Here we are: mid-January 2013. The holiday decorations have been taken down and stored away for another year, winter vacation is over, the kids are back in school and most of us are back to our regular routines.

As we plow back into our work, what will be driving your digital strategy this year? One thing is for sure: mobile continues to rise to the forefront in digital marketing strategy. At the recent CES in Las Vegas, advanced mobile devices were featured everywhere, from connected TVs, tablets large and small, and even “phablets” – a new combination of  tablets and Smartphones in one device. The world is no longer dominated by PCs – there are over 1 billion Smartphones in use worldwide and one in three U.S. consumers owns a tablet, soon to be one in two consumers.

I read with interest Sheryl Patteck’s take-home message from CES: “We are moving ever closer to delivering on … connected, customized and personalized one-to-one marketing in a mobilized way.” That has never been more true, and applies to us in healthcare marketing too. Her key takeways:

• You must have a strong mobile strategy in place. From the consumer’s perspective, it’s all about mobile communication.
• Your content must be relevant, interactive and engaging. Content is becoming more accessible with new technologies and applications.
• Data and customer understanding are key now more than ever. The opportunity to communicate with both current and potential consumers in more personalized and customized ways is available with new technologies.
• Imagination is the only limit. It’s up to you to use creativity to interact and engage with your audience in new and different ways — wherever they may be and however they may be connected.

Keeping all this in mind, we’ve been busy at Greystone.Net, making plans to bring you new and improved products and services.

For example, we’re making-over the Webmaster Workshops, and  think you’ll be really pleased with the results. Check out our GreyMatters newsletter and our Web site in February for more details!

Another new feature we are adding this year to our educational mix is called HCIC: Backstage Pass, a series of Webinars with some of the top-rated presenters from the 16th Annual HCIC. We’ll have more details on these sessions coming out soon, as well. And now for the first time, we’ve made all of the presentations from the Annual HCIC available for viewing/downloading. Learn more about it at HCIC: Rewind.

Believe it or not, we are already actively at work developing the educational program for the 17th Annual HCIC and the 2013 Client Conference, and aim to put on the best conference yet. New Orleans in November will be the place to be. And, it won’t be long before nominations will be opened for the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame and the Best in Class awards.

And we haven’t forgotten our clients! We are working to continue to provide the finest products and services to our clients in 2013, and finding ways to do even better work. We’ll be sharing soon some improvements, including exciting announcements about our Collaboration Portal product and our mobile Wayfinding solutions, to name just a few.

What plans does your organization have for 2013? We’d love to hear about anything unique, different or fun that you’re planning.

Happy New Year. We, at Greystone, hope it is a healthy, happy and prosperous new year for all, and we look forward to seeing you, and talking with you, again soon.

It so pleases me to announce that the inaugural John A. Eudes Vision & Excellence Award was presented to Daniel Fell at the 16th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference in Las Vegas on November 13th. The award was established last year, in honor and memory of our co-founder and friend, John A. Eudes. The Vision & Excellence award honors individuals who embody John’s ideals for excellence … believing in and acting upon the idea that excellence can only be obtained if one:

• Cares more than others think is wise
• Risks more than others think is safe
  

  Daniel Fell

• Dreams more than others think is practical
• Expects more than others think is possible.

Danny received the award because of his marketing experience, healthcare knowledge, his personal quest for innovation, his industry leadership and his sincere and deep interest in all things digital. In accepting the award, Danny commented, “I’m honored to be equated with the high level of excellence John Eudes pursued every day. Those of us in the industry are constantly striving to connect consumers with growing healthcare options. It’s humbling to be recognized at a national conference of like-minded professionals working hard to support excellence in everything we do.”

Danny is President of Neathawk, Dubuque & Packett, an advertising agency with headquarters in Richmond, VA. With 23 years of experience in the industry, he has worked closely with leading healthcare brands to understand and share strategic and business goals, refine their marketing and communications efforts and establish the foundation for successful marketing campaigns. In addition, Danny is a frequent speaker and author. He is an active member of numerous professional groups and is a member of the Board of Judges for the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame.

Everyone at Greystone is delighted to recognize someone of Danny’s caliber as an example of an individual who embraces John’s ideals of excellence. Danny’s spirit, sense of humor and work ethic is much like John’s too. I am sure John is smiling down on all of us, and is pleased.

Congratulations, Danny!

On November 1st, the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame (HIHOF) announced the 2012 Class of inductees. In its second year, the HIHOF will honor five new inductees at an awards luncheon held November 13, 2012, at the 16th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 2012 class of inductees includes:

• Innovative Individuals:

• Mark Gothberg, Editor, eHealthcare Strategy & Trends, and Chairman, eHealthcare Leadership Awards
• Ed Bennett, founder of the Hospital Social Network List.

• Innovative Products and Services:

• Mayo Clinic for their online health information
• PatientsLikeMe, the world’s first health data-sharing Web site.

• Innovative Provider Network:

• Community Health System, Indianapolis, Ind.

The inductees into The Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame were nominated for the honor by their industry peers and were selected by an independent Board of Judges. HIHOF honors men, women and organizations that have made outstanding, long-lasting contributions to the healthcare Internet industry. The organization’s purpose is to honor innovation and ensure that the history of the industry is preserved for future generations.

Join us in congratulating all the inductees. The recognition for each inductee is richly deserved and it is great to know that their challenges, their industry impact and their achievements will be preserved for others to learn from for years to come.

It’s hard to believe that after months and months of planning and coordinating, the 16th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference will be in full swing by this time next month.

On Monday, November 12, hundreds of professionals involved in Web strategy, healthcare marketing, IT and business strategy will gather at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for 2-½ days of educational programming. This year, HCIC offers four keynote sessions, two pre-conference workshops, two post-conference events and 42 concurrent sessions in between it all.

In addition, there will be ample opportunities to network with colleagues and attendees and to learn about new tools and solutions through the robust and vibrant exhibit hall – featuring over 50 top industry vendors. See all the sponsors and exhibitors at hcic.net.

Have you registered yet? If not, you still have time! Visit hcic.net to register for the conference. You may also register for the pre- or post-conference events as well. The block of low-cost, reserved rooms at The Cosmopolitan is almost sold-out, but if you act quickly, you can also make your conference hotel reservation online.

If you are a client of Greystone.Net or Krames StayWell, you’ll want to join us on Monday morning before the main conference begins for the combined Client Conference. Don’t forget – your paid HCIC registration entitles you to attend the Client Conference at no additional charge! But you do need to register for the Client Conference, so please don’t forget to do so.

During the next four weeks, we’ll be working on the final preparations and finishing touches, and we’ll be thinking a lot about John Eudes, whose passion envisioned and drove this conference from its beginning. HCIC isn’t quite as much fun without him, but he’d be so proud of its growth and expansion. We will keep that flame burning brightly, and I, for one, will think of him often throughout the show.

It’s a great venue – in a fun city – and the educational sessions and networking opportunities will absolutely rock. Travel safely to Vegas and see you soon!

The Web site for the 16th Annual Healthcare Web site is now available at www.hcic.net, where you can also download a PDF of the brochure.

This year, the conference will be held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on November 12-14, 2012. The conference will feature 42 concurrent educational sessions in six tracks:

• Strategy Development
• Web Solutions and Tools
• mHCIC: Mobile and Emerging Technologies
• Social Media
• e-Metrics, ROI and Business Value
• Patient Engagement

And, there will be four keynote sessions, including:

• Kevin Pho, MD, from KevinMD.com
• Jay Kuhns and Cindy Rose from All Children’s Hospital
• Jean Hitchcock and Stephanie Johnson from MedStar Health
• Mark Gothberg, presenting then 2012 eHealthcare Leadership Awards.

There will also be four additional, optional educational opportunities:

• Pre-Conference Workshop on Web Content Strategy
• Pre-Conference Workshop on Mobile Strategies
• Post-Conference Workshop on Open Source Solutions
• Post-Conference Event:  OpenSpace, an UnConference Session.

The conference will also include an Exhibit Hall and expo featuring nearly 70 booths and vendors.

Read more about the sessions, the speakers and all the exhibit hall and social events at www.hcic.net. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas in November.