The Main Artery

QR Codes can offer a seamless way to engage patients and prospective patients in a meaningful experience with your brand.

QR codes, or “Quick Response” codes are generating a lot of buzz right now. These matrix barcodes can be read by QR scanners, which can be downloaded as an app on most smartphones. A phone’s camera can scan the code and then direct an Internet browser to the webpage the code is linked to.

Are QR codes just a passing fad or are they an important extension of your marketing efforts?

Consider these possible uses and form your own opinion:

1. Put QR codes on literature in clinic waiting rooms. QR codes allow access to a mobile site even when a patient is already at one of your locations.  Imagine the possibilities for pre- and post-procedure education or serving content on chronic disease management that could then be discussed during a physician appointment.
2. Add QR codes to business cards for physicians, therapists and patient educators. Scanning the code might take a patient to a microsite that has bio and contact information for the person whose card he/she has.  From there, the viewer could easily access more information about that person’s specialty area or go to the mobile-optimized site for your entire organization.
3. Include QR codes for seminars, classes and patient education events on print ads, direct mail pieces, posters, table tents, etc. Including QR-coded hard links to online schedules can eliminate costly printing and provide prospects with updated event information.
4. Imbed a QR code at the top of the homepage on your website. Visitors can use the code to bookmark the page into their mobile phone so that they can easily visit your site later from their mobile phone when they have time on their hands – standing in a line or waiting for an appointment.  You can also use QR hard links to PDF brochures about specific procedures or specialties.
5. Include QR codes in variable data applications on direct-mail pieces. QR codes can direct recipients to more information about topics that are relevant to their particular situation.  They can also link to maps to show facilities that are close to the recipient’s home.

As health care becomes increasingly consumer driven and patients are clamoring for personalized information, it seems like a great time to take advantage of this emerging technology.  Please share your ideas and examples.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 31st, 2011 at 9:20 am and is filed under Apps, Interactive, Mobile. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.