Promotional brochure bargains cut costs
Look for low-priced or free educational materials
Community health promotions can be costly, but there are ways to pinch pennies, says Karen Hathorn, RN, MSN, community education manager at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, LA. When hosting events that coincide with national health observance dates, she advises patient education managers to shop for brochures.
Although most organizations that sponsor health observances, such as National Heart Month, create literature, fliers, buttons, posters, and other promotional items for the event, their prices can be high, she warns. Therefore, Hathorn often creates the material she distributes to save money.
"Why spend $4 for a booklet when you can make colorful sheets? Many participants throw the literature away," she says.
She has purchased binders of camera-ready copy on various topics, such as women’s health, from Parlay International, based in Emeryville, CA. (For more information on this product, see source box at right.)
Often drug companies will have brochures that can be used as education materials during health promotions, says Carol Maller, MS, RN, CHES, patient education coordinator for Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM.
"I don’t directly promote the drugs, but I use the companies’ materials to educate patients," she says. (For more information on using free educational materials from drug companies, see Patient Education Management, November 1997, p. 137.)
It’s a good idea to plan ahead so there is time to talk to drug representatives to see what is available. Currently, Maller is planning a fall promotion for National Cholesterol Month. The drug representative from Merck & Company in West Point, PA, has promised to work with her to provide a free video titled Controlling Cholesterol Your Reward for Life to all patients who participate in the promotional event.
"The video is targeted to laypersons, and there is nothing about the company in the film," says Maller.
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