Carle Foundation Hospital & Health Alliance Medical Plans Choose MARC USA as Agency of Record

CHICAGO, Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Carle Foundation Hospital and Health Alliance Medical Plans have chosen the Chicago office of MARC USA as their agency of record. It is the first time that both of the health care brands will have a single agency working on all marketing initiatives.

Carle Foundation Hospital, a 325-bed regional care hospital, was named one of the nation's 100 Top Hospitals by Thompson Reuters in 2011. Also this year, for the second time in two years, the Most Wired Survey cited Carle among top hospitals that continue to improve adoption of technology to manage health information and patient care. Carle's services include the Urbana area's only Level I Trauma Center, Level III perinatal care and advanced diagnostic and treatment options from the Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Cancer Center, Carle Spine Institute and Carle Heart and Vascular Institute as well as a 325 member Physicians Group.

Health Alliance Medical Plans, a 330,000-member offering of Carle Foundation, provides coverage to individuals, groups and self-funded business in the region.  The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings, 2011-2012, ranked Health Alliance as the number one health plan in Illinois and Iowa for its Private (commercial) plans. Health Alliance also earned the highest ranking in Illinois for its Medicare HMO plan.

Mike Billimack, VP of Strategic Planning and Marketing for Carle Foundation Hospital, reported, "We chose MARC USA on their strong track record of marketing success for both hospitals and health plans. As a health system known for innovation and technological advances, we were looking for an equally innovative marketing partner."

Jane Hayes, SVP of Corporate Communications at Health Alliance Medical Plans, added, "MARC USA brings us a deep understanding of consumers. With their in-depth knowledge from a healthcare and a broader marketing perspective, their expertise and ideas stood out from the others in the pitch."  

MARC USA will partner with Carle Foundation Hospital and Health Alliance Medical Plans to develop a new brand positioning and information architecture for campaigns that will cover multiple lines of the business. The new campaigns for both brands are scheduled to be in market between Q4 2011 and Q1 2012.

"Both Carle and Health Alliance are well known for their high level of quality as well as their innovation in the healthcare space.  They are ideal additions to MARC USA, and we are looking forward to helping them build their brands through integrated solutions across multiple channels," said Jean McLaren, Chief Marketing Officer, MARC USA.

About MARC USA (www.marcusa.com)

MARC USA is a national full-service integrated marketing communications firm known for creating game-changing business solutions through big ideas, insight and the creative application of new technology. With offices in Chicago, Miami and Pittsburgh, 200 employees and more than $300 million in annual billings, it is one of the largest independent agencies in the country. Services include advertising, strategic planning, research, public relations, social marketing, media planning and buying, interactive marketing, direct and customer relationship marketing and sales promotion. 

About Carle Foundation Hospital and the Health Alliance Medical Plans

Based in Urbana, Ill., The Carle Foundation is the not-for-profit parent company of an integrated network of healthcare services. At its core are Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Physician Group and Health Alliance Medical Plans. The 325-bed regional care hospital has achieved Magnet® designation, the nation's highest honor for nursing care. It offers a more advanced level of clinical expertise and technology than any area hospital, housing the area's only Level I Trauma Center as well as Level III perinatal services. The Hospital admitted more than 19,900 patients and treated more than 56,700 patients in the emergency room during 2009. The Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Cancer Center, Carle Spine Institute and Carle Heart and Vascular Institute bring additional advanced diagnostic and treatment options. Carle Physician Group, the outpatient practice serving more than 200,000 unique patients annually, is comprised of more than 300 physicians dedicated to providing the highest quality care in 50 specialties located in nine communities across central Illinois. Health Alliance Medical Plans, Inc. is a licensed health insurance provider ranked among the nation's top 50 health plans by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, administering coverage for 330,000 members. Also among the corporate entities are the philanthropic arm, The Carle Development Foundation, and nine healthcare related businesses that provide residents a complete array of quality health services. As an integrated system, Carle remains a committed partner in strengthening the health and well-being of the communities we serve.  

SOURCE MARC USA