Since my first introduction to Public Relations, I have always held an interest in the field of Health Communications.
Many hospitals and healthcare related offices, in fact, include a department of communications, marketing or public relations. For example, St. Peter’s Hospital of Helena, Montana has an office specifically for marketing and public relations. As described on the website, this office is responsible for the hospital’s external and internal communication, patient satisfaction monitoring, advertising, graphics, volunteer services, community education and wellness.
As I continued to research the field of healthcare public relations, I found a Public Relations Firm, known as Allhealth Public Relations, which specializes in health communications. This PR firm is located in Kensington, Maryland so unfortunately I won’t be able to pursue a career with this firm simply because of it’s location. I am certain, however, that there are other PR firms out there that are also focused in on the field of healthcare.What I saw online about Allhealth that most intrigued me was an insight into some of their campaigns.
Clients include the National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Red Cross, American Public Health Association and Random House Books.
In conjunction with their extensive campaigns, Allhealth recruits celebrities such as David Hasselhoff and Paul Shaffer, band leader of "Late Night with David Letterman”, for various, health related campaigns.
Finally, one last element of Allhealth’s Web site that sparked my interest was the list of services they offer. This list includes everything from press kits to TV talk shows, Special Events and Website Design.
Due to the curriculum of the public relations courses I have taken here at OU, I feel that I could contribute in a great way to a PR firm similar to Allhealth, that specializes in health communications. Not only would my educational background afford me success as a PR professional, but my passion for the field of healthcare would allow me a rewarding career in health communications.
