Business
Survey: Hospitals should do more outreach
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 20, 2007
Hospitals may be missing out on an untapped resource when it comes to fundraising.
A survey released last month by Grizzard Communications Group, a firm serving nonprofits, and by the Virginia-based Assn. for Healthcare Philanthropy, found few hospitals take advantage of "grateful patient" programs that focus on past patients as potential sources for donations.
Approximately 40% of development professionals said they do not consider outreach to past patients to be an important component of their work. They claim the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act has created an obstacle for direct communication with past patients. The survey also found 75% of development professionals believe doctors do not do a good job of engaging in development efforts.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/08/20/bibf0820.htm.