Health in the Era of Public Engagement
Health is under extreme pressure. Over the past decade, aging populations, pandemics of infectious and lifestyle-related diseases, and advances in medical technology have created a massive unmet demand for health and healthcare. And now the worst economic climate in decades is exacerbating this crisis.
Concurrently, there has been an increase in interactions among disparate publics. Fueled by digital technology, people are now empowered to freely and fluidly discuss business and societal issues that previously were not part of popular culture and conversation. Together, these forces have created a new, complex operating climate for organizations involved in health, one that is constantly being shaped by the public’s engagement in it. Because health is pivotal to personal and societal well-being, everyone is not only a health stakeholder but also has multiple stakes in health (e.g., as consumer, patient, citizen, professional, advocate, caregiver) and is a member of multiple health publics.
Edelman works with clients involved in health to make deeper, more fluid, and open connections with their publics; engage with individuals with cognizance of their multiple health stakes; and influence personal, professional and policy decisions without seeking to control them. We partner with clients to understand and address the expectations of clients’ particular publics, as well as society as a whole, while ensuring that their publics appreciate the benefits of their products and services, as well as the critical role that they play in advancing personal and public health. This continuous, reciprocal process of health engagement is key to building trust and has implications that extend far beyond communications to operations.
Our global staff of more than 400 health experts has collaborated with clients to engage on health issues, including disease prevention, management of chronic disease, the health technology revolution, wellness, infectious disease pandemics, biomedical science, and access to healthcare. Edelman’s Health offering includes specialties in Rx Health, Personal Health & Wellness, Health Policy & Public Affairs, Corporate & Organizational Health, Life Sciences, Public Health, Health Alliances, Health Media, and Clinical Development, as well as BioScience Communications, our full-service medical relations, education and publishing company.
Join Edelman in the conversation about advancing health engagement at www.engageinhealth.com.
