IV Journal Launches, on the Cutting Edge

Here’s further evidence that vascular access and infection control remain cutting-edge efforts in medicine.

At a time that is witnessing the death of many publications, including several in the healthcare trade media, a new publication covering intravenous care has been launched. Rather than tie itself down to the old paper-publication model, the new IV Journal is online only.

But happily, publisher Andrew Jackson, out of Britain, has created a journal that uses the best of online technology and is also visually appealing. News of the launch can be found here: http://www.ivteam.com/iv-journal-launched. He’s also drawing on contributors internationally.

Here’s how Jackson describes IV Journal:

“This intrepid, innovative new publication acknowledges the rapidly changing nature of intravenous care. Traditional paper based publications are usually bound by subscription restrictions. Intravenous Journal wants to provide a subscription-free online format to provide any IV professional with a unique IV journal experience.”

It’s also worth noting that Jackson publishes the very useful electronic newsletter, IV Team. More about that at http://www.ivteam.com.

PR Spending Rises, Even in Recession

The respected Economist magazine reports that even in this horrible recession, corporate spending on public relations is on the rise.

“According to data from Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS), a private-equity firm, spending on public relations in America grew by more than 4% in 2008 and nearly 3% in 2009 to $3.7 billion,” the magazine writes. “That is remarkable when compared with other forms of marketing. Spending on advertising contracted by nearly 3% in 2008 and by 8% in the past year. PR’s position looks even rosier when word-of-mouth marketing, which includes services that PR firms often manage, such as outreach to bloggers, is included. Spending on such
things increased by more than 10% in 2009.”

Why the rise?

Part of the answer is that PR is so cost-effective, at a time when
everyone is carefully counting dollars. In healthcare, ad dollars have been shrinking because advertising is very costly and far less credible than media coverage and other awareness-building achievements generated by good PR. Moreover, the increasing need for businesses to be involved in social media — where PR shines in delivering the message — also drives investments.