Vitamin Selected as Saint Agnes Hospital's Digital Marketing Partner

Firm to Use Digital Media To Position Saint Agnes as Healthcare Leader In Baltimore Area

BALTIMORE, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The boutique design-web-public relations firm Vitamin® announced today that Saint Agnes Hospital has retained the firm to design and develop a comprehensive web site combined with search engine marketing, search engine optimization, and brand positioning. The site, which will reflect the hospital's role as a recognized regional leader in orthopedic and spine, cardiovascular, cancer, women's and children's services, plastic and reconstructive surgery and the fight against obesity, is scheduled to launch in early 2011.

The first Catholic hospital in Baltimore, Saint Agnes was built by the Daughters of Charity in 1862. It moved to its present location in Southwest Baltimore in 1906 and is currently undergoing a major campus expansion. Scheduled for completion in the spring of 2011, the Saint Agnes Hospital Campus Expansion Project includes the opening of a new patient tower with 120 private rooms, a new medical office building, renovation of current patient rooms, renovation and expansion of the current Saint Agnes Cancer Institute, expansion of the hospital's existing main lobby, renovation and expansion of the Emergency Department and the expansion of the Chest Pain Emergency Department.

"With the hospital's significant expansion project well underway, we were looking for a local agency with a strong aesthetic capability and a unique understanding of how to translate brand messaging and value to web media. We chose to partner with Vitamin because of their healthcare and human services experience, as well as their successful track record leveraging web usability and web marketing to clearly communicate an organization's key messages," said Kirstan Cecil, director of communications for Saint Agnes Hospital.

Vitamin's relationship with Saint Agnes Hospital began with the design and development of an online presence for Saint Agnes' smarthealth™ program, a medically supervised, comprehensive approach to diet, exercise, lifestyle and mindset. The web site, which is one of three key elements of the program, tracks food and exercise and monitors progress. It was launched in mid-August, and the smarthealth™ program is now fully operational and scheduling appointments for metabolic screenings.

"We are delighted that our partnership with Saint Agnes Hospital has grown to include a comprehensive web site that will be a more accurate reflection of the hospital as a regional leader and an important healthcare resource for the community," said Amanda Karfakis, president/CEO of Vitamin.

About Vitamin

Vitamin, the "Cure for the Common Brand," is the mid-Atlantic's first boutique design-web-PR firm focused on nourishing brands through a best practices, all-in-house approach to creating cohesive identity, print, interactive and public relations programs. Vitamin's client list includes regional and national companies in diverse fields, including built industry, education, healthcare, restaurant/ hospitality, non-profit and search/staffing.

About Saint Agnes Hospital

Saint Agnes Hospital was built by the Daughters of Charity and began meeting the health needs of the poor in 1862. Today, Saint Agnes Hospital, which operates under the umbrella of Saint Agnes HealthCare, is a full-service teaching hospital located in Southwest Baltimore, with residency programs in a number of medical and surgical specialties. Saint Agnes is a member of Ascension Health, the largest nonprofit health care organization in the nation. Ascension Health is dedicated to reaching new heights in health care and service to communities, as well as serving as a model for faith-based health care through the world.

SOURCE Vitamin