Dear Industry Member, Patients are becoming more involved in treatment decisions. DTC advertising, higher co-pays, higher deductibles, less time with doctors, and the availability of health information have made patients into proactive consumers. For this reason, we are debuting the “Point of Care Marketing Conference (http://www.cvent.com/events/the-new-point-of-care-marketing-conference/event-summary-68ed247aa8a6433b8a9aba71544d7f03.aspx)” this fall.? We invite you to join us on […]
Author Archive | Bob Ehrlich
By Bob Ehrlich
April 19, 2013
Merck Doing it Right
Merck Doing it Right ?Merck has tremendous upside running these ads.” -Bob Ehrlich I really like the Merck shingles ads. They have been on-air for about a year and I apologize for the delayed reaction. I had shingles in my 30?s for a brief time. Just a few pimple like things on my chest but […]
By Bob Ehrlich
March 22, 2013
Very Different Futures
Very Different Futures ?DTC status quo odds…30%, decline… 20%, growth…50%.” -Bob Ehrlich I love science documentaries about the universe and science fiction about what the earth will be like hundreds of years from now. I am a big Fringe fan. Both genres make you think about potential alternate futures. Forecasts are designed usually to create […]
By Bob Ehrlich
March 15, 2013
Doom, Gloom or Opportunity
Doom, Gloom or Opportunity ?There remain massive opportunities for consumer advertising.? -Bob Ehrlich I know the Nielsen spending numbers for latest 12 month DTC spending went down over 20%. We can attribute much of that to drugs going off patent as well as fewer new blockbusters appearing. On the other hand, the decline is in […]
By Bob Ehrlich
March 8, 2013
Provenge and the DTC Dilemma
Provenge and the DTC Dilemma ?Small market drugs can use DTC given high revenue per patient.? -Bob Ehrlich Provenge from Dendreon treats advanced prostate cancer and can prolong life. It is an expensive drug, costing around $90,000 for the three infusions. The clinical studies showed a significant survival increase versus men not treated. The results […]
By Bob Ehrlich
March 1, 2013
The Rise of Self-Screening
The Rise of Self-Screening ?We can use technology to greatly increase disease awareness..? -Bob Ehrlich An announcement that Walmart is testing health kiosks is getting a lot of attention. These kiosks, from Solo Health, will give consumers a chance to self-test eyesight, weigh themselves, take blood pressure, and enter health practices into a computer. We […]
By Bob Ehrlich
February 22, 2013
Study Critical of ED Advertisers
Study Critical of ED Advertisers ?This study…does not… fairly portray the ethics of drug makers.? -Bob Ehrlich A study on erectile dysfunction advertising was highly critical of drug makers. The study was published in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law on 2/15/13. The authors are university professors Dennis Arnold and James Oakley from […]
By Bob Ehrlich
February 8, 2013
Electronic Medical Records and DTC
Electronic Medical Records and DTC ?…It is a potential advertising goldmine.? -Bob Ehrlich More physicians are going digital to keep their patient records. According to the CDC, 55% of offices used electronic records (EMR) in 2011. This number will grow rapidly as more subsidized software is made available. Obviously the government would like to see […]
By Bob Ehrlich
February 1, 2013
Less Care, Better Care?
Less Care, Better Care? ?We need to consider…watchful waiting.? -Bob Ehrlich We live in a wonderful country. I am proud to live here. Some say we have the best healthcare in the world. I hear that a lot when debates on Obamacare air on talk shows. After all, if you have insurance you can get […]
By Bob Ehrlich
January 18, 2013
JAMA Publishes Physician Influence Study
JAMA Publishes Physician Influence Study ?Critics usually blame DTC for these patient requests.? -Bob Ehrlich A study conducted by The Morgan Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital has some potentially controversial results for brand marketers. The study was done via the web with 1891 responding doctors. The study was designed to measure how […]
