Medical marketing hospitality

The medical and hospital product market includes surgical caps, gowns, dressing tapes, bandages, and patient drapes. A wide variety of adhesives are used including hot melts, water-borne and some natural and synthetic rubber. The polymers used are acryhcs, polyvinyl ether, rubbers, and vinyl acrylie esters. The adhesives must show good adhesion on various materials and rough surfaces, allow moisture vapor transmission, have low odor, have clean removal, and must not irritate the skin. 

It was over 20 years ago, but I can still remember vividly my first exposure to pharmaceutical marketing. I had joined Merck Sharp Dohme one week earlier and as my boss was away, I was sent to represent the medical group at a planning meeting for the launch of a new non-steroidal. I had spent part of my hospital training in rheumatology and was confident that I could hold my own at the meeting. 

Although somewhat justifiable for certain hospital and medical products, these are very hazardous in wastes. This practice should be reevaluated. Other throw-away items, such as pens and cameras are designed because of marketing motivations and contribute to the waste-disposal load. 

About the Authors Dr. Farmer is Associate Professor of Pharmacy Administration at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy. He received a B.S. in pharmacy and Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Farmer has experience in retail and hospital pharmacy practice settings and marketing research in the pharmaceutical industry. He teaches courses in U.S. health care systems and policy, financial management, and pharmaceutical marketing. Dr. Farmer s research is focused on issues related to medication adherence and health and economic consequences of health and medication health care policies. 

The size of laboratory medicine has become quite considerable, comprising tens of thousands of laboratories in Europe alone not counting near -patient examination sites in clinical departments, hospital wards, and general practitioners offices. The expenses for all these activities are around one-twentieth of the costs of health services in industrialized countries, and the global market of in vitro diagnostic medical devices is now about 25 thousand million a year. 

Once employer-sponsored health insurance began to cover more people in the U.S., it became increasingly popular. As medical expenses increased, insurance became a greater necessity. Expanded insurance coverage increased compensation without additional taxes, and it provided vital financial protection if hospitalization was necessary. The benefits to employers became codified as well. The Revenue Act of 1954 defined employers contributions to health plans as tax-exempt and clarified that these were deductible business expenses. Recognizing that the burgeoning system was leaving out many workers. President Eisenhower proposed, but failed to achieve, market reforms in 1956. 

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