Creating a real community via the virtual world

After a water main broke near Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, NY, this summer, each department found out just seconds after the hospital leaders were notified. No, the entire building didn’t flood that quickly—administrators sent out a desktop alert to all hospital computers via the organization’s intranet.

The intranet is at the heart of the organization’s internal communications plan, says Bob Allen, vice president of communications & governmental affairs at Crouse.

Like Crouse, many hospitals are beginning to integrate new media—whether it is an intranet or a page on a social networking site—into their internal communication program. Online outlets allow hospital leadership to spread news faster, increase transparency, and build a community.