Textbooks: Berkowitz, E. N. (2011). Essentials of health care marketing (3rd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Solomon, M. R. (2013). Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: FT Press/Pearson.
Thielst, C. B. (2013). Social media in healthcare: Connect, communicate, collaborate (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
Please write up 150 to 200 word count for questions 1 to 11; # 12 It's an essay (700 word count),Must choose 2 Health Care Products Advertisements .Your initial response should include detail that combines the textbook - Health Care Information Systems and with your personal experience/ knowledge. Cite/ References work. Do not plagiarize!
1. Active assessment of the consumer's wants and needs through systematic information gathering prepares the business to offer the right product for their demographic, at the right price. Knowing the specific needs of the region or area and understanding the mentality of the consumer, allows the business to meet needs and stay ahead of the competition. Give an example of how a business markets based on demographics.
2. The Meaning of Marketing, discusses the four Ps in successful marketing. One of the key variables is place. In this context, place refers to how goods and services are made available to consumers. I like how the chapter gives the example that as few as 10 years ago, a physician chose his or her office location based on personal convenience. Today, the focus is on the consumer, and health care organizations are using this line of thinking when planning where they will provide their services.
3. As you read this chapter the one thing that is quite striking is that health care professionals often speak of the fact that what consumers want may not be what they need. A simple statement but so very true. What about those who are exposed to a vast number of people on a daily basis, but do not get a flu shot? Another area to look at would be antibiotics. Consumers get a sniffle, and they want an antibiotic. They do not need an antibiotic, and in fact, it may end up doing more harm than good as their body gets used to the medication. Today we know that antibiotics have been over prescribed for years and that is why our bodies do not respond as well as they should when we do take the antibiotics. A want and a need may be two different things. What are other examples of wants vs. needs?
4. Consumers want that "quick fix". What are other examples of quick fixes for medical issues?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages in using social media?
6. Describes demographic variables that distinguish one consumer from another. The demographic categories include age, gender, family structure, social class and income, race and ethnicity, geography, and lifestyles. In my area, I see how organizations provide different products at their stores depending on geographic data. For example, a major grocery store chain, with several locations throughout my city, will stock certain food and household items based on geographic market research studies. I believe in the importance of this demographic variable because it helps supply the needs of a particular consumer. In fact, all of the demographic variables are important all businesses can meet the needs of their consumers.
7. What constitutes a consumer category?
8. What is the difference between a B2B and a B2C buyer? What are characteristics of each group of buyers?
9. Do you think the average consumer can easily navigate around this site and the links and understand what they read?
10. What is the purpose of monitoring consumer behavior? How are consumers monitored in a brick and mortar store and how are they monitored online?
11. Can anyone tell me (in general) the way the HMO, PPO and CDHP work? There are usually savings accounts that go with them. They are the health saving account, the health reimbursement account and the flexible spending account. Which goes with what plan, and how does it work?