Blog: Patient Insights & Thought Leadership

Back to Basics: What is Community?

January 18, 2016

As busy community managers, it can be easy to get caught up in the daily work of assessments, moderating, and even theories behind community work — and get distracted from the original vision for one’s company. So it’s important to revisit how one is going about reaching those goals. At Health Union, we find that revisiting “the basics” can be a critical exercise in constantly reexamining our approach to community management. In a recent team brainstorming session, our VP of Community Development, Amrita Bhowmick, created an exercise that allowed our group to easily share our ideas about what “community” means to us, and what qualities can make or break a community.

Considerations for Building Financially Stable Online Communities

December 2, 2015

Over the past several years, there has been a significant growth in the popularity of online communities, and as one may expect, there are a multitude of challenges associated with developing these seemingly robust communities into self-sustaining businesses. In 2013, the CEO of Reddit, for instance, reported that despite having 70 million monthly readers, his company wasn’t making money. More recently, Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, announced (via a tweet), that there would be company layoffs to “move with greater focus and reinvest in our growth.” A viable business model is absolutely critical to maintain thriving and sustainable communities.

Holiday Struggles & Strategies for Those with Chronic Conditions

November 25, 2015

Discover insights from 600+ surveyed people living with chronic conditions to understand challenges and enjoyments that they experience during the holidays.

Understanding the Silent Majority in Our Online Communities

November 9, 2015

“Why do lurkers lurk and what do they do?” The 90–9–1 rule of thumb has been applied to many digital and online communities. 90% tend to be less vocal but still engaged, 9% tend to be more vocal by commenting and/or sharing, and the remaining 1% tend to be the most vocal by creating new content. The lurkers are the 90%. While the exact ratio is highly debated and perhaps outdated, the idea that lurkers or what we refer to as the “silent majority” make up a large portion of online communities still holds true.

The secret to sustainable growth: Hiring a mindset, not a skill set

August 28, 2018

Think for a moment how a car simply can’t run without both gasoline and oil. You can’t really argue which one is more important because that doesn’t matter: without either, the car won’t go. Everything in our business works like gas and oil in a car: because each individual understands that, no matter their role, what they do is crucial to our success.

People with COPD want more from their doctors: Here’s what they say

August 14, 2018

Debilitating. Frustrating. Devastating. When asked to describe their condition in one word, COPD patients’ choice of words reveals struggle, fear, misery, and helplessness in Health Union’s COPD In America 2018 survey.

Differences in DMT treatment experiences among people with MS: Here’s what patients say

July 30, 2018

For many people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment decisions can often be nuanced and complicated. In April of 2018, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) released new guidelines about when to begin, change, and end disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS patients. MS In America 2018 results may help the healthcare industry gain a broader understanding of people’s experiences, or lack thereof, with DMTs and other MS treatment options.

WHITEPAPER DOWNLOAD: #authenticity How Social Media Can Fuel Growth-Oriented, Sustainable Online Communities

June 28, 2018

Download the full free whitepaper, “#authenticity How Social Media Can Fuel Growth-Oriented, Sustainable Online Communities”

Healthcare Industry Thought Leadership