Press Releases: National
July 22 , 2005
“Thrive” Ad Campaign Changing Consumer Perceptions of Kaiser Permanente
New Ads Continue to Advocate Healthy Lifestyle: “Be Your Own Cause”
OAKLAND, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente's innovative "Thrive" advertising campaign continues with the launch of new ads for the second year beginning July 25th in California. The second round of "Thrive" consists of new television and radio ads, and billboards including a Spanish language version, "Viva Bien".
Continuing the theme of total health and well-being in order to live full happy lives the new television ads will show one man's journey as he takes his first uncertain steps toward living a healthier life, a reinterpretation of the signs in our daily lives, and a belief that individual change can lead to societal change. Magazine, newspaper, and radio will focus on everyday things that people can do to improve their health. "Thrive" billboards will remind commuters to eat their fruits and vegetables and when necessary, "chill" as a way to maintain total health.
The goal of the "Thrive" campaign has been to raise awareness of Kaiser Permanente in the minds of consumers and purchasers, and to increase their willingness to consider Kaiser Permanente as their health care provider. After the debut of the ads last year, the "Thrive" ads are now in the top 10 percent of all health and health insurance advertising in terms of recognition, making the connection between the ad and Kaiser Permanente, and likeability. Research also shows the campaign has already significantly changed consumer perceptions, showing an increase in non-members' perceptions of Kaiser Permanente as "being serious about proactively keeping people healthy, and making you feel secure that your health care needs will be met."
"We want consumers to understand who we are and what we stand for," said Bernard Tyson, senior vice president, brand strategy and management. "The success of the message of health and prevention can be measured in how it has galvanized our employees, physicians, and the marketplace. "Thrive" is now the rallying cry for how we care for our members. When we say 'may you live long and thrive' we really mean it."
"Thrive" has become the lens through which wide-ranging Kaiser Permanente initiatives are framed, among them:
- KP HealthConnect - this electronic initiative underway integrates patients' clinical records with appointment, registration and billing. This electronic system will be able to monitor preventive-care measures for each patient and provide health reminders to patients and providers.
- Food Policy - Work is underway to become a model for the industry and the nation promoting healthy food choices in inpatient food services, cafeterias, vending machines, food carts and catered meals.
- Farmer's Markets - Twenty-five Kaiser Permanente facilities in Northern and Southern California, Hawaii, Colorado, and Georgia have established on-campus farmer's markets offering healthy produce to employees and members. More are in the planning stages.
- Health and wellness classes provide instruction in exercise, yoga, tai chi, smoking cessation, mindfulness, stress reduction, and many other topics. Special programs managing chronic diseases are also offered to members with diabetes, heart disease and asthma.
- Healthy Eating, Active Living Community Benefit programs devote several hundred million dollars in services and funding to community organizations to promote the overall health of communities in which Kaiser Permanente is located.
- Educational Theatre - A new production "The Amazing Food Detective" has been developed with the California Nutrition Network teaching healthy eating habits to elementary school-age children.
- Research - Kaiser Permanente's Garfield Memorial Fund has directed $2.4 into eight new weight-management projects.
- Online Health Tools for weight loss, nutrition, stress reduction and smoking cessation are now available.
Campbell-Ewald, the nation's sixth largest advertising agency, based in Detroit, is the creative team behind "Thrive".
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
