Healthcare

Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and the United Nations has placed a focus on how best to help those suffering from autism spectrum disorders and their families.

Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General, said in a statement that countries around the world need to step up their efforts to address the needs of the autistic, research this disorder, and help those impacted with health services.

“On this Day in New York, Vienna and Geneva, the United Nations Postal Administration is releasing six commemorative postage stamps and two collectible envelopes dedicated to autism awareness.  These tiny pieces of paper — with images created by artists who have been diagnosed with autism — will send a powerful message to people around the world that talent and creativity live inside all of us,” the statement says.

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Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.

February is also American Heart Month and Discovery Familia is spreading the word about heart health with a campaign — “Escucha tu Corazón” (“Listen to Your Heart”) — that includes a series of PSAs, programming, and event participation targeting the Hispanic community.

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Once again, we have an example where social media and public backlash have reversed an organization’s decision.

For the past three days, Susan G. Komen for the Cure (SGK) has been battered by criticism from the public and members of government who objected to the group’s decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood. The money had been used for breast exams. This morning, SGK announced that it was going to take a closer look at the policy that led to the cuts and apologized for its earlier decision. Planned Parenthood can apply for grants once again.

“Amending our criteria will ensure that politics has no place in our grant process,” the statement says. “It is our hope and we believe it is time for everyone involved to pause, slow down and reflect on how grants can most effectively and directly be administered without controversies that hurt the cause of women.” We tried to read the statement on the SGK website, but got a big error message that says simply “Server is too busy.”

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Not the story you thought you’d ever read about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, one of the most noted and respected nonprofits out there. But the other day, it was announced that the organization is cutting funding to Planned Parenthood affiliates, which could leave many women without access to breast exams. Last year, Susan G. Komen (SGK) provided $680,000 in grants to Planned Parenthood groups.

Coverage of issue indicates that SGK made the policy change under pressure from anti-abortion groups and members of Congress. Yesterday, the organization’s founder and CEO, Nancy G. Brinker made the video above to explain why the money has been cut.

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Raise a pharmaceutical company’s reputation in the public by just a small margin and it can have huge results, according to a new study released by APCO Worldwide.

APCO found that if a company’s corporate reputation is raised by just one point, an additional 28,000 patients ask their doctors about a company’s medicine; sales for the average pharmaceutical company increase by 3.33 percent; and 83,000 more community activists actively and vocally advocate on behalf of the industry, among other positive results.

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Atkins Nutritionals, the company behind all  things related to the low-carb Atkins diet, has chosen MWW Group as its AOR.

The healthy lifestyles practice will lead the account, which will focus on social media, traditional outreach, and marketing. Atkins recently launched a new book, The New Atkins for a New You Cookbook: 200 Simple and Delicious Low-Carb Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less, with help from restauranteur, television personality, and new mom Donatella Arpaia at an event in New York.

Aetna wants to go from an “insurance carrier” to a “health solutions company,” according to its press release. How pray tell? With a new logo, of course!

The health insurance/solutions company has introduced a new logo (left) and a new “brand promise”: “With Aetna, the power of health is in your hands.”

The goal of the new branding is to recognize consumer empowerment, the company says. The new focus of the company will be on providing “quality” health plans, administering info about healthy lifestyles, financial management as it relates to health expenses, and providing insights for better business. There will be new mobile apps and resources, a new marketing campaign, and a new consumer survey, the Empowered Health Index, with results coming later this year.

Siegal + Gale helped with the logo and design.

Consumer empowerment in the healthcare area is a great thing. And, of course, the timing on this new campaign couldn’t be better.

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Paula Deen has announced that she has Type 2 Diabetes and, certainly, everyone wishes her the best of health. However, Deen learned of her diabetes three years ago and coupled her announcement with the news that she’s now shilling for the drug company Novo Nordisk.

She went on the Today show to make this announcement, equating herself to Al Roker when he pointed out that she’s a spokesperson for the company. “Absolutely, I’ve been compensated, just as you are for your work,” she said. Ugh. Because being a reporter is the same as being a spokesperson for a drug company. Tacky, tasteless Paula Deen. The interview continues with her talking more crap. She sounds like she’s been media trained almost too well.

But many say that’s not the only tasteless thing about this situation.

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Feeling under the weather? Find out where all the sick people are hanging out with Sickweather.

The site launched in November and uses updates on its site as well as on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to show where a bug might be going around. According to a press release we received, the site was able to determine that a spate of whooping cough cases had broken out in Milwaukee recently. This could also be a useful took for targeted healthcare campaign outreach. Let us know if you use it and what you think.

Charles Barkley lost 27 pounds with Weight Watchers!

Get used to hearing that because Barkley, former NBA player and current announcer, has signed on as the new spokesperson for Weight Watchers’ “Lose Like a Man” campaign. The company scored a mention on People.com, ESPN.com, and a number of other publications today.

“Anyone who gains 100 pounds, they’re just a lazy a–,” USA Today quotes him saying. Barkeley gained that weight after retiring from basketball in 2000. You don’t hear that too often in women’s health and fitness magazines.

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