September 29, 2006

Genesis Television Advertising Is Nationally Recognized

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Genesis Health Minute television advertising has been recognized as one of the nation’s best consumer health information programs.

Genesis Health Minute received a merit award in the consumer decision-making category in the annual National Health Information Awards. Genesis had the only television advertisement recognized in the category that was produced internally by a hospital or health system and not by an advertising/marketing agency.

Genesis Health Minute, which has recently been renamed Genesis Today, was one of only six television advertisements receiving awards in the category.  The other advertisements were produced by national and global agencies, such as CommonHealth, Unit7 and DMW.

Genesis Today is an informative series of one-minute television spots focusing on the health services and the skilled health care providers of Genesis.  Ron Oelke, a veteran Quad-Cities television reporter and anchor who is now senior public relations coordinator for Genesis, produces and is the host of Genesis Today.

“The Genesis Today spots are produced locally by our staff and by our partner, KWQC-TV, so to be recognized from an entry list of nearly 1,000 is gratifying,’’ said Ken Croken, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Marketing at Genesis.  “They represent how we are refocusing from traditional advertising to patient education. Because of people’s concerns about rising health care costs, we’re gearing our marketing dollars in a direction that also helps the community. For example, in 2004 we introduced the bright-yellow Genesis buses seen throughout the Quad Cities that are helping to subsidize public transportation. “

The awards program is coordinated by the Health Informational Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for consumer health information programs and materials.

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