Volunteer Service Improves Morale; and Markets Your Center Effectively

You’re busy. There aren’t enough hours in a day. The thought of adding to your task list may seem daunting, especially if you’re adding a task that, perish the thought: doesn’t add immediate revenue. Gasp!

Regardless, adding community events to your to-do list can be worth it in the long run. Such events usually bring employees closer and increase morale. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons to reach out to the community, however, is that it’s an excellent form of marketing.

Plus, it’s an investment in the community, says William Wenmark, president of the National Association for Ambulatory Care (NAFAC), and retired founder of NOW Care Medical Centers.

Community outreach is an “invaluable” way to keep your name at the top of people’s options, Wenmark said. “Competition in many markets is intense, so getting your name associated with healthy lifestyles and convenient treatment is an excellent investment of even a limited marketing budget,” he said.

Volunteer work is great for new centers too.

“When you have hired your staff but do not have your facility open, plan a number of these events for your staff at many locations and events,” Wenmark added. “You can give them a convenient, interesting service and tell your prospective customer about your new center and when it will be open.”

Volunteering: the Rocky Mountain Culture

The staff of Rocky Mountain Urgent Care understands the message loud and clear. There are seven urgent care facilities in the Rocky Mountain family, all of which are in the Denver/Boulder area. The staff members of each facility participate in many community service events.

They provide first aid at races, tournaments and festivals, hold free flu shot clinics, donate gifts to families during the holiday season, and participate in health fairs. All full-time employees are encouraged (but not pressured) to join the Rocky Mountain Urgent Care Employee Choice Program. Everyone in this program enters an annual drawing and whoever’s name is picked gets to select a charity that the rest of the company will support for one year through time and fundraising.

In 2007, the winning employee chose the American Diabetes Association, and in 2008, the winner chose the largest animal welfare organization in the Rocky Mountain region, said Kelly Moynan, community outreach director for Rocky Mountain Urgent Care.

“We have continued to stay active with the community and expand the levels on which we involve our staff and company,” Moynan said. “We truly feel it benefits everyone involved from our staff to the organizations we work with to the recipients of the time and money we donate.”

The staff’s community involvement started when the first center opened. The first activity they took part in was to set up and volunteer at a first aid station for a 5K run.

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