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A Full Spectrum Week

One of the most gratifying aspects of being in public relations is getting to learn about so many different industries and businesses. Of course, we specialize in healthcare, so there are myriad specialties and sub-specialties to learn about, but looking back at this week I realize that we learned about the semiconductor technology that enabled an entrepreneur to create a personal winery, WinePod, that links to your PC to guide you step-by-step through the process of making a great cabernet sauvignon or syrah or pinot noir.

Then, when Carolyn Johnson of KGO-TV interviewed Dr. John Moran, the SVP of Clinical Affairs for Satellite Healthcare, we got to meet nurses, social workers, dieticians and just plain nice people who were being educated about home self-care and dialysis for renal disease at Satellite’s WellBound facility in Emeryville. It was extraordinary to see the level of compassion and genuine interest in their patients that the nurses showed. One of the patients said he felt like a cow being milked when he went to a competitor’s dialysis center compared to the empowerment and convenience of doing his hemodialysis at home. I was so impressed by the staff at WellBound. The nurse manager, Kim Hadley, said she had never known what job satisfaction was until she came to Satellite. She said, “everyday I walk out of here feeling as if I’ve made a real difference for people who need our help, and feeling how lucky I am to work in an environment that encourages me to find ways to make our patients’ experience better. If I have a suggestion, John doesn’t ask how much will this cost. He asks, what will this do for our patients and what do you need to make it happen?”

Then, when we launched the Oceano Hotel and Spa in Half Moon Bay this Wednesday, it was so wonderful to know that we’re helping an enterprise that truly walks the talk of being “green.” From the motion-sensing thermostats in each room to the environmentally-safe laundry, the hotel sets a new standard for a luxurious getaway on the coast that has the smallest carbon footprint and most energy efficient infrastructure. Look at our Jen Bullock’s photos here.

Then yesterday Larry Gerston and I media trained the head of the VMC emergency department and the deputy medical officer for the Public Health Department. Those who have the responsibility to care for the health and well-being of all residents of Santa Clara County are among the most dedicated, professional and compassionate physicians I’ve ever met. We’re in good hands as a community relying on the safety net healthcare system we have, and it’s almost criminal how much that system has had to cut staff and services to meet the draconian budget cuts the state and federal governments have mandated. In the last seven years, VMC has cut $675 million from its budget, and now the cuts are hitting bone. Our priorities are so skewed, and working people and their families with no insurance are being ignored by the government that should be working on their behalf.

And last night, Pam Kelly introduced the re-cut, revised version of Jimi Simmons’ film “Making the River” at a benefit showing for the Bill Wilson Center at Camera 12. Pam’s love of cinema and keen insight into what makes a satisfying viewing experience helped the film’s director make substantial changes to clarify a complex, real-life murder mystery and show the courage and passion with which Jimi defended himself during a bleak time in the history of American justice.

Just another week in PR paradise.