What is the Health Industry Council? Cont.

Member-driven is a loaded term. First we rely on our members to provide us with topic and program ideas. We want to ensure that our programs are timely and useful so we continuously accept feedback and ideas on trends and important issues. We then rely on members to help bring these ideas to fruition and act as volunteers, helping to organize larger events, recruit speakers, attendees, and sometimes sponsors. Second we rely financially on membership dues and sponsor dollars to provide programming and resources.

How is that a benefit?

Thought leadership is a marketing tool that does not loose value. Contributing to programs that potentially reach hundreds of peers, then continuing the process by working along side other executives to ensure program success, sets the stage for business development. The added benefit of logo placement and advertising as a sponsor of these focused events accelerates your standing as an involved and knowledgeable industry player.

Established to unite sounds like a big task and in order to explain this mandate, I first should tell you how to define the health industry.  In the dictionary, industry is defined as the aggregate of work, scholarship, and ancillary activity in a particular field. This is a perfect lead-in to describe our focus. The Council concentrates on supporting everything the health industry entails from the construction of a building to records management and computer systems, from the hospital physician and the university he attended to the insurer, from the medical device and pharmaceutical companies to the post-acute providers and many more.

We offer these disparate and often isolated segments of the health industry a neutral ground and forum to bridge the gaps.  Because our members contribute to the more than $10.4 billion North Texas (defined as DFW Metroplex and 12 surrounding counties) economy, our potential impact is huge.  We unite our members through education, networking, and strategy solution programs year-round.

How is that a benefit?

The issues being addressed in Washington regarding access, reduction of costs, and improving quality can only be addressed by a community of organizations committed to the delivery of care, working and growing together.  We are ahead of the curve.  Together we can learn from one another, strategically solve issues, communicate more clearly and create valuable allies that will advance the market as a center of excellence.

The final phrase in our stated definition involves promoting North Texas as a healthy market to watch (pun intended), a market to invest in, and a market with recognized quality care.  In the past, the Council has hosted an International Forum that actually brought experts from other countries to DFW to experience the vitality and ingenuity we possess. More recently the internet and social networks have made this face-to-face international interaction obsolete. The Council’s focus now is on promoting our market as a leader and innovator through local, regional, and national publication sources. 

How is that a benefit?

Each member has a story to tell and part of the council’s mission is to help deliver that message. Thought leadership again comes into play as a marketing tool, but this time on a larger scale. We are not necessarily talking about peer recognition, but being part of a large community committed to problem-solving team work, a community with rich resources and an outstanding record.  Sometimes, being identified with success can make one successful.

Participation is key. As we’ve discussed peer recognition, continuing education, business development and publicity as tangible benefits of the Health Industry Council, an organization will never reap the reward unless they are involved and attend.

The Council hosts four main events, one per quarter, and various other task force programs every month. We strive to keep you updated about events through email, LinkedIn and our website, but nothing works better than regular interaction with our staff and other members. We are here as a resource to connect you to the surrounding industry, to make the industry in North Texas a better and nationally recognized market and to manage the change and growth we constantly face as health professionals.