Wayne Memorial Hospital rolls out new website
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 14, 2010 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/MICHAEL BETTS
Lori Cole, director of information technology at Wayne Memorial Hospital, shows the hospital's new website to Chemistry Supervisor Kimberly Varney, left, hospital President J. William Paugh and RN Heather Raczkowski during the hospital's website launch celebration.
Wayne Memorial Hospital is taking a page from technology, in an effort to refresh its image in the community.
In recent weeks, billboards and newspaper ads have been popping up, hinting that something is "coming soon" to Wayne County and directing the public to the website, www.comingtowayne.com.
"What we're really trying to do is take a fresh look at our web page and how much information and what type of information we have on it," said hospital President William Paugh. "We're trying to make it more interactive if you will. We have a lot of interaction internally, but this is trying to make it more user-friendly."
Earlier in the week, Paugh announced the effort to the board of directors. It was rolled out to staff and employees on Friday.
"We're trying to get people to go to that general website that will be introduced next week," he told the board. "Effective Sunday (today) it will take you automatically to the new Wayne Memorial website."
The ultimate goal, he emphasized, is to entice the public to utilize services locally.
"What we're trying to do is freshen what we're doing and get the word out to the community that you really don't need to leave this community to get quality care," he said.
In addition to providing links to services provided at the hospital, the updated site will include employment opportunities and information on the medical staff, as well as patient stories and what to expect as a patient or a visitor, a kids page and a section on how to find a doctor.
"We're just trying to make sure the community has access or knows more about the resources that we have available to serve them," Paugh said. "It really ties back into the theme that we have, LiveWell."
The moniker is consistent with the recent name change to the hospital's monthly publication, formerly known as Post Script, as well as the hospital's weekly radio program.
"There's a consistency there in terms of trying to tie all of our outreach efforts and community education efforts under a common banner that's easily recognizable," he said.
In the days leading up to the unveiling, computer users could type in comingtowayne.com and get a glimpse of the new website.
Today marks the official shift, with an automatic link guiding users to www.waynehealth.org.
Ultimately, it's another way to offer information about improving one's health while at the same time building on the access to care model, starting with the hospital's online presence.
"We're trying to make sure that people really understand and know the capabilities that we have here and can avail themselves to services in the community," Paugh said. "It really will accentuate some of the things that are near and tell you our heart is how we take are of people. We pride ourselves on providing that special touch.
"If you can get access to the latest in technology and the latest in things clinically and still have it done in a local hometown-friendly atmosphere, then I think we're doing our job."