Athens Regional Health Services, one of the leading health care systems in Georgia, has begun using QR codes in an attempt to reach out to patients. The codes are part of a major campaign designed to encourage women to get mammograms. Health screenings can often mean the difference between life and death, especially in the case of cancer, where early detection can save lives. Athens Regional is hoping that the codes will help spread awareness of the importance of screenings for women.
The codes have been appearing in print ads and, when scanned, link to the Athens Regional Medical Center website. Through the site, women can find out information on breast cancer and preventative measures that can stifle the risk of developing cancer. Women can also schedule a mammogram through the site, a service that has never before been promoted through the use of QR codes.
Thus far, the campaign has been a modest success. Courtney Alford-Pomeroy, marketing manager for Athens Regional Medical Center, says that scheduling for mammograms has risen by 15% since the beginning of the campaign. Alford-Pomeroy expects that this trend will continue as more people begin to use smart phones and become more aware of the availability of health screenings.
Athens Regional will be tracking the codes, hoping to glean some information on where and from what printed sources women are scanning the codes. This will allow the Medical Center to fine tune their efforts in reaching out to those more attuned with smart phones.
