Clinical Excellence
Healthcare organizations that use this strategy adopt new technologies to meet the clinical needs and improve the health status of the patients or populations they serve. The basic message should emphasize the increased contact between patients and providers leading to improved patient monitoring and therefore better outcomes and fewer rehospitalizations. When emphasizing the benefits of telehealth for patient care, the organization needs to target marketing methods to relevant stakeholders such as physicians and other healthcare professionals. Messages should be centered on the methods used for obtaining clinical data and communicating with other members of the healthcare team as well as continuing education and training for the staff. A perceived deficiency in any of these areas can degrade the overall image of the organization and diminish the effectiveness of the clinical excellence message.
Technological Preeminence
This strategy is used by healthcare organizations that adopt new technologies (regardless of cost) to enhance their images as technological leaders, thus attracting more customers. Key stakeholders are the general public, including potential employees and service partners. An organization using this strategy should emphasize telehealth on the organization's web site and in mass media. Interactive demos or other advanced features should be used on the web site to emphasize the technological ability of the organization. A basic, text-based web page will not enhance the image of the organization; furthermore, it will counteract any messages that promote technological preeminence. Printed materials can also be augmented with CD-ROMs containing additional information and demos regarding telehealth and other implemented technologies. The basic rationale behind the messages should stress the ability of telehealth to improve patient care as well as the organization's capacity to use technology effectively.