Off the Beaten Path – Healthcare IT PR

Today we launch a new series at Healthcare IT Today, “Off the Beaten Path,“ which features job opportunities in the Healthcare IT industry that are a bit . . . well. . . off the beaten path of what you might typically think of when you consider a career in Healthcare IT.  For our first installment, we are featuring Healthcare IT PR – a career path that often appeals to professionals who have strong communication skills, are articulate both with the written and spoken word, are able to understand a variety of people, are confident, and able to think on their feet.  Although entry-level positions without healthcare or tech experience are certainly available (you’ve got to start somewhere, right?), an agency, corporation, or hospital looking to add a more senior team member will most likely be looking for a PR professional with a  background in healthcare, IT, or the best case scenario – both!

What makes a Healthcare IT PR position so desirable at this particular point in time is the fact that even though Healthcare IT is already in the national spotlight, there is still much that is generally misunderstood and yet-to-be-discovered by the general public.  Hundreds of companies, both established and start-up, are scrambling to either add, grow, or birth their new Healthcare IT products, services, and offerings. The candidate who fills this position will be in the enviable position of not only publicizing, but educating at the same time – very satisfying and important work that will make a tangible difference in the industry.   In a recent article for PR Week, Chris Foster, chairman, US healthcare, Burson-Marsteller, backed up this assertion:

“It would be naive for healthcare communications professionals to think that we will transform the industry and the business of public relations will go on as usual. Our business will need to fundamentally change as the PhRMA, hospital and biotech industries change. I am not suggesting that media relations, product marketing, and brand management will no longer be important. It will. However, we will also be expected to assist our clients as their business models change to meet the demands on our new healthcare system. The PR firms that think differently about the expanded role that communications plays in implementing healthcare reform will have a clear competitive advantage.”

And with the current emphasis on the growth of  Healthcare IT, thanks in large part to ARRA, the job outlook is very strong.   Sounds like an exciting line of Healthcare IT work, doesn’t it?  Currently, the following opportunities are available in Healthcare IT PR on Healthcare IT Central:

Senior Healthcare PR Account Executive

Senior Healthcare PR Copywriter

Til next time, stay tuned, you just never know what you’ll find Off the Beaten Path. . .