Press Release Tip 17

Publicize contracts you’ve won or awarded

If you’ve awarded a contract to a vendor, or if you’ve won a contract, it’s time to write a press release.

Be sure to state the benefits of the contract. 

I like the way this press release from Mercy General Hospital in Baltimore, Md., focuses on benefits, starting with the headline. I’ve highlighted all the benefits for you in yellow below so you can see some of the ways you can include benefits in your release.

Also, notice the ticker symbol–(Nasdaq: MDRX)–in the first paragraph. Always include ticker symbols for public companies because some people search online for these companies using the ticker symbol.

Here’s the release: 

MERCY SELECTS ALLSCRIPTS ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD—OFFERS ENHANCED EFFICIENCY & INSTANT ACCESS FOR PHYSICIANS, PATIENTS

BALTIMORE, MD – Mercy Health Services has selected the TouchWorks Electronic Health Record from Allscripts (Nasdaq: MDRX), the leading provider of clinical software, connectivity and information solutions that physicians use to improve healthcare. The agreement is valued at $1.7 million.

The TouchWorks™ Electronic Health Record solution will enable Mercy’s physician practices to improve patient safety, cut costs and boost efficiency by automating many clinical tasks that are currently performed manually. Mercy physicians and other caregivers will be able to retrieve patient medical records from any location where they have an Internet connection.

“The web-based electronic health record will enhance the delivery of care to Mercy’s patients while empowering the group’s physicians with instant access to the complete patient record when and where they need it,” said Jim Stalder, Chief Information Officer of Mercy Health Services.

“By leveraging Allscripts’ TouchWorks electronic health record, Mercy will completely automate many of the current manual and paper-based clinical activities such as prescribing medications, ordering lab tests, viewing test results, making referrals and documenting clinical encounters,” said Rob Horst, Mercy’s Manager of Physician IT Services. “The electronic health record should also result in cost savings as it will eliminate duplicative, resource-intensive paper records, which must be stored and transported between the group’s locations.”

In addition to the TouchWorks™ Electronic Health Record solution, TouchWorks iHealth™ was a key factor in Mercy’s selection of Allscripts. TouchWorks iHealth™ is a solution that provides patients secure online access to their own personal health record. Using iHealth, patients will securely register for appointments and request prescription refills online. Patients can access trusted health-related content from their physicians and will ultimately be provided with tools allowing them to communicate with Mercy physicians online.

“By providing seamless interaction between iHealth and TouchWorks™ Electronic Health Record, Mercy will be leading the way towards healthcare transformation in the Baltimore area,” said Horst.

Mercy’s multi-specialty group is comprised of more than 100 physicians in practices located downtown and in several suburban Baltimore locations.

“We performed an extensive review of leading vendors and Allscripts emerged as the clear industry leader,” Stalder said. “Allscripts has a vision and a plan for the future of healthcare that is far ahead of the competition. We look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

“Being chosen by a world-class medical group like Mercy Health Services demonstrates the ability of Allscripts to deliver enhanced quality care that is measurable across a broad network of providers,” said Glen Tullman, Chief Executive Officer of Allscripts. “We are proud that the TouchWorks solution is the first choice for improving clinical outcomes and efficiency at many of our nation’s top medical groups.”

Opportunity #17 to write a press release: A blog you’re starting

If you’ve started blogging for business or for fun, write a press release about it so people who want information on your topic can find it. Remember to visit other bloggers who blog on the same topic, or a similar topic, and post comments at their blogs. You will be able to link back to your own blog.

Next: Announce a grand opening.