Environics
ENVIRONICS COMMUNICATIONS EXPANDS HEALTH CARE CLIE
WITH PULMONARY HYPERTENSION ASSOCIATION (PHA)
Grassroots PR Campaign to Increase Awareness and Improve Lives of People Li
Hypertension
10.13.2009 – WASHINGTON – The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) has
hired Environics Communications to provide national and local grassroots public
relations to help raise awareness of this rare blood vessel disorder and assist PHA
with providing hope and support for those living with the disease.
Approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. are known to have pulmonary
hypertension, in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that
leads from the heart to the lungs) rises above normal levels and may become life
threatening. Pulmonary hypertension is frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
By the time it is accurately recognized and treatment is initiated, the condition has
often progressed significantly.
PHA has a well-established roster of grassroots community advocates, including
patients and health care professionals nationwide. Environics’ PR program,
developed in conjunction with PHA’s in-house team, will assist with grassroots PR
training, strategy and implementation. Environics also will support PHA’s
communications efforts during Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month in
November.
“When we searched for PR counsel, Environics showed a strong track record of
working with health care organizations on awareness campaigns at both a national
and local level,” said Rino Aldrighetti, president and CEO of PHA. “The agency will be
instrumental in helping us enhance our existing community outreach efforts and
communications program to raise awareness among pulmonary hypertension
patients and the medical community.”
“The fact that pulmonary hypertension often goes undiagnosed until the late stages
of the disease demonstrates the critical need for a broad educational campaign,”
said Dave Groobert, general manager of Environics Communications’ U.S.
operations. “We will