Project Description
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland: South Patient Tower Grand Opening
We divided responsibilities between our account professionals with half of the team focusing on special event management and the other half focusing on media relations. We met with the client to determine the goals and vision for the grand opening festivities, and then we developed a campaign to meet those objectives.
Our team served as the liaison between St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and all outside vendors. We monitored progress on all initiatives, ensured we remained on budget, and provide regular status updates to the client.
Recognizing the attention to detail needed for special events, our team participated in weekly planning meetings at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in the months prior to the grand opening, providing input on scripting and logistics for tours of the new South Patient Tower during the physician, colleague, office manager and community open house events. We also worked on-site at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in the week leading up to the grand opening to oversee set-up and logistics of all events. We brought our laptops and mi-fi hotspots so we could stay in touch via email, and also work directly with vendors ensuring each event was executed accordingly to plan.
Throughout the series of grand opening events, we participated in daily team meetings with nearly two dozen departments. We made split second decisions when modifications were needed to the special event execution, such as increasing the menu offerings, coordinating needed audio/visual changes, and serving as tour guides to supplement gaps left by volunteers reassigned to other roles. Our familiarity with all aspects of the new South Patient Tower at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland made our last-minute role as tour guides a seamless transition.
Our team drafted all press kit materials, showcasing that the new South Patient Tower was the most technologically integrated healing environment in the country designed to improve patient safety, clinical quality and provide an exceptional patient care experience. We also highlighted the hospital’s Healing Arts Program, and the overall financial investment made by the hospital. We conducted media relations to TV, print, radio and online news outlets. Prior to the grand opening, we hosted a media hard hat tour, showcasing the state-of-the-art facilities.
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland was effusive in its praise of our team. Marx Layne was complimented for its efficiency, professionalism, and willingness to go above and beyond to meet the ever-changing needs as events were in progress. Equally important, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland had extreme confidence in our capabilities and professionalism, and felt they never had to worry about any details under our purview. Marx Layne also generated significant high-profile media coverage about St. Joseph Mercy Oakland’s financial investment, state-of-the-art technology, and dedication to patient care, the hospital’s three key messages for the grand opening.