PPB Playbook -Buyers

H ealth care is the top market for promotional products sales, says PPAI research. In 2018, it accounted for 8.5 percent, or $2.4 billion, of total annual distributor sales. Recent data shows there are more than 237,000 physician practices and more than 535,000 active medical doctors in the U.S., according to Statista. Over the course of a year, their offices handle more than 883.7 million patient visits and almost half of these visits are to primary care physicians, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, 84 percent of adults and 93 percent of children have had contact with a health- care professional in the past year. Most medical practices (almost 23 percent) employ two to five doctors but almost 18 percent are solo practic- es, according to Statistica. California has the highest num- ber of active physicians at almost 114,000, with Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania rounding out the top five. The pandemic has mandated significant changes within doctors’offices to ensure health and safety for patients and health-care workers. Practices should post front-door signage with specific instructions for patients and visitors, especially for those with COVID-19 symp- toms, and position a touchless hand sanitizer station inside the entrance. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the average wait time at a doctor’s office was about 20 min- utes. Now, clinics and practices may ask patients to wait in their cars until called but once they enter the building, there should be helpful wall and floor signage to educate them about health, hygiene and recommended clinic procedures and to remind them to social distance when approaching the front desk. Doctors can continue to engage patients by gifting themwith a useful and brand- ed take-home item; some products can be individually wrapped for safety. Doctors’ Offices & Clinics PRODUCT CHECKLIST FOR DOCTORS’ OFFICES & CLINICS ● Acrylic desktop protective shields with or without a window cutout ● Adhesive wall decals with safety reminders ● Antimicrobial mouse pads at workstations ● Antimicrobial pens for signing receipts ● Appointment card reminders ● Bandage dispensers ● Buttons printed with employee’s picture since mask hides it ● Counter mats ● Disposable or promotional face masks for patients who arrive without one ● Educational flyers ● Handwash reminder signs for restrooms ● Headbands with buttons to wear with masks for comfort ● Health-related coloring books for children ● Imprinted directional floor decals, mats and signs ● Magnets imprinted with safety reminders ● Manual or hands-free sanitizer stations at entrances ● Antimicrobial styluses for use with iPads and screens ● Non-contact digital thermometers ● Notepads ● Pill boxes ● Retractable badge holders ● Scrubs for health- care workers ● Silicone bands/lanyards to denote comfort level with others (for example, hugs and touching are OK, it’s OK to talk but not touch, or stay away) ● Single-use, disposable forehead strip thermometers ● Vinyl or acrylic distancing barriers for workstations THE PLAYBOOK TO RESTART BUSINESSES 13