Flu Preparedness Program offering latest information on the H1N1 virus

TeleVox Software, Inc., a leading provider of communication solutions for the healthcare industry, today launched its Flu Preparedness Program (www.televox.com/fluprogram), designed to enable health care providers to give their patients the latest information about fighting the Flu and the H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as the swine flu. Doctors can easily communicate with their patients through a variety of methods such as voice, email, postcards and text messages.

The multimedia informational campaign (www.televox.com/fluprogram) includes sample automated messages and scripts, patient education materials and e-mails. The program helps health care professionals quickly and easily implement a flu communication strategy based on messages essential to patients, such as the latest information regarding the disease, ways to prevent it and what patients should do if they think they have the flu.

"There's been much more attention paid to the H1N1 virus than is typical for seasonal strains of the flu, with several health care organizations referring to it as a pandemic," said Scott Zimmerman, business leader for TeleVox. "Some colleges and universities have already been impacted and the President and other government officials have thought enough about the swine flu to publicly address it. With all of this attention, doctor's offices are being impacted by patients seeking additional information. By proactively reaching out to patients and providing them with details about the flu virus itself, prevention and treatment, health care professionals can give their patients the best care."

By combining automated voice, e-mail and SMS communications with more traditional methods such as postcards and in-office printed materials, the program provides multiple communication channels, which is critical for reaching today's patients. Many of the elderly, who tend to be the most susceptible to most types of flu, will respond best to the postcard or to telephone communications. College-age patients tend to respond best to digital communications such as e-mails and text messages. The Flu Preparedness Program allows healthcare organizations to easily customize their flu outreach strategies utilizing the communication elements that best fit the needs and demographics of their patients.