Event Planning and Public Relations
Fresenius Kidney Care began an engagement with Baker Public Relations in 2018 in anticipation of the openings of several new dialysis clinics around New York State. Within a nine month span, five new facilities were opened in Troy, Latham, Liverpool, Cornwall and Batavia. Three of these facilities emphasized Fresenius Kidney Care’s home-dialysis options. Our goal through these events was to invite dignitaries, the press, and members of the public into the centers to show them what the provider offers its patients.
Baker Public Relations was brought in to manage all aspects of event planning. This included outreach to elected and healthcare officials, invitation and event flyer design and printing, identification and securing of catering, staging and audio/visual vendors, coordination of membership with the local chambers of commerce, development of press materials and media outreach. Our staff worked with Fresenius Kidney Care’s internal public relations and marketing teams to enhance messaging and outreach efforts.
Each of the four openings presented its own set of challenges and much of the planning for the Liverpool and Cornwall events was done remotely. In an effort to engage the community more directly ahead of the Cornwall opening, Baker Public Relations designed a mailer postcard that was distributed through the postal service to thousands of homes in the Hudson Valley, notifying them of the event. Our teams were forced to scramble at the last minute when a snow storm postponed the opening event by one day, but we were able to quickly alert all vendors and speakers of the change. The event was carried out successfully with a large turnout.
Our efforts have garnered coverage of these facilities on Spectrum News’ “In Focus,” WNYT, News10, Albany Business Review, Times Union, Troy Record, Central NY Business Journal, In Good Health and the Orange County Post.