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Aurora Health Care

Educating the public on the proper use of an emergency department

Inappropriate use of the Emergency Department at Aurora Sinai Medical Center was clogging the department, delaying care for those with real emergencies and increasing healthcare costs for everyone. To help people understand the importance of appropriate use of the emergency department, Buzz Monkeys, Inc. developed a public service campaign that included posters, letters and other educational materials.

Informational meetings between hospital executives and community leaders were scheduled to help people understand the changes taking place and garner community support. The campaign, considered a success by Aurora management, demonstrated a sharp decline in inappropriate emergency room use and a rise in primary care referrals.

Buzz Monkeys coordinates survivorship celebration for Aurora Health Care

In the summer of 2008, Aurora Health Care tapped Buzz Monkeys to help plan the first-ever community-wide cancer survivorship celebration, a free public event for anyone whose life had been touched by cancer.

“Celebrating Life” was held at Miller Park on a sunny June day with more then 3,000 people in attendance. Guests enjoyed ballpark fare, a live jazz band, face painting, chair massages and a variety of educational booths and programming.

Throughout the day, guests were invited to step up to the camera and share special dedications and messages of hope, which were played on the jumbo video board in the outfield. Guests also had their photos taken in photo booths set up along the concourse and attached a copy to a “Faces of Survivorship” banner that was to be displayed at an Aurora hospital after the event.

On the field, highlights of the event included a keynote address by Olympic figure skater and cancer survivor Scott Hamilton, who shared a personal story of his battle with cancer. Hamilton also mingled with cancer survivors, signed autographs and posed for pictures after his talk.

Reaching out to employers and business leaders

Aurora, looking for a better way to communication with employers and business leaders about issues affecting healthcare costs, worked with Buzz Monkeys, Inc. to create HealthView, the company’s first electronic newsletter. Buzz Monkeys recommended story ideas of interest to area businesses that showcased all Aurora was doing to help manage healthcare costs, improving the health and productivity of employees.

At the centerpiece of HealthView were case studies, written by Buzz Monkeys, of businesses that benefitted from Aurora’s services. The case studies were also featured in regional advertisements and on Aurora Health Care’s web site. Key account representatives also used the case studies in their sales calls.