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ICR Westwicke Blog

The ICR Westwicke Blog is designed to deliver information and insights into the ever-changing world of healthcare communications.

AI in Healthcare: Gaining Momentum in 2024

Posted on January 15th, 2024. Posted by

medical records being viewed on a tablet

Artificial Intelligence (AI), instrumental in many healthcare trends of 2023, promises to dramatically gain momentum in 2024, with increased use of transformative technologies that have applications across the healthcare industry, from the way pharmaceuticals are developed and patients are treated to the commercial side of the business.

AI is already used in healthcare for end-to-end drug development, helping to diagnose patients, improving physician-to-patient communication, transcribing and organizing medical files and images, and treating patients remotely. Continue Reading

The JPM Healthcare Media Maze: Crafting a Winning Approach

Posted on November 14th, 2023. Posted by

Pipette adding fluid to one of several test tubes

In less than two months, seasoned investors, influential media, game changing startups and established industry giants will convene at the 42nd Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference. Continue Reading

Don’t Be Caught Unprepared: How to Develop a Crisis Communications Plan

Posted on June 20th, 2023. Posted by

Planning, serious and crisis with business people in meeting for idea, documents and negotiation. Collaboration, data and leadership with employees in office for project management and brainstorming

Any company, no matter how diligent, can find itself suddenly thrust into a crisis due to internal or external factors. Incidents ranging from a product safety recall to a downturn in industry funding or worldwide health emergency have the potential to disrupt operations or threaten a company’s reputation. Stakeholders, whether customers, shareholders, partners or employees, will want to know immediately what happened and how it affects them. In today’s age of social media and instantaneous digital communication, companies need to be prepared to address a crisis immediately before someone else defines what it means for their stakeholders.

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The Value of Choosing the Right Healthcare Communications Partner

Posted on April 26th, 2023. Posted by

Woman doctor shaking hand with businessman in office

In a search for a healthcare communications partner, one public relations agency’s proposal begins to look just like another’s. Smiling headshots, decades of experience, strong communications skills, great media relations programs, all promising great results for a low fee. With so many similarities, how are you supposed to know which one is the best fit for your company?

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Do You Have a Review Process for Public Communication?

Posted on April 4th, 2023. Posted by

Because investor relations and public relations do not have the same audience, the same objectives, and often do not report to the same supervisor within a given company, they frequently work in isolated silos with limited interaction. But there is a need for collaboration between the information “silos” that exist within some organizations, especially in publicly traded companies and private companies preparing for an IPO. For these types of companies, it’s important to establish — and stick to — an internal control process for issuing public information.

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How to Craft Communications as the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends

Posted on March 15th, 2023. Posted by

Restaurant employee wearing mask and cleaning off table with antibacterial spray

In May, the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) that was officially declared more than three years ago will officially end. COVID-19 has killed about 1.1 million Americans and is still responsible for the deaths of between 2,500 and 3,500 Americans every week.

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2023 MedTech Trends: Inflation, Valuation, Labor Market & More

Posted on January 19th, 2023. Posted by

Female lab tech looking through microscope

As the MedTech and broader healthcare investment community returns from the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference and embarks on a new year, our experts provide insight and perspective on the key topics and variables that will influence activity in 2023.

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Disclosing clinical trial data: public or private, the pressure is on

Posted on May 17th, 2022. Posted by

doctor writing info about clinical trial on clipboard

For every healthcare company, public or private, the anticipation of clinical trial data represents an important, high-pressure milestone in its communications planning. For a public company, there is an obligation to disclose data within a reasonable timeframe. For a private company, while there isn’t an obligation to shareholders, there is pressure from private investors, the medical community, advocates, and even patients.

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Learning From Disney: Five Questions to Consider Before Speaking Out

Posted on May 10th, 2022. Posted by

Disney World entrance sign

The Walt Disney Company and its CEO Bob Chapek are paying a high price for staying outside of politics, and then jumping into it. Disney’s entanglements with its employees on one side and Florida’s governor and lawmakers have spilled over with very real implications. Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a bill that strips Disney of its special tax status in the state, a move which will effectively change how the company operates.

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How the Media Can Help Your Business

Posted on April 14th, 2022. Posted by

reporters holding microphones to businessman at press conference

For CEOs and company leaders, interacting with the media isn’t an option — it’s a necessity. The media plays a significant role in telling your company story and shaping your public image. To ensure they tell an accurate story, however, it’s essential to learn how to work with the media and strive to understand how the industry is shifting. 

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Have News to Release?

Find out whether you should file a Form 8-K, issue a press release, or do both by using our easy-to-reference chart, “Form 8K vs. Press Release: What’s the Difference?

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