Tampa General Hospital "blows the whistle on violence"

At Tampa General Hospital, the professionals in the marketing and media relations department know how to stage a press conference and to get the attention of the media. It goes to the adage when you're buying real estate: location, location, location. Once the journalists were assembled, Tampa General launched its campaign to fight street violence: "Blow the Whistle on Violence." Their timing was aided by the release of the FBI's annual Preliminary Crime Report citing Tampa as the second most dangerous city in which to live. Tampa General's news media specialist Stacey Winn reported that "the day went together just like a puzzle with all the pieces coming together." Those pieces and more are detailed in this issue's cover story on community involvement. Street crime and violence are not unique to Tampa, of course. But with so many victims ending up in Tampa General's emergency room, Winn noted that physicians and nurses felt personally responsible for contributing toward the prevention of cases ending up there. One important element in the hospital's press conference was an appearance by one of the victims of the violence they're striving to prevent. Her appearance and statement to the assembled media representatives significantly enhanced the presentation. "Blow the Whistle on Violence" was a low-cost program with a high return. The potential benefits are enormous.