Emily is currently a Senior Consultant in Marketing Communications at Kaiser Permanente. She graduated from UGA in 2003 with a degree in Advertising and a New Media Certificate. Since that time, she has worked in healthcare communications and obtained her MBA from Emory University, concentrating in Marketing, Brand Management, and Strategy Consulting. At Kaiser Permanente, she consults with internal clients (physicians, medical office administrators, account managers, etc.) to come up with solutions and strategies to address marketing and communications related challenges they may face. Through the NMI, she gained a passion for new media, and the skills to implement it in ways that allow her to come up with solutions that are more innovative than traditional forms of communication.
“It’s exciting to be part of an organization that’s been called the ‘“future of health care”, especially as we enter into health care reform and get to reach an entirely new population of people. I’m currently working on some mobile/location-based ideas for improving access to information about patient care. In my last job as a Communications Specialist at Emory, I used the skills I learned even more directly, since I was actually building websites and managed social media strategy for my division.”
Kaiser Permanente has always been on the cutting-edge of technology, particularly in regard to the comprehensive electronic medical record system they’ve had in place for years. The system connects every doctor in every specialty in Kaiser Permanente medical facilities, so they all see the exact same info about members, no matter what location they visit. Members also have access to their own records online–through the web as well as through mobile app–giving them the ability to check lab results, order prescription refills, and email their doctors’ offices directly.
“In the last year, the company has increasingly entered the mobile space, allowing members to access info on the go (here’s an article that sums that part up better than I could).”
Emily recalls her capstone project, a mobile friend locator application to help you find your buddies in close proximity. “I learned so much in my time in the NMI, especially through the hands-on work we got to do. It really inspired me to develop skills in new media and in digital strategy that I find invaluable in my career.”
Connect with Emily on LinkedIn.
Interview conducted by Ann Martin.