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5 Ways To Make Work From Home Work For Your Business

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At the time, I did not realize we were so innovative. When I founded the agency in 2003, it was clear to me that with the Internet, email, phones, and the nature of our public relations and marketing communication services, not everyone needed to be in the same office all the time. I also recognized that I could more easily attract and retain the best talent for our agency – whether they were in California, Texas, Massachusetts or North Carolina – by not forcing them to relocate to our office in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In 2021, our agency looks prescient considering most of my staff have always worked from their homes. In reality, at the time, I was just doing what was best for my business. To this day, though, employee after employee tells me that the choice to work from home, not uprooting their families and starting a new life in a new town, was a major attractive feature in joining our agency.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues throughout most of the country—and survey after survey show how much employees prefer to work from home—some employers are considering that they may need to loosen their policies to allow more team members to work from home. Although it might make it harder for our agency to compete for talent, I would encourage you to do it. Here’s how to make work from home work for your company:

  1. Set Clear Expectations

Like all businesses, our agency runs on deadlines. Whether it is an article, press release, white paper or PR plan, having clear, accountable deadlines ensures that the distractions of working from home do not detract from productivity.

Another expectation we have is accessibility and responsiveness. We offer flexible schedules as long as the work gets done and clients are happy, but when a member of our team says they will be in their office, we expect that they will indeed be available either by email, phone or for web meetings. That availability is important for internal communication, but it is even more crucial to better serve our clients. Being available and responsive to them must always be the top priority during work hours.

2. Communicate, communicate, communicate

Although many companies use Slack and other business communication platforms, our team has still found email to be the most effective and easiest way to stay in touch with each other on a daily basis. Of course, we have plenty of phone calls and web conferences, but the bulk of our daily communication runs on email.

Once again, if one of our clients wants to use a business communication platform, our account teams happily use that method. The key is the consistency of communication and setting the expectation of a prompt response during a team member’s regular schedule.

3. Show Me the Schedule

Our account teams do a lot of writing, editing, and strategic planning, which is much easier without the distractions and interruptions of email and meetings. We also do not want to disrupt any of their client meetings with our internal questions or calls.

For these reasons and others, our account teams make their schedules public so their managers and colleagues can visualize their availability. Other than client meetings, our teams also make sure to block time in their schedule for writing, editing or creating a presentation. Blocking a schedule sends a message like an office door being open or closed. As a colleague, you know what it means when you see it.

4. Company-Wide Meetings Are a Must

Although the actual time seems to constantly change, our agency still meets regularly on a web conference to talk about agency updates, share success stories and best practices and even feature guest speakers. To keep it fun, we compile positive feedback that team members have received from clients or colleagues and share them. We also have a drawing where a positive comment is drawn at random and the person receiving the compliment wins a gift card. We call it our “kudos” drawing and it is always an uplifting way to close a meeting.

5. Check-in Regularly

Every six months, we have a formal check-in where a manager will talk with a team member about their work, accomplishments, challenges and solicit feedback to find out how we can improve as an agency. Since we are still relatively a small company with 25 team members, I also still check in with people I haven’t spoken to in a while on a more personal level to see how they are feeling about work, their life and if we can support them in any way. Since we can’t have impromptu “water cooler” or coffee machine moments, these random check-ins help nurture a sense of closeness and camaraderie that is difficult to cultivate when we don’t see each other in person as often.

A bonus tip: If your work-from-home team feels comfortable traveling, have a company-wide retreat either once a year or every couple of years, depending on your company’s size and budget. It is always rewarding when we can get together in a fun location, enjoy meals and learn from each other. The fact that we so rarely get to see each other in person makes the retreats especially meaningful for our team.

So whether you plan to bring all, some or none of the team back to the office once the pandemic is under control, I recommend instituting an option to work from home, if it is feasible for your company. Our teams appreciate the perk and show it to us every day in their high quality of work and client service.

4 Tips From A Former Healthcare Reporter

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Career changes are rarely easy, especially when you study a field throughout college and subsequently work in it following graduation.

In August, I left a respected healthcare trade journal after nearly four years and ‘crossed over to the dark side,’ as they say.

There were several professional motivations behind the move, but one that excited me about joining the world of public relations (PR) was that I had already worked with numerous agencies during my time on the editorial side.

As I’ve settled into my new role, I wanted to share four observations on the PR strategies that I found most effective while in my capacity as a journalist.

1. Understand who you’re pitching to

Every PR representative should take time to do their research on the journalists and outlets that they’re pitching.

In my time at the magazine, I primarily covered healthcare finance, policy, and revenue cycle, among a handful of other industry-related topics. Still, I received countless emails from aimless PR representatives pitching me everything from CBD oils to a historian for the band Aerosmith. (Yes, this actually happened.)

Even those that understood I covered the healthcare industry for an audience of payer and provider executives would occasionally float article ideas and interview opportunities that simply missed the mark.

If you’re looking to place a byline or secure earned media with an interview opportunity, make sure you know who you’re speaking with and why it’s worth their while. I always found myself most responsive to PR representatives who weren’t just looking for free publicity but could see down the field about how the interaction would lead to a greater result for both sides.

2. Get to the point (and have other options available)

The only thing worse than getting a random PR pitch that’s off-topic is being forced to read several paragraphs to find out it’s irrelevant.

Short, timely pitches are always winners. The pitch should tell me what the topic is, who can speak to it, and when they’re available.

Additionally, a pitch should offer flexibility for both the PR agency and the outlet. If you’re pitching a potential source as an expert on revenue cycle management but they can also speak to the price transparency regulations and the effects on provider organizations, mention that in your email.

You should be providing as many onramps as possible for a client to appear in a story.

3. Relay expectations to your client

Understandably, most clients probably don’t fully understand how the world of PR and media works. That’s fine, but you have to be the one who explains the dynamics at play so they’re not disappointed by outcomes that don’t match their expectations.

Not every interview is going on the front page of The New York Times, but every speaking engagement, written Q&A, or byline adds up to meaningful coverage.

Additionally, media training to refresh even the most charismatic leaders should be the standard. During interviews I conducted as a journalist, I learned quickly which PR contacts had adequately gone over their notes with my subjects ahead of time and which ones threw them headfirst into the fire.

Don’t leave your clients treading water; let them know what the opportunity is about, why they’re qualified to speak on the subject, and prepare them for any extraneous questions.

4. Create a conversation

Some of the most reliable PR contacts from my journalism days were people who didn’t just pitch me and disappear into the night.

They stuck around and actually engaged with me as normal people do. Whether this was sending the occasional email to see what stories I was working on, interacting with each other on social media, or reading my content, it kept them in my purview as I went about my job.

Additionally, whenever I had a story to write on a tight deadline, I knew I could reach out to these reliable PR contacts and get the appropriate sources on the line.

This doesn’t mean that you have to be chummy with every journalist you come across, (odds are they aren’t always going to chummy in response), but breaking down the at-times acrimonious barrier between church and state can be helpful.

I hope that these tips based on my understanding of how media outlets operate can provide the world of PR with some useful tips to be more effective in the work we do.

4medica Re-engages Amendola for Strategic Public Relations Services

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Award-winning healthcare IT PR agency and innovative healthcare data quality platform provider partner to amplify client’s thought leadership, technology offerings

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2021 – Amendola Communications, a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare and technology public relations and marketing firm, announced that it is re-engaging with former client 4medica®, a leader in healthcare data quality and patient matching technology, to amplify client successes and thought leadership.

4medica had previously engaged Amendola as its agency of record and is now back for its third engagement. 4medica provides real-time clinical data management and healthcare interoperability software and services that offer clinicians and patients a unified view of clinical information across disparate care locations. 4medica’s mission can be summed up in its corporate tagline: “One Patient…One Record.”

“Our previous successful experience working with Amendola made re-engagement an easy decision,” said Gregg Church, president of 4medica. “The Amendola team thoroughly understands 4medica’s technology and business model and how it benefits patients, provider organizations, laboratories, health information exchanges and health plans. They are the ideal partner to communicate the value we offer to our target audience and healthcare media.”

Amendola is implementing a comprehensive media and communications plan for 4medica that will showcasethe company’s thought leadership, current technology and services, new offerings, accomplishments, customer wins, and industry partnerships.

“4medica has a long commitment to improving data quality for clinicians, patients, health information exchanges and health plans,” said agency CEO Jodi Amendola. “And, now more than ever there is a crucial need for quality data in healthcare. We are excited to once again be working with Dr. Bess, Gregg and their team on public relations and marketing initiatives to get the word out about 4medica’s healthcare data quality solutions.”

4medica is based in Marina del Rey, Calif.

About Amendola Communications

Amendola is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content and lead gen programs to move healthcare, life sciences/pharma and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry’s best-known brands as well as groundbreaking startups that are disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola’s seasoned team of PR and marketing pros understand the ongoing complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and provide strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry’s “A-Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About 4medica

For more than two decades, 4medica® solves data integrity, financial and wellness management challenges to achieve true clinical interoperability and transparency. 4medica’s Perfect Order for Perfect Payment™ integrates end-to-end high-volume revenue cycle management services. Our Big Data Management and Clinical Data Exchange cloud solutions facilitate patient identity management and data exchange to ensure the right data is captured at the right time, the first time, guaranteeing an unprecedented 1% patient record duplication rate. 4medica has processed up to 6 billion clinical results representing more than 70 million patient identities. The company connects 40,000-plus physicians to hundreds of ACOs, HIEs, HINs, hospitals, health systems, laboratories, radiology imaging centers and payers nationwide.

Media Contact: Marcia Rhodes, Amendola Communications, mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com

Curebase Taps Amendola Communications for Strategic Public Relations and Social Media Services

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Award-winning healthcare IT PR agency and fast-growing decentralized clinical trial (DCT) technology company align to advance the future of global healthcare research

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., August 17, 2021 – Amendola Communications, a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare and technology public relations and marketing firm, announced today that Curebase, a company committed to democratizing access to clinical studies, has selected the agency to launch a comprehensive media and communications program highlighting its innovative Decentralized Clinical Trial (DCT) software platform and work to make clinical trials not only more patient-centric but also faster and more cost-effective. The decision comes after an extensive review of other national agencies.

Curebase is engineering a new approach to the entire clinical trial process with a unique DCT model that revolves around the patient’s lifestyle, enabling diverse studies with broader patient populations. The Curebase platform allows sponsors, CROs and physicians to conduct first-of-their kind study designs in which patients participate both at home and in real-world settings with best-in-class software experiences.  

“We are excited to leverage Amendola, which brings a stealthy team, strategic healthcare IT expertise, and a long history of proven wins,” said Tom Lemberg, founder and CEO of Curebase. “We are proud to have helped many companies rapidly complete their clinical research, including those who achieved emergency use authorization during the pandemic. Our vision is to make clinical research an option for all patients, regardless of their care setting, and we are certain the Amendola team will be terrific partners in these efforts.”

“We look forward to the opportunity to help bring Curebase’s vision for a democratized clinical research industry to life,” said agency CEO Jodi Amendola. “They are a fast-rising powerhouse in the DCT space—developing innovative approaches for their clients and redefining how the world executes healthcare research. Curebase is building a future that includes better diversity, quicker enrollment, and improved patient satisfaction for all clinical trials.”

To learn more about Amendola, visit www.acmarketingpr.com. To learn more about Curebase, visit www.curebase.com.

About Amendola 

Amendola is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content and lead gen programs to move healthcare, life sciences/pharma and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry’s best-known brands as well as groundbreaking startups that are disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola’s seasoned team of PR and marketing pros understand the ongoing complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and provide strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry’s “A-Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Curebase 

At Curebase, our mission is to bring quality medical innovations to patients faster and improve human wellbeing through more efficient clinical studies. We are proving that clinical research can be radically accelerated if we empower physicians everywhere to enroll patients in the communities where they live. By applying cutting edge clinical software and remote study management techniques to the problem, we are reinventing clinical trials and research from the ground up. For more information, please visit www.curebase.com.

Media Contact: Marcia Rhodes, mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com

Are Humans Destined To Be The New Horses? Thoughts On AI In PR

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As artificial intelligence (AI) continues its inexorable march towards consuming more and more jobs previously done by humans, it may be a question of when, rather than if, humans become the new horses.

Think, for a minute, about how absolutely essential horses were to the economy 200 years ago. With much of the economy still industrializing and dependent on agriculture, horses were vital to the farm work that produced the world’s food. With no automobiles, horses also played a critical role in transportation, delivering goods to market and enabling humans to travel in coaches or by horseback.

Horses were so important that the U.S. equine population grew six-fold between 1840 and 1900 to more than 21 million horses and mules, according to a report in Foreign Affairs. Then came the internal combustion engine, replacing horses with cars in cities and tractors on farms. The U.S. equine population plummeted to 3 million by 1960, a drop of 88% in just 60 years.

For decades if not centuries, a related debate has loomed, ranging from “The Grapes of Wrath” to “2001: A Space Odyssey” and many others: Will technology replace and make human labor irrelevant? (Given that McKinsey reported five years ago that “currently demonstrated technologies could automate 45% of the activities people are paid to perform,” this is a subject that should be a concern for all workers – and that was five years ago!)

Now, with the rise of AI in marketing and public relations, the “Are humans the new horses?” question has begun to hit a little closer to home for PR professionals. Today, we may use AI software for routine, manual, time-consuming tasks such as transcribing interviews. Tomorrow – as AI gets better and smarter, which it most certainly will – we may use AI to write press releases, product descriptions, website copy and the like.

Once AI gets good enough to do that, it will likely begin to take human jobs. Sure, companies will still need some humans to feed information into the AI software to help the software write a press release, but assistance from AI will mean that companies need far fewer humans to produce the same amount of output.

Already, we’re seeing some examples of PR and marketing AI software – just not the kind that is sophisticated enough to take human jobs in a significant way. Copy.ai promises an “end to writer’s block” by helping users “generate marketing copy in seconds.” (I signed up for a seven-day trial and played around the software a little bit to write a product description; it seemed pretty good.) Similarly, Contilt pledges to “put the power of AI at your fingertips” by using software to generate article drafts and do research. No doubt there are plenty of similar startups today, and there will plenty more in the future.

These companies like to sell their AI as tools that will help humans do their jobs, better, which is true enough in the beginning. Then the AI gets smarter, and it begins to approach, but not meet, humans’ ability to edit content or draft a byline, for example. At this point, we’ve started on the slippery slope to where AI’s “good enough” work product becomes so much cheaper for companies to produce than a human-written article, that “good enough” becomes the industry standard for all articles and human writers start to lose their jobs. What a time to be alive!

So what’s a concerned PR professional to do? Data scientist Michael McBride offers three points of advice:

  • Don’t get cocky: In one notable survey, 90% of responders thought that up to half of jobs would be lost to automation within five years, but 91% didn’t think there was any risk to their job. Don’t fall into the “It can’t happen to me” trap. It can.
  • Make a process map of your job (extreme kudos to anyone who actually does this!): Create a process map that “visualizes the set of decisions and actions that make up your day-to-day life.”
  • Double down on soft skills: Professions that require a tremendous amount of empathy and human interaction are among those least likely to be automated.

The good news is that, as it stands in 2021, there are still PR jobs available. Humans haven’t become horses – yet. Nonetheless, prepare for the coming onslaught of AI as if your career depends on it, because it probably does.

FDS Amplicare Selects Amendola Communications as Agency of Record

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Award-winning Health and Health tech PR and marketing agency and innovative pharmacy solutions provider partner to amplify client successes and industry best practices

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 13, 2021 – Amendola Communications, a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare, health tech and life sciences public relations and marketing firm, announced today that FDS Amplicare has selected the firm as its public agency of record.  Amendola is implementing a comprehensive media and communications program that will showcasethe success of FDS Amplicare’s collaborative work with clients and bring greater awareness of its pharmacy software solutions, which include business intelligence, medication synchronization, claims reconciliation and medical billing.

“We are strong advocates for community pharmacists, who have so many stories to share, explains David Roth, chief growth officer, FDS Amplicare. “It has been a challenge to break through the COVID news cycle, but Amendola’s broad experience and deep relationships with pharmacy and healthcare media and digital influencers is what got our attention and they have delivered since day one. They generated immediate visibility with creative storytelling in our top tier media targets and we look forward to ongoing awareness and market momentum.”

FDS Amplicare has more than 30 years of experience in delivering pharmacy software solutions ranging from claims reconciliation and medical billing to business intelligence, patient communications, and Medicare plan selection. By combining proven technologies and pharmacy clinical and financial expertise, these solutions help pharmacies and their patients save time and money while delivering quality patient care.

Welcoming FDS Amplicare’s industry-leading pharmacy software solutions to the agency roster, Jodi Amendola, CEO of Amendola said, “We value FDS’ commitment to advancing financial and operational efficiencies of community-based pharmacies. It aligns perfectly with our results-oriented approach and passion for improving the healthcare system. It has been a pleasure to leverage their unique data, client successes and vision to the fast-changing market.”

To learn more about Amendola, visit www.acmarketingpr.com. To learn more about FDS Amplicare, visit www.fdsrx.com or www.Amplicare.com.

About Amendola Communications

Amendola is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content and lead gen programs to move healthcare, life sciences/pharma and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry’s best-known brands as well as groundbreaking startups that are disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola’s seasoned team of PR and marketing pros understand the ongoing complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and provide strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry’s “A-Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About FDS Amplicare 

FDS Amplicare strengthens the health of pharmacies and their patients. Through the delivery of innovative software products and services, we enable the evolution of the clinically focused New Era Pharmacy, empowering our clients to provide comprehensive pharmacy and clinical care services for their communities. To learn more about FDS Amplicare, visit www.fdsrx.com or www.Amplicare.com.

Virtual Care Leader eVisit Taps Amendola as Agency of Record

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Healthcare IT PR agency aims to amplify voice of enterprise-ready virtual healthcare platform through media engagement

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 28, 2021 – Amendola Communications, a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare and technology public relations and marketing firm, announces that virtual care leader eVisit has selected the group to manage its media outreach and thought leadership initiatives. The decision comes after an extensive review of other national agencies.

Founded in 2014, eVisit started with the goal to simplify the way healthcare organizations deliver care to their patients, regardless of where they are. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has accelerated and virtual care solutions are a crucial way health systems and hospitals are delivering patient care and staying competitive.  As a market leader, eVisit aims to ensure virtual visits are as easy as possible for providers and their patients, all while enhancing care quality.

“We are tremendously excited for this partnership with the Amendola team,” says Bret Larsen, CEO and Co-founder, eVisit. “We chose Amendola because of the team’s energy and passion for earned media, their keen ability to see a good story and their expertise in healthcare. As we continue toward our vision to simplify healthcare delivery to everyone, everywhere, we welcome their contribution with more eyes on our mission, technology and services, as well as to help us amplify eVisit’s unique position in the marketplace.”

Amendola joined forces with eVisit shortly after the virtual care leader raised $14 million in series A funding. In 2020, eVisit also saw their inclusion in the 2020 Gartner Market Guide for Virtual Care Solutions, which names eVisit as a Representative Vendor and cites the five critical capabilities to look for when selecting a virtual care solution. A tremendously useful tool for healthcare leaders, a complimentary copy of the Oct. 2020 Gartner Market Guide for Virtual Care Solutions can be accessed by clicking here.

Amendola will leverage its media relationships to help showcase eVisit’s services, innovation, consultative approach and customer successes, with an emphasis on securing exposure opportunities through media, speaking and other engagements for company leadership, its customers, and the providers and patients who benefit directly from the eVisit solution. 

“Amendola thrives by telling stories. We earn media engagements by focusing on education, and by digging deep to find interesting angles that writers and reporters will want to delve into,” says agency CEO, Jodi Amendola. “As virtual care becomes the norm, it’s an honor to work with eVisit, a company whose founders are mission-driven and believe in the need to simplify healthcare delivery to everyone, everywhere.”

About Amendola

Amendola is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content and lead-gen programs to move healthcare, life sciences/pharma and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry’s best-known brands, as well as groundbreaking startups that are disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola’s seasoned team of PR and marketing pros understand the ongoing complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and provide strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry’s “A-Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About eVisit
eVisit simplifies healthcare delivery with its market-leading virtual care platform. With eVisit, healthcare organizations can deliver faster, more accessible virtual care using their own network of providers, regardless of specialty. eVisit works seamlessly across enterprise service lines and departments to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and boost revenue. Based in Mesa, Ariz., eVisit helps more than 100 healthcare organizations, including the largest systems in the U.S., innovate and succeed in today’s changing healthcare market. eVisit is a Representative Vendor in the Gartner 2020 Market Guide for Virtual Care. Get your complimentary copy here. For more information, visit evisit.com. 

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Media contact: eVisit@acmarketingpr.com

ICYMI – PR, Marketing and Social Media Advice from the Amendola Blog

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Award-winning health IT agency offers guidance applicable in virtually any industry

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 15, 2020 – Amendola Communications has built an outstanding reputation as one of the leading public relations, marketing, and social media firms serving healthcare, health IT, and life sciences organizations. So it’s no surprise that its blog, peppered with contributions from the entire team, would become a favorite destination for information among organizations, reporters and others within those industries.

While healthcare is always on their minds, the reality is the advice proffered by the award-winning agency extends well beyond its core healthcare market. In fact, as these posts demonstrate, most of the content generated and topics covered are applicable in virtually any industry. Here’s a quick sample from the past few months.

In “Branding: Be Yourself, Earn Engagement,” the post describes how CEOs and other organizational leaders can stand out among their peers by being authentic and really saying something about what’s happening in the world, or their world, rather than playing it safe. It uses the example of Elon Musk, CEO and Founder of Tesla Motors, SpaceX, and other companies to show that being yourself and taking a stand rather than putting out vanilla pap is a way to create an indelible brand and drive intense loyalty and engagement in the market. READ MORE >>

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an all-consuming story for pretty much everyone this year. It has been such a sentinel event you might think all the old rules have gone out the window. The post “Revisiting ‘The Four Ps’ of Marketing During a Pandemic” takes this topic on head-on. It shows that these tried-and-true principles still apply, but must be adjusted to reflect the reality in which we’re currently living. READ MORE >>

Then there is the agency’s advice on “Breaking Into the Policy World Through Public Relations.” Government policy can have a profound effect on organizations as well as industries. Yet many in both simply shrug their shoulders at the prospect of influencing policy, assuming it requires a significant investment in heavy-duty lobbyist firms. Yet that isn’t always the case. This post describes strategies organizations in a variety of industries can use to help ensure policy decisions go their way – or at least do not work against them. READ MORE >>

Finally, for those interested in the personal side of business there is this heartfelt homage from agency CEO Jodi Amendola to the influence her mother has had on her career. Written shortly after receiving the news that Kamala Harris would become the nation’s first female Vice President, “Women Leaders: A Tribute to My Mom,” recounts the lessons her mom, Thelma Kurzweil, taught her throughout her life, including the importance of just being a good person and taking responsibility for your own happiness. Sadly, Thelma passed away shortly after Jodi’s blog was published in November and we are not sure if she had a chance to read it but, as Jodi said, “Nothing was left unsaid.” READ MORE >>

This is just a sampling. The Amendola blog has been around for several years, offering timely and evergreen advice that covers the gamut of activities of interest to PR, marketing, social media, digital content and other allied professionals. This information is offered free, so be sure to explore it in-depth and subscribe.

About Amendola Communications

Amendola is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content and lead gen programs to move healthcare, life sciences/pharma and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry’s best-known brands as well as groundbreaking startups that are disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola’s seasoned team of PR and marketing pros understand the ongoing complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and provide strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry’s “A-Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact: 
Marcia Rhodes, Amendola Communications, mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com

Amendola Named Finalist for Multiple Ragan 2020 PR Daily Awards

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Agency honored for high impact PR, thought leadership and digital campaigns during pandemic year

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., Dec. 1, 2020—Amendola Communications, a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare and technology public relations and marketing agency, announced today that it has been named a finalist in Ragan’s 2020 PR Daily Awards in multiple industry and award categories, including Healthcare Media Relations Campaign of the Year and Grand Prize—PR Campaign of the Year for Biofourmis, Healthcare Thought Leadership Campaign for Air Methods, and Thought Leadership Campaign for Kaufman Hall.

Ragan’s 2020 PR Daily Awards represent the organizations and communications teams behind the best communications campaigns, projects, initiatives and content from the past year. Through clear strategy, sharp creative, and flawless execution, Amendola was able to generate hundreds of media placements, secure key thought leadership opportunities, drive social media and digital engagement, and propel awareness and positive perceptions.

Amendola’s nominations include:

Healthcare Media Relations Campaign of the Year and Grand Prize: PR Campaign of the Year for Biofourmis—With Amendola’s strategic guidance and execution, Biofourmis secured nearly 100 media placements in 12 months, focusing on thought leadership and brand awareness. Notable earned article placements included the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Tech Crunch, Axios and Business Insider as well as top national healthcare and health IT trade media. Following a headquarters move from Singapore to Boston, the company went from being virtually unknown in the U.S. market to becoming top-of-mind experts for reporters covering digital therapeutics, artificial intelligence, remote monitoring and wearables.

Healthcare Thought Leadership Campaign for Air Methods—The Amendola/Air Methods “No Membership Required” campaign ran between November 2019 and June 2020. With extensive media outreach, the NMR campaign outlined Air Methods’ commitment to continued high-quality air medical services as well as its focus on eliminating potential financial burdens for its patients. Amendola skillfully communicated this message to show what Air Methods has done to revolutionize medical care in the air while also serving as patient advocates. Amendola’s aggressive outreach and content development generated 209 organic media placements in national, trade and local media, and its digital campaign earned more than 21 million video plays, 25 million impressions, and more than 21 million post engagements.

Thought Leadership Campaign for Kaufman Hall—Amendola developed a PR campaign focused on how hospitals and health systems confronted COVID-19 from a financial perspective. Built on a steady cadence of outreach to media across national, business and trade publications, the program generated 159 original placements, 115 of which were initiated and secured in three months, starting on March 1, 2020. Key placements appeared in Crain’s Chicago Business, Bloomberg News, Modern Healthcare, Inside Higher Education, Bank Business and the Chicago Tribune.

“These nominations are a testament to our teams’ dedication to outstanding and measurable results for our clients,” said agency CEO Jodi Amendola. “It is especially gratifying to be honored during the toughest news cycle I can remember in my 30 years in the business because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It really speaks to the talented team at Amendola and the strong relationship we have with the media and our clients. In each of these three campaigns, Amendola’s account teams provided unmatched results and value to our clients. We strive to find new and interesting ways to tell our clients’ stories, identify opportunities, and deliver award-winning results—and this news is a validation of that approach.”

In addition to earning these finalist spots with Ragan’s 2020 PR Daily Awards, Amendola Communications has earned numerous awards for its market leadership in PR and marketing.

About Amendola Communications

Amendola is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content and lead gen programs to move healthcare, life sciences/pharma and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry’s best-known brands as well as groundbreaking startups that are disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola’s seasoned team of PR and marketing pros understand the ongoing complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and provide strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry’s “A-Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Marcia G. Rhodes, VP, Amendola Communications, mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com

Amendola Named Finalist in 2020 Platinum PR Awards

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Agency honored for its work on Air Methods’ No Membership Required program

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 22, 2020—Amendola Communications, a nationally recognized, award-winning healthcare and technology public relations and marketing agency, announced today that it has been named a finalist in PR News’ 2020 Platinum PR Awards for its strategic integrated PR, social media and digital campaign with Air Methods, a leading national air medical services company. This distinction is one of several awards the agency has earned in recent years for its ability to develop high-value content for healthcare organizations that speaks to market needs.

Amendola focused on establishing Air Methods as a leader in reforming the air medical services industry with its No Membership Required (NMR) program, created to eliminate unnecessary air medical memberships for patients and shift the focus to going in-network with health insurance companies throughout the U.S. The primary goal was to educate the public about Air Methods’ efforts and demonstrate the company’s thought leadership in industry best practices, billing reform and clinical innovation.

“Collaborating with Air Methods on this important NMR campaign is vital to paving the way for necessary changes to eliminate unnecessary memberships for patients/consumers,” said agency CEO Jodi Amendola. “We’re honored that our hard work and impressive outcomes have been recognized by PR News. The results of this campaign really speak for themselves: our aggressive outreach and content development generated 209 organic media placements and our digital campaign earned more than 21 million video plays, 25 million impressions, and more than 21 million post engagements. Most importantly, this campaign and our overall partnership with Air Methods, has led to increased awareness of the company as a visionary leader and industry trendsetter in the air medical services industry.”

With extensive media outreach, the NMR campaign outlined Air Methods’ commitment to continued high-quality air medical services as well as its focus on eliminating potential financial burdens for its patients. Amendola skillfully communicated this message to show what Air Methods has done to revolutionize medical care in the air and serve as patient advocates.

“The Amendola/Air Methods partnership has shown results from the beginning,” said Dallan Huff, Air Methods senior vice president of Marketing and Communications.  “As the first air medical company to eliminate air medical memberships, we knew we would be plowing new ground and Amendola was critical in ensuring our success.  They were able to help us create a strong narrative on why memberships were the past and how Air Methods was leading the industry into the future.”

In addition to sharing article placements with a wide audience, a nonstop stream of social media posts delivered positive, consistent and constructive messaging that promoted the NMR program itself along with the underlying principles behind it. Amendola curated content from a wide variety of sources, even some that had been critical of prior industry practices, to further the message that Air Methods was at the tip of the spear for reforming the way the business side of emergency air transport is delivered.

PR News’ Platinum PR Awards celebrate the ingenuity and leadership behind the year’s most outstanding communications initiatives. Platinum PR Award winners set industry benchmarks for excellence across all areas of PR.

About Amendola Communications

Amendola is an award-winning, insights-driven public relations and marketing firm that integrates media relations, social media, content and lead gen programs to move healthcare, life sciences/pharma and healthcare IT decision-makers to action. The agency represents some of the industry’s best-known brands as well as groundbreaking startups that are disrupting the status quo. Nearly 90% of its client base represents multi-year clients and/or repeat client executives. Amendola’s seasoned team of PR and marketing pros understand the ongoing complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and provide strategic guidance and creative direction to drive positive ROI, boost reputation and increase market share. Making an impact since 2003, Amendola combines traditional and digital media to fuel meaningful and measurable growth. For more information about the industry’s “A-Team,” visit www.acmarketingpr.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Marcia G. Rhodes; mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com