This is a question recently posted to me by a reader. Good question. The answer is a lot is starting to happen with public communication, and this will only increase as we move closer to the Transition date.....42 days and counting!
About 2000 letters went out In February to our community partners, such as referring hospitals and clinics, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), fire and law enforcement, government offices and legislators, and various community groups to help get the word out regarding the transition of services from UMC to the Community Regional Medical Center.
Our leadership has also made public presentations in public forums such as a recent Fresno County Board of Supervisor's televised session, Fresno's Downtown Rotary and Metro Ministries Healthcare Coalition meeting. This Wednesday, March 7th, we are holding a meeting with elected officials and Foundation Board members to share our plans for the Transition and to offer tours of the new facilities in the Trauma Critical Care Building.
We have also used existing communication tools such as MedWatch, our weekly TV show, our recently launched news site, http://www.medwatchtoday.com and local print and TV media to help communicate our plans to move UMC in April.
In March, we will publish public notices in newspapers within our service area, launch public service announcements and appearances at various TV and radio stations (including Spanish and Hmong stations). Also, patient letters and flyers will be distributed within our facilities in the clinics and Emergency Department as the move date gets closer. We are in the process of translating these letters into the various languages of the patient population we serve.
Great care is being taken to communicate that our ambulatory clinic operations at UMC will remain and continue to provide the excellent services our patients have come to expect.