Rapid response content strategies for COVID-19 era

Our team had partnered with the organization three years earlier to help their new chief marcomm officer reorganize her team. That focus had started with people, emphasized strategy and positively transformed her operation, and the existing relationship expedited the success of this rapid response effort.

By their side since that time, we jumped in to provide strategy to align messaging and support ongoing content development. The resulting “Safe to See Us” campaign reached patients and internal audiences. A toolkit for referring physicians to support their reopening plans ended up strengthening their affinity toward the organization’s brand.

In tandem with the branding work, we developed a comprehensive launch plan. Not only were we introducing the new organization to the public, but we were also kicking off the relationship across the three founding oncology practices and needed to bring along their approximately 2,000 employees and 225 oncology providers in 60 locations. We partnered with practice leadership teams and developed customized communications plans for each one. Those plans became the general template for future affiliating practices. We also produced a comprehensive internal communications plan and rollout playbook, including employee town hall scripts, physician memos, patient communications, media and more.

The targeted email campaign for physicians was a tremendous success, reaching tens of thousands of referring physicians and averaged an overwhelming 40+ percent open rate. Meanwhile, internal communications received unprecedented readership and praise from all levels of the organization. The “Safe to See Us” messaging resonated swiftly, and patient volumes at the organization returned to pre-COVID-19 levels before the end of July.