web departments this year.

The research was conducted as part of Greystone.Net’s ongoing efforts to stay abreast of key developments in the industry. Results were made available to all survey participants. To request a copy of the research results or to join the Greystone.Net research panel, please visit our Web site at www.greystone.net or email us at research@greystone.net.

Please note: Greystone’s research panel is made up of hospitals or health care systems that tend to be more “Web 2.0 savvy” than other hospitals and health systems. Thus, the results may not be representative of all hospitals.

Greystone.Net offers Internet and Web solutions and services for healthcare organizations. After more than a decade in business, we have helped hundreds of hospitals and health systems of all kinds plan and implement Web-based strategies. Services and products include:

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Online media monitoring
Social media planning
Call center consulting
Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

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Contact for Greystone.Net: Andrew Roberts (770-407-7686 or aroberts@greystone.net)

Greystone.Net Reveals Results of Research on Use of Social Media by Hospitals/Health Systems

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

Jan. 12, 2010 – ATLANTA – Nine in ten hospitals or health systems are currently involved in Social Media to some degree, while only one in three currently has a formal Social Media plan in place, according to new research released by Greystone.Net. The research was conducted over a two month period using Greystone.Net’s research panel of over 100 hospital and health system marketers.

“It is impossible to ignore the effect that Social Media is having on the Internet in general, and on hospitals and health systems specifically,” said Mike Schneider, Executive VP of Greystone.Net. “Organizations that have a formal plan to manage their Social Media interactions are more likely to be successful, and we expect more and more hospital Web departments to embrace this strategy moving forward.”

The research also showed that budgeting for Social Media, including hiring Social Media employees, is still relatively rare among hospitals and health systems - although many respondents commented that this is likely to change in the near future. Other key research findings include:

The challenge of monitoring Social Media is handled by relatively few people within a hospital or health system’s Web department (70% report they have 3 or fewer people monitoring).
Twitter, YouTube, and FaceBook are the most popular types of Social Media for hospitals and health systems, and also the most effective in terms of driving traffic to the Web site.
Despite the fact that nearly all respondents (92%) originally got involved with Social Media to attract new patients, overall they have not seen results in this area (only 12.5% said they had experienced some sort of success).
Hospitals/health systems are struggling to find success with other goals of Social Media, with only small numbers reporting that they have been successful improving community relations (16.7%), customer service (8.7%), employee engagement (8.7%), and crisis management (4.5%).

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Online media monitoring
Social media planning
Call center consulting
Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

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Contact for Greystone.Net: Andrew Roberts (770-407-7686 or aroberts@greystone.net)

7th Annual Best In Class Awards Announced

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Seventh Annual Greystone.Net and StayWell Custom Communications Best In Class Client Award winners have been announced.

Greystone.Net, ForeSee Results Collaborate to Help Clients

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

Combining the data provided by ForeSee Results with the expertise and support of Greystone.Net consultants will help hospitals and healthcare systems ensure the optimum online experience

Executive to Speak at the Florida Society for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Greystone.Net’s President and Executive Vice President will be speaking about intranets at a conference sponsored by the Florida Society for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing.

Greystone.Net Launches New Version of Benchmarking Offering

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

July 2, 2009 – ATLANTA – Greystone.Net announces the launch of an enhanced version of its healthcare Web site Benchmarking product, offering online dashboard and interactive features. The new interface greatly enhances users’ ability to obtain valuable comparative Web site data in a real-time environment.

Using data from clients and Google Analytics®, Greystone.Net Benchmarking compares critical performance metrics aggregately with competitors, peers, and against a national sample, and is able to deliver unique, insightful information about a participating organization’s Web site.

“Greystone.Net Benchmarking has always been a valuable tool for hospitals and health system webmasters, allowing them to get important information that is simply available nowhere else,” said Andrew Roberts, Product Manager for Benchmarking. “These new capabilities give customers even more power to get the information they need to make complex decisions, justify increased investment in the Web, and evaluate the ROI from their Web sites.”

The new version of Greystone.Net Benchmarking includes a new client interface as well as several new features:

Online dashboard with customizable filters
Automated data entry via Google Analytics®
Enhanced community and discussion capabilities
New metrics tracked, including usage of Social Media

Greystone.Net offers Internet and Web solutions and services for healthcare organizations. After more than a decade in business, Greystone has helped hundreds of hospitals and health systems of all kinds plan and implement Web-based strategies. Services and products include:

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Social media monitoring and planning
Call center consulting
Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

For more information or to request a free trial of Greystone.Net Benchmarking, please contact benchmarking@greystone.net or visit the Benchmarking section of our Web site.

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Contact: Andrew Roberts (770-407-7686 or aroberts@greystone.net)

Majority of Hospitals and Health Systems to Offer Web Site for Mobile Devices

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

April 28, 2009 – ATLANTA – Three out of four in healthcare have a Web site for mobile devices, are working one or plan to add one. According to a study conducted by Greystone.Net, nearly 20 percent have one already, 10 percent are working on one, and another 44 percent have plans to do so.

A Web site for mobile devices is specifically designed for the unique capabilities of handhelds and the different needs of people who access the Web via such devices.

“We believe that people trying to access a hospital or health system Web site via a mobile device are usually doing so at their moment of greatest need,” said Neal Linkon, senior vice president, Greystone.Net. “They are most likely trying to find an ER or a doctor’s office, dig up a phone number, or something like that. Web sites that aren’t optimized for mobile devices are slow to load and frustrating to use.”

The survey was conducted April 9-17, 2009, and received well over 100 replies. The survey showed:

While use of hospital and health system mobile Web sites remains low, it is higher for those that offer a site for mobile devices (average of 2.5 percent of total traffic).
The reasons most hospitals and health systems aren’t offering mobile Web sites is that it isn’t a high enough of a priority (55 percent) or they lack the resources (45 percent).
Nearly 80 percent of those who offer them said the “value/importance” is the reason.
Most hospitals and health systems built their mobile site in-house (69 percent), and nearly half said it took less than 20 hours. Of those that outsourced the development, the average amount spent was just over $4,000.
Most (65 percent) are not integrating text messaging capabilities, but those that are focus primarily on directions (23 percent) and appointment reminders 15 percent).

“With estimates showing use of mobile broadband tripling over the next few years to more than 140 million Americans, we’re glad to see that our industry is not ignoring this issue,” said Linkon.

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Social media monitoring and planning
Call center consulting
Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

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Contact: Neal Linkon (770-598-1994 or nlinkon@greystone.net)

Greystone.Net Executive to Speak at the 2009 Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development Annual Educational Conference

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

April 6, 2009 – ATLANTA – Greystone.Net’s President, Kathy L. Divis, will be speaking at a conference sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD) of the American Hospital Association. Divis will be speaking jointly with Selima Khan, Manager of Marketing Communications at Broward Health Line on the topic of “Planning and Implementing a Next Generation Contact Center.”

The presentation will be on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. at the Grand Marriott Orlando. Divis and Khan will present the process used to plan and implement a more robust contact center for Broward Health in Ft. Lauderdale. The two will discuss how Broward Health made and implemented decisions that helped change its call center into a full service contact center that became a profit center.

For more information about the SHSMD annual event, visit www.shsmd.org.

Greystone.Net (www.greystone.net) offers traditional and interactive marketing solutions and services for healthcare organizations. Over more than a decade in business, the company has helped hundreds of hospitals and health systems plan and implement Web-based and call center-based strategies. Services and products include:

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Intranet assessments
Social media monitoring and planning
Call center consulting
Web analytics services and Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

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Contact: Neal Linkon (770-598-1994 or nlinkon@greystone.net)

Greystone.Net Executive to Speak at the PRSA Health Academy Conference

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

March 24, 2009 – ATLANTA – Greystone.Net Senior Vice President Neal Linkon will speak at the Public Relation Society of America’s (PRSA) Health Academy Conference on May 14, 2009, at the Westin Hotel, City Center, in Washington, D.C.

Linkon will review best practices in healthcare Web sites, showing numerous examples of what’s working in the industry, gleaned from work with clients, and a review of award nominations and speaker proposals.

This year’s conference is focused on leveraging social media in healthcare public relations. To learn more about the conference, go to http://healthacademy.prsa.org/2009conference.html.

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Intranet assessments
Social media monitoring and planning
Call center consulting
Web analytics services and Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

Through the convergence of health care and public relations, the PRSA Health Academy promotes excellence in communications and an educational dialogue across the entire health care industry for the professional enhancement of its members. Members of the Health Academy adhere to the PRSA Code of Professional Ethics. The Academy is not an advocate for any medical or medically-related industry position, issue or focus. To learn more, go to http://healthacademy.prsa.org/aboutUs.html.

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Contact: Neal Linkon (770-598-1994 or nlinkon@greystone.net)

Greystone.Net Executive to Speak at the 21st Annual Conference of Physician Referral & Health Information Call Centers

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

March 20, 2009 – ATLANTA – Greystone.Net’s President, Kathy L. Divis, will be speaking at an upcoming conference sponsored by Physician Referral & Telephone Triage Times from HMR Publications Group. Ms. Divis will be speaking jointly with Allyson Doctor, Assistant Vice President, TeleHealth Solutions, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte on the topic of “Growth: Think Outside the Box – What Works and What Doesn’t.”

The presentation will be on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at the Marriott Indianapolis.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Preparing for 2010 and Beyond,” and in that vein, this presentation will help call center executives think strategically and creatively about adding services to their call center. In this challenging time for healthcare, call center executives must increasingly look to expand their reach into more parts of the healthcare delivery system – potentially with less (or at least no additional) resources. Their presentation will outline ways in which a call center can grow intelligently, and will provide both theory as well as a case study.

Those attending the presentation in Indianapolis will learn from the best in the industry on how they are growing the effectiveness and efficiency of their call centers. To learn more about the presentation and the conference, visit http://www.hmrpublicationsgroup.com.

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Intranet assessments
Social media monitoring and planning
Call center consulting
Web analytics services and Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

HMR Publications Group is the corporate home for Healthcare Marketing Report, Admissions Marketing Report and Physician Referral & Telephone Triage Times. HMR Publications Group serves as a source for marketing news and information from around the nation in the fields of admission and healthcare marketing. Yearly Advertising Awards and Conferences are hosted by HMR Publications Group with winner’s lists and conference information published both here and in the magazines. For more information on HMR Publications Group, publications, awards or conferences call 770-457-6105 or email info@hmrpublicationsgroup.com.

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Contact: Neal Linkon (770-598-1994 or nlinkon@greystone.net)

Greystone.Net Executives to Lead Webinars on Internet Strategies in Healthcare

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

March 19, 2009 – ATLANTA – Greystone.Net executives are leading two upcoming webinars sponsored by the Forum for Healthcare Strategists. One is on the use of Web 2.0 and the other is on showing the value of online investments.

The first is Wednesday, April 8, 12:30 p.m. EDT to 2 p.m. EDT. This will be an interactive discussion and interview on how healthcare organizations should approach Web 2.0.

Greystone.Net Senior Vice President Neal Linkon will interview Omar Wasow, a leading commentator on the challenges and opportunities of new media. As the founder of BlackPlanet.com, the weekend technology correspondent for MSNBC, a regular contributor to USA Today and an advocate for social issues, Wasow brings a unique perspective to understanding the role of the Internet in healthcare.

Linkon and Wasow will take participant’s questions and will explore:

What healthcare organizations can hope to achieve by delving into Web 2.0
What they can learn from the online experiences of other industries
Lessons from the Obama campaign's use of new media
How to measure success with social media
The value and etiquette of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media sites
Useful tools and resources

Then on Thursday, May 28, 12:30 p.m. EDT to 2 p.m. EDT, Linkon will join Greystone.Net Executive Vice President Michael Schneider as they explore how to prove the value of online investments.

Despite today’s challenges, some Web departments in healthcare are getting more resources while other marketing budgets are being cut. It’s all about showing the value of online investments, and documenting the cost-effectiveness and results. In this webinar, you’ll see examples and best practices from others in healthcare on how they:

Show progress
Show business value
Demonstrate real ROI

Learn from the best in the industry on how they are proving the value of new online investments. In this environment, it’s no longer an option.

To learn more about these webinars or to sign up online, go to http://www.healthcarestrategy.com/webinars/2009_webinars.asp.

Greystone.Net (www.Greystone.Net) offers Internet and Web solutions and services for healthcare organizations. Over more than a decade in business, the company has helped hundreds of hospitals and health systems plan and implement Web-based strategies. Services and products include:

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Social media monitoring and planning
Call center consulting
Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

The Forum for Healthcare Strategists (www.healthcarestrategy.com) was established in 1996 by a distinguished group of senior healthcare strategists seeking an opportunity to collectively examine current and future strategies for the delivery of healthcare. The Forum provides networks of communication and support, as well as opportunities for professional development, with the purpose of inspiring new, more effective models of care.

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Contact: Neal Linkon (770-598-1994 or nlinkon@greystone.net)

Healthcare Marketing Budgets Being Cut, Web Expenditures Less Impacted

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Jan. 27, 2009 – ATLANTA – Three out of four in healthcare report being asked to cut their budgets or freeze specific line items, a possible indication of the impact of the economic downturn.

The survey was conducted by Greystone.Net among marketing and Web leaders Jan. 7-16, 2009, and received nearly 170 replies. Intended as a “snapshot” of the economic conditions in healthcare, the survey showed:

Three out of four respondents have been asked to cut their budgets, freeze specific line items or both. The average “across the board” budget cut is 17 percent.
Despite the budget cuts, Web budgets remain relatively stable. Only one in five (18 percent) reported a reduction in their Web budgets for this year.
Approximately half of the respondents have a hiring freeze (33 percent) or extenuating approval processes in place (19 percent) for new hires.
Just under half (44 percent) of respondents expect further budget cuts for next year.
Half of the respondents in the survey reported declining revenues at their hospital or health system.
The picture for Web-based initiatives remains bright. Several respondents reported an increased emphasis on online activities. As one commented, “(In the future) I believe we will rely more heavily on our Web site and on Web-based strategies to reach our goals.”

“Although the news isn’t the most encouraging, it isn’t all bad news either,” said Kathy Divis, president of Greystone.Net. “There are some encouraging developments for Web activities and interactive media, and many organizations are still doing well.”

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Social media monitoring and planning
Call center consulting
Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

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Contact: Neal Linkon (770-598-1994 or nlinkon@greytone.net)

Greytstone.Net Clients winners of eHealthcare Leadership Awards

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Dec. 1, 2008 – ATLANTA – Nearly 40 Greystone.Net clients were honored in the recently announced eHealthcare Leadership Awards, including 10 platinum award winners and 22 gold award winners.

“While the best measure of a client’s success is meeting the specific business goals of their site or project, these awards are certainly an indication of the quality of our client list,” said Kathy Divis, president of Greystone.Net. “We even had two clients make the list of eight finalists for the Best eHealth Organizational Commitment category.”

The eHealthcare Leadership Awards are conducted by the editors of eHealthcare Strategy and Trends newsletter, and recognize the best Web sites across healthcare. There were nearly 1,100 entries. While just one of many awards programs for Web sites, it is one of the few that focuses on healthcare.

Award winners were announced at the 12th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference, held Nov. 10-12, 2008, in Orlando, FL. Greystone.Net also announced the winners of their “Best in Class” awards at their client conference held in conjunction with the Healthcare Internet Conference on Nov. 10. This year there were nearly 100 entries and 40 finalists. Click here for a list of winners.

Click here for a full list of eHealthcare leadership award winners.

Our services and products include:

Consulting and strategic planning for the Web (Internet & intranet)
Web site assessments and usability testing
Social media monitoring and planning
Call center consulting
Web site benchmarking
Web site design and creative services
Education and conferences

Greystone.Net Adds Linkon To Senior Staff

Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

May 7, 2008 – ATLANTA – Neal Linkon, Web Communications Manager for Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, WI, has joined Greystone.Net, a national consulting firm specializing in healthcare Web solutions. In his new role as Senior Vice President, Linkon will help develop new products and services for hospital Web sites. He will also offer Greystone.Net clients valuable, up-to-the-minute expertise in creating and implementing a successful Web presence.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Neal join our team,” said Kathy Divis, Greystone.Net, President and co-founding partner. “He is a talented, high-energy executive who will bring a fresh perspective to our clients. We believe that his in-depth knowledge, hands-on experience, practical advice and strategic vision will help clients achieve their goals.”

"I've known Neal for several years and he is truly a visionary leader in online healthcare marketing. His vision and perseverance demonstrate how a small, highly-focused team of professionals can build a nationally-recognized Web program," said David Bennett, Director, Web Resource Services at the Medical University of South Carolina. "Neal not only brings a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Internet marketing, but he is also one of the rare few who possess an immense amount of technical knowledge about Web application development. His addition to the Greystone.Net team further demonstrates Greystone's ongoing commitment to leadership in the online healthcare world."

Linkon comes to Greystone.Net with 25 years of management experience at companies such as Motorola, Lockheed Martin, Johnson Controls and International Paper. In 1995, he began focusing on interactive marketing and subsequently served clients in a variety of industries, including Pfizer, Kellogg’s and the National Football League.

During the past six years, he has been responsible for interactive marketing at Aurora Health Care, where he led the planning and implementation of the health system’s groundbreaking Web site. That site, www.AuroraHealthCare.org, has earned national awards for interactivity and e-business effectiveness.

”I have a lot of respect for what Greystone.Net has done and is continuing to do for our industry,” said Linkon. “I look forward to applying what I've learned developing Aurora's Web sites and interactive strategies to help other hospitals and health systems.”

Atlanta-based Greystone.Net specializes in delivering Web solutions for healthcare organizations. Clients include hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and health plans nationwide. In addition to Internet-related consulting services, Greystone.Net offers a wide array of products and services to enhance the healthcare Web site. A detailed description of the firm’s offerings is available at www.greystone.net.

Greystone.Net has moved to new office space as of October 1, 2007

Mon, 1 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EST

Our new address is:

2872 Woodcock Blvd.
Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30341

Our new main telephone numbers are:

770-407-7670
770-407-7690 (fax)

View our directory for a list of direct dial telephone numbers for the staff.

Our email addresses remain the same.

If you have questions, please call us at 770-407-7670 or contact us.