HME Provider Groups Meet to Improve Advocacy Efforts

WATERLOO, Iowa (November 29, 2018)—In early November, a group of HME industry advocates convened at VGM headquarters in Waterloo, Iowa, for a workshop that shared best practices for digital marketing and social media consumer-focused campaigns, with the goal of advancing grassroots legislative efforts that benefit the HME community.

Sponsored by VGM and facilitated by Cure Medical’s vice-president of marketing Lisa Wells, the two-day Grassroots Advocacy Workshop educated attendees on:

• Best practices for recruiting and engaging consumer advocates who rely on HME products and equipment
• Proven methodologies for deploying HME advocacy campaigns using people-first language, video content and specific social media channels
• Ways to create messaging that drives powerful engagement
• Choosing appropriate imagery that properly reflects HME consumers in an authentic way

Workshop participants included:

• Jenn Wolff, former director of Users First and consumer advocate
• Mickae Lee, NCART
• Ashley Plauché, AAHomecare
• Tom Powers, VGM Government Affairs
• Annette Reasoner, US Rehab
• Rose Schafhauser, MAMES/SWMESA
• Kelly Turner, People for Quality Care
• Lisa Waskow, Essentially Women
• Lathan Ehlers, VGM Marketing
• Mandi Joyner, VGM Marketing
• Lori Stewart, VGM Marketing
• Thea Nicholson, VGM/Forbin

“For the first time in HME history, representatives from all of these industry groups have joined forces to better engage the communities we serve through grassroots campaigns on social media, with a unified intention of advancing legislative efforts that protect and serve our customers and HME providers,” Wells said.

Attendee Ashley Plauché, manager of government affairs at AAHomecare, added, “As a member of the People for Quality Care Advisory Board, we share a passion for educating and activating end users and family caregivers so they can self-advocate for the issues impacting their lives. This workshop gave valuable insight into how we can deepen our connection with these groups and leverage technology to create an even stronger voice on the Hill.”

“This workshop would not have been possible without the leadership offered by Kelly Turner at People for Quality Care, and the generous support provided by the VGM executive team,” Wells said. “We hope to see a revitalized approach to HME advocacy campaigns across the industry and look forward to sharing these best practices with HME providers nationwide.”

Director of advocacy and communication for NCART Mickae Lee noted, “Everyone who attended this workshop is headed home eager to implement a refreshed approach to our grassroots strategy and the way we continue to build our respective networks of advocates. Participants shared an impressive range of perspectives and ideas around the table, and I’m excited to see the resulting impact for our industry.”

Visit peopleforqualitycare.org, aahomecare.org, and ncart.us for more information.