Excela Scores Rare Quintuple Healthcare Win

Excela Health is taking an aggressive approach to fighting the flu bug. The healthcare system, based in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, has introduced new safety measures to protect patients and prevent the spread of influenza.

The flu vaccine will be provided free to all Excela employees, physicians, and volunteers. Plus, the healthcare system’s “Mask On” program will require any individual involved in patient interactions that decline the vaccination to wear a mask during flu season.

Excela scores a PR win with the program and becomes a leader in an easily understood patient care area. I’m sure some physicians and employees might complain a bit and possibly attempt to spread some negative word of mouth. But I’m guessing the healthcare system will win in the court of public opinion.

Excela Health’s press release included this quote from Latrobe pediatrician David A Wyszomeirski. “The benefit is four-fold. The vaccine protects those who receive it from getting the flu, which as we know can last five to seven days with moderate to severe symptoms. It protects people who have health risks, such as the elderly, or those with chronic medical conditions. It decreases hospital admissions, which saves on health care costs globally, and locally, it benefits our community when health care workers are healthy, and not needing time off to recover from something that can be avoided. That’s a quadruple win.”

In this highly competitive healthcare marketplace, gaining positive PR by taking a proactive stance is a smart move and actually could make it a quintuple win for Excela.