Havas Drive Opens Practice--Unit will develop virtual communications tools for pharma clients

Havas Drive Opens Practice

Unit will develop virtual communications tools for pharma clients

Sept 10, 2008 (AdWeek)

By David Gianatasio

A Virtual Convention Booth, accessible on WebMD's Medscape, is a key launch offering of Havas Drive.

BOSTON Paris-based holding company Havas has launched a unit called Havas Drive, a 15-person operation focused on developing virtual communications and marketing tools for pharmaceutical clients.

Ed Stapor, senior partner, leads the group of strategists and designers who will also tap into Havas' broader digital services units on an as-needed basis.

Havas Drive is not an ad agency. Its mandate is to build virtual products that would allow doctors and other medical professionals access to relevant client information and insights. Ultimately, the long-term goal is forging a deeper relationship between the pharma companies and medical professionals.

David Jones, CEO of Havas' Euro RSCG network, said Havas Drive was formed "to create forward-looking strategies that reach audiences when and where they want to be reached. Havas Drive's unique offering delivers innovation with built-in return-on-investment, as the clients only pay for results."

Havas Drive develops licensed products and then makes them available to existing and new clients. Havas Drive does not create work for hire.

These include a 3-D Virtual Convention Booth, accessible via WebMD's Medscape site. The booth lets physicians experience the convention booth as if they were at the live event.

The unit at launch is also offering Virtual Hospital, an immersive interactive program for hospital staff designed to deliver complex brand messages, and Virtual Detail, which allows a virtual sales rep to deliver detailed advertiser info in a 3-D environment.

The launch comes as Big Pharma continues to struggle with its image in the consumer sector.

HAVAS partners with WebMD on "Virtual Convention Booth"

HAVAS partners with WebMD on "Virtual Convention Booth"

 

Euro RSCG Life parent HAVAS is partnering with WebMD for a new Virtual Convention Booth offering that aims to give healthcare professionals the 3D interactive experience online.

The Virtual Convention Booth is the first offering from a new HAVAS agency, HAVAS Drive, specializing in the design of virtual environments for patients and professionals. The shop, based in New York and with quality assurance staff in Portland, OR, is launching with a staff of 15 and several products that will offer pay-for-performance pricing. In addition to the Virtual Convention Booth, to be hosted on WebMD's Medscape using content supplied by clients. 

 

HAVAS Drive is also offering Virtual Detail, which allows a virtual sales rep to deliver a detail in a 3-D environment live or remotely, via the web or CD-ROM, and Virtual Hospital, an educational tool aimed at helping hospital staff optimize patient care through simulations drawn from case studies of real patients' experiences, from admission to discharge.

HAVAS Drive hopes Virtual Detail will appeal to companies looking to launch a product quickly, reach physicians in areas where they don't have coverage or disseminate new data fast.

The agency is also working on Virtual Patient, a consumer- and professional-facing application aimed at helping both audiences understand what a typical patient with a particular disease goes through on a daily basis. “We want to close the information gap between the physician and the patient,” said Ed Stapor, a partner at Euro RSCG Life who is leading the new shop.

Stapor said HAVAS has signed up clients for six Virtual Details, two Virtual Hospitals and one Virtual Convention Booth. All of the agency's products will offer performance-based pricing. “We will work with clients to define what metrics they are looking for, and then, that's how we'll get paid – per engagement, so that there's skin in the game for us,” said Stapor. Clients will also pay a licensing fee up front.  

 

Nat'l Headache Foundation to produce blog on HealthCentral community

Nat'l Headache Foundation to produce blog on HealthCentral community

The National Headache Foundation (NHF) will join HealthCentral's network of advisors and produce a regular blog for HealthCentral's migraine community at MyMigraineConnection.com. NHF sponsors research such as the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention Study, produces patient education materials, advocates for better patient education on migraine and other neurological disorders, and convenes interdisciplinary panels. It also establishes standards of care for headache diagnosis and treatment.

comScore: Online health info category surges in past year

comScore: Online health info category surges in past year

The online health information category has grown 21% during the past year, according to comScore. That's more than four times the growth rate of the total U.S. Internet population. WebMD Health leads the category with 17.3 million visitors in July (up 3% from a year ago). But comScore says three other health networks boosted the overall growth of the category: Everyday Health with 14.7 million visitors (up 63%), Revolution Health Network with 11.3 million visitors (up 182%), and AOL Health with 11.1 million visitors (up 88%). In June, nearly 54 million people had more than 1.5 billion display ad views via sites in the health information category. WebMD Health topped the list of display ad publishers, delivering 290 million display ad views and reaching nearly 15 million people at an average frequency of 19.3 times per visitor during the month.

American Diabetes Association tries to better educate men

American Diabetes Association Survey Identifies Issues Every Man With Diabetes Should Know

Marketwire via NewsEdge :

ALEXANDRIA, VA, September 9 / MARKET WIRE/ --

Click on the following link to view ADA Men's Health Campaign Video: http://www.firstlinemedia.com/video/ADA_Mens_Health_Campaign_v5.wmv

In addition to dealing with the day-to-day aspects of diabetes management that involve blood glucose, nutrition and lifestyle management, men in the United States with diabetes are also grappling with other physical, emotional and sexual health issues according to survey findings released today by the American Diabetes Association.

According to the research, only 30% of men surveyed claimed to know "a lot" about their disease and only one quarter (25%) of men with diabetes reported eating balanced and nutritious meals. Additionally, 60% of men felt that more information could help them better manage their disease, and 65% felt more information could help them have more useful conversations with their health care providers about their disease.

To respond to this need, the American Diabetes Association is launching a national educational campaign to provide men with diabetes -- and their spouses -- with information and resources to better manage their diabetes and the array of other health conditions that can be associated with this disease.

"The American Diabetes Association recognizes that there are many information needs for people with diabetes; this program is a major step toward filling in important gaps that specifically affect men. This campaign offers enhanced information and tools to help men better appreciate the importance of adopting a more comprehensive, or modern, approach to managing their diabetes," said Richard M. Bergenstal, M.D., Vice President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. "These survey results reinforce that there are many health issues associated with diabetes that men currently overlook or aren't even aware of -- from managing blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol to physical, emotional, and sexual health issues such as erectile dysfunction and low testosterone."

In an effort to bridge the communication gap between men with diabetes, their health care providers, and significant others, the American Diabetes Association has developed a campaign with a focus on challenging men to take charge of their own health. Featuring a variety of new resources specifically for men, the campaign includes The Modern Man's Guide to Living Well with Diabetes handbook, an enhanced men's health section on the American Diabetes Association Web site at diabetes.org/menshealth and a public service announcement (PSA).

"Men can take small steps that can have a big impact on their ability to better manage their diabetes," said Dr. Bergenstal. "Doing what they know, like staying active, sticking to a healthful diet, learning about increased risks for related conditions, and talking with a doctor if they are suffering from bothersome symptoms, is the key to managing diabetes today."

Of the nearly 24 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, 12 million are men. Many of these men are unaware that they are at an increased risk for complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, disease and amputation, as well as other conditions that affect their physical, sexual and emotional health. In fact, the survey showed that men with type 2 diabetes and the wives of such men are mostly unknowledgeable about low testosterone. With symptoms such as depressed mood, erectile dysfunction and fatigue, men with low testosterone may feel too frustrated, unmotivated or unaware to discuss disease-related complications with a doctor or loved one, further diminishing their ability to take a proactive approach to managing their disease.

Campaign Offers Support to Men with Diabetes

Committed to providing people with diabetes and their loved ones with the most comprehensive and up-to-date information, the updated American Diabetes Association men's health Web site (www.diabetes.org/menshealth) now offers enhanced resources to aid and empower men with diabetes who are seeking male-specific health information, including practical diet and exercise tips, information about sleep apnea and other conditions and information about physical, emotional and sexual health.

In addition to the availability of men's health-specific information online, the campaign will kick off a cross-country tour via its national Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes events this fall. As part of one of the country's largest series of charitable walks, 20 cities will feature a new Men's Health Corner booth where men and their spouses can speak with a health representative about a variety of men's health issues.

The Modern Man's Guide to Living Well with Diabetes handbook, a one-stop guide for men living with diabetes today, will also be available at the 20 Step Out events, on the enhanced men's health Web site and by calling 1-800-DIABETES. For more information about the campaign, its tools and how you can get involved in a Step Out event in your city, visit www.diabetes.org/menshealth.

About the Survey

The American Diabetes Association survey of 1,000 men with type 2 diabetes, age 40-60, and 1,000 female spouses of men with the disease assessed their knowledge of type 2 diabetes in general and its complications. The online survey also explored respondent's opinions about their overall quality of life and current approach to managing their disease. Results showed that men with type 2 diabetes know the proper things to do to better manage their condition, but are not doing them. Fewer than half of their wives think their spouses are actively engaging in activities such as physical exercise, reducing stress or maintaining a positive attitude that would help in the management of their type 2 diabetes. Results also found that the majority of men surveyed (79%) think a walking program in which the number of steps was recorded each day would be a beneficial tool to manage their condition.

Additional findings include:

--  Men with type 2 diabetes were likely to get less enjoyment out of     life, and say that the disease has negatively impacted their sex lives. --  These men also said they noticed a recent deterioration in their work     performance. --  Six in 10 men say that knowing more would help them better manage     their condition --  More than one-third of men surveyed are experiencing four or more     symptoms associated with low testosterone, but surprisingly, 66% of this     high-risk group admitted to knowing little -- if nothing at all -- about     the condition.     

About Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in the United States, accounting for 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. For example, type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders. Type 2 diabetes is also most common in adults over 45, though the prevalence in younger people is on the rise.

About the American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

The campaign and survey were funded, in part, through a charitable contribution from Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Editor's Note: To view or download campaign and survey facts sheets, broadcast standard b-roll and other media assets, visit www.diabetes.org/menshealth.

For more information and to view the National Men's Health Education Campaign Fact Sheet, please visit http://www.firstlinemedia.com/ada/

Video-Link Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=830487

Marketers' Top 10 Wish List for Agencies of the Future

Marketers' Top 10 Wish List for Agencies of the Future

Source: Marketing Vox: Sept 8, 2008

http://www.marketingvox.com/marketers-top-10-wish-list-for-agencies-of-t
he-future-040802/

Greater knowledge of the digital space is at the top of marketers' list
of what they want from their advertising and marketing agencies in the
next 12 months, according to
<http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&new
sId=20080902005147> a Sapient <http://www.sapient.com/> -sponsored
national online survey of some 200 CMOs and other senior marketers,
writes
<http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/marketers-top-10-wish-list-f
or-agencies-of-the-future-5904/> MarketingCharts.

More than a quarter of marketers surveyed said half to all their
marketing is done via digital channels, and nearly 40 percent foresee
that in 12 months from half to all their marketing will be done via
digital channels.

The respondents, all of whom are either directly or indirectly
responsible for managing digital marketing budget allocation across
multiple channels, were asked about the top qualities they sought in
their advertising and marketing agencies in the coming year.

Based on the survey results, Sapient Interactive, Sapient's marketing
services group, issued a Top 10 Wish List for Agencies of the Future:

1. Greater knowledge of the digital space

More than one-third of marketers surveyed said they are not confident
that their current agency is well-positioned to take their brand through
the unchartered waters of online digital marketing and interactive
advertising.

Nearly half (45 percent) of the respondents have switched agencies (or
plan to switch in the next 12 months) for one with greater digital
knowledge or have hired an additional digital specialist to handle their
interactive campaigns.

Regarding an agency's area of expertise, 79 percent of respondents rated
"interactive/digital" functions as "important/very important."

2. More use of "pull interactions"

Nine in 10 respondents (90 percent) agree that to engage consumers with
their brand it is increasingly important that their agency uses "pull
interactions" such as social media and online communities rather than
traditional "push" campaigns.

3. Leverage virtual communities

An overwhelming 94 percent of respondents expressed interest in
leveraging virtual communities (public and private) to understand more
about their target audience.

4. Agency executives who use the technology they are recommending

92 percent of respondents said it was "somewhat" or "very" important
that agency employees use the technologies that they are recommending -
such as Facebook, Flickr, wikis, blogs, - in their personal social media
mix.

5. Chief Digital Officers make agencies more appealing

43 percent of marketers surveyed said agencies with chief digital
officers are more appealing than those without.

6. Web 2.0 and social media savvy

63 percent of marketers surveyed said an agency's Web 2.0 and social
media capabilities are "important/very important" when it comes to
agency selection.

7. Agencies that understand consumer behavior

76 percent of respondents deemed this as an "important/very important"
aspect of their agency's online digital marketing and interactive
advertising area of expertise.

8. Demonstrate strategic thinking

77 percent of marketers surveyed ranked strategy/brain trust
capabilities at the top of their agency wish list.

9. Branding and creative capabilities

67 percent of respondents ranked branding at the top of their agency
wish list while 76 percent ranked creative capabilities as
"important/very important."

10. Ability to measure success

65 percent ranked analytics at the top of their agency wish list.

"Marketers want agencies that can deliver on these demands today - not
by 2009 and beyond," said Gaston Legorburu, chief creative officer,
Sapient. "As the interactive channel becomes increasingly important,
only those agencies that can create, manage and measure multi-channel
campaigns will stay relevant and thrive in an uncertain economy."

About the survey: The Agency of the Future Survey is a national survey
designed to provide insight into what marketers want from their agencies
in the next 12 months. Sponsored by Sapient, the survey was conducted
via email and polled more than 200 respondents, all of whom are either
directly or indirectly responsible for managing digital marketing budget
allocation across multiple channels.

New Survey Reveals Communication Gap Between Healthcare Professionals and Pain Patients

New Survey Reveals Communication Gap Between Healthcare Professionals and Pain Patients

PR Newswire via NewsEdge :

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A nationwide survey found a sizable gap exists between patients and healthcare professionals when it comes to understanding and discussing pain. To address this discrepancy, a new coalition of leading pain management organizations has formed to improve how patients and healthcare professionals communicate with each other.

The Let's Talk Pain Coalition is the first of its kind to unite the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to encourage people to talk more about pain, listen actively, and act in ways that improve care for the millions of people who live with pain. The organizations behind Let's Talk Pain have created a new interactive Web site, http://www.letstalkpain.org, to provide visitors with comprehensive information and tools to help enhance the dialogue between those affected by pain and healthcare professionals.

"Pain is one of the nation's leading public health problems, and it often goes under-treated. It is difficult to diagnose and challenging to talk about," said Dr. Scott Fishman, Chair and President of the American Pain Foundation and Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of California at Davis. "Open lines of communication and strong patient-professional relationships are what healthcare professionals strive for, and in pain management this is absolutely vital. This Coalition is exciting because it aims to help professionals and patients communicate better in order to help improve pain management."

The Let's Talk Pain Coalition debuts this week at the American Academy of Pain Management (the Academy) annual meeting in Nashville, TN. The Academy is one of the founding members of the Coalition along with the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN) and the Coalition's lead organization, the American Pain Foundation (APF). PriCara(TM), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the sponsor of the Coalition.

One of the Coalition's first activities was a national online survey of pain patients and physicians. It revealed the need for an increase in open and direct conversations about pain and highlighted the impact pain has on patients' quality of life. The findings also underscored a disconnect between how patients and physicians are communicating with each other. Additional barriers such as lack of trust and not enough time for office visits can affect communications, and ultimately may influence pain management. According to the survey:

-- Sixty percent of patients strongly agreed that they can be open and honest about their pain with their physician. Yet, the same survey found that less than 10 percent of physicians strongly agreed that their patients tell them the truth about their pain.

-- While the majority of physicians, 97 percent, strongly agreed that there is enough time to discuss pain with their patients, less than half of patients surveyed, 46 percent, felt the same way.

-- Pain has a substantial impact on the lives of patients and interferes with their ability to work outside the home and to exercise.

-- Treatment-related side effects can have a negative impact on the management of pain, causing some patients and physicians to discontinue using pain medicine.

"Having pain is challenging and has significantly affected my daily life, to the point where I have had to stop working," said Andrea Cooper, a Maryland-based artist who suffers from chronic pain and is featured in a video on the Let's Talk Pain Web site. "Pain is an invisible condition. I have learned that the best way to improve my health and my treatment outcome is through engaging in an open and personal dialogue with my healthcare professional and connecting with others to talk about pain."

Andrea's story and the Let's Talk Pain Web site were previewed during the ASPMN annual conference in Tucson, AZ, for pain management nurses this past weekend. Several Web features were highlighted, including:

-- Talk: an interactive section where visitors - pain patients and healthcare professionals alike - can learn strategies for opening up the lines of communication about pain. Housed here are video success stories from real patients and healthcare professionals as well as an interactive Q&A with pain experts.

-- Listen: a clearinghouse of essential, credible information about pain. Here people with pain, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and family members can become familiar with pain terms and conditions as well as learn more about how pain is assessed so that it is easier to start an informed dialogue.

-- Act: a section with up-to-date information on how the Coalition is improving communication within the pain community.

"Let's Talk Pain offers the first pain resource that will effectively equip people to improve how they discuss pain so that the actions taken improve pain outcomes," said Nancy Eksterowicz, MSN, RN-BC, Department of Anesthesiology Acute Pain Service, University of Virginia Health System, and President-Elect of ASPMN. "The pain community has never had one online location for credible information, nor have we had a place where patients and healthcare professionals can connect to learn from each others' experiences."

About the Survey

The Let's Talk Pain Coalition commissioned a national, Internet-based survey of 500 pain patients and 275 physicians treating pain, including primary care physicians, oncologists, pain specialists, neurologists, rheumatologists, surgeons, and psychiatrists. Analytica International, a research firm based in New York, NY, conducted the survey from April 3 to 11, 2008.

American Pain Foundation

Founded in 1997, the American Pain Foundation (APF) is an independent nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving people with pain through information, advocacy, and support. APF's mission is to improve the quality of life of people with pain by raising public awareness, providing practical information, promoting research, and advocating to remove barriers and to increase access to effective pain management. For more information, visit http://www.painfoundation.org.

American Academy of Pain Management

The American Academy of Pain Management (the Academy) is a nonprofit organization serving a broad range of clinicians who treat people with pain through education, information, and advocacy. Founded in 1988, the Academy has approximately 5,300 members and is the largest interdisciplinary/integrative pain organization in the United States.

American Society for Pain Management Nursing

American Society for Pain Management Nursing's mission is to advance and promote optimal nursing care for people affected by pain by promoting best nursing practice. This is accomplished through education, standards, advocacy, and research. Visit http://www.aspmn.org.

PriCara(TM), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. PriCara(TM), Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a major health care company in the United States dedicated to the needs of primary care providers who serve a vital role on the frontline of medicine. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.PriCara.com.

SOURCE Let's Talk Pain Coalition