November 15, 2003
A new department is being organized to keep the public informed about what YKHC is doing now to improve healthcare in our region.
"Too often, the innovative programs we develop and even the services we provide on a daily basis, are not adequately communicated to our customers and partners," said Support Services Vice President Hugh Short.
"We need to get proactive about communicating the positive, exciting things we're doing, not only to keep our own people informed, but people all over the state and the rest of the world as well," said President/CEO Gene Peltola.
Some of the functions that were previously organized in YKHC's Tribal and Program Support Services, such as Media Services and Tribal Relations, will be gathered into the new department, and other functions will be added.
A big part of the new Public Relations Department's scope of work will be managing YKHC's website. YKHC recently entered into a partnership with Impact 451, a website development firm, to improve the appearance and usefulness of YKHC's website at www.ykhc.org. Managing the information that goes into the site will be the responsibility of the new Public Relations Department. Media Services Coordinator Michael Faubion, who has edited the monthly Messenger newsletter for the past 10 years, is taking on the task of managing the site.
"I look at the website as being a great big Messenger," Faubion said. "In time, the site will be the best way for people to access information about our programs, services, village clinic construction, facilities, jobs, treatment options, health education, statistics about the health status of people in our region... The potential is enormous."
The new website at www.ykhc.org was launched on October 15. An internal employees-only site will launch soon. The internal site will publish employee- related information about job benefits, employee assistance programs, education and training opportunities, schedules and calendars and other related information.
YKHC Media Services, which includes graphic design for program and corporate publications, will continue with Rose Henderson at the desktop publishing console.
Among the responsibilities of the Media Services part of the Public Relations Dept. will be standardizing and maintaining the professional quality of corporate publications and presentations. The department will organize YKHC's public events and coordinate VIP tours.
One of the most important functions of the new department will be to act as liaison to the news media. A new position will be created to fill this need. It will be the responsibility of this position to generate news releases about YKHC events, services and programs, to organize press conferences and put reporters in touch with the experts who can best answer their questions.
New positions for Public Relations Director and Public Information Officer will be advertised soon.
The Media Services Office is currently working on a pamphlet explaining the new department and its policies and procedures.
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