It’s impossible to tell the story of Medicom Health, and the evolution of health risk assessments, without including Barb Goergen. As a co-founder of Medicom Health, Barb has experienced significant transitions and been integral in leading through evolutions to what the company is today. Health assessments are often the first product that comes to mind in the Medicom Health platform, but it hasn’t always been the case. Nearly 20 years ago, work was primarily to create interactive programs for large pharmaceutical companies and national medical associations, like the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association and National Cancer Institute. However, even before that, Barb’s interest in medicine was personal.
As a child, Barb witnessed her mother suffer from a serious illness and while that was challenge at a young age, it also solidified her desire to study science, math and English. In Fourth Grade, she got her first microscope and since then, has progressed into a degree in Laboratory Medicine from the University of Michigan. From there she moved to Madison, WI, doing training and education for the American Red Cross, running a graduate-level program leading the School for Blood Bank Technology, and eventually shifted to tech as an assistant IT director. While sparking an interest in technology, the position had Barb missing education and she eventually brought in fellow co-founder, Tony Huth, to develop Medicom Health Interactive, a company focused on interactive computer programs for doctors and patients around multiple health conditions.
Throughout the years, the company added employees, including Barb’s husband John as CFO. After the economy slowed, decisions were made to shift away from producing educational CDs and toward a software-as-a-service model. This led to the development of online HRAs for marketing health system services. Barb took the lead on medical research and design and was integral in bringing top-tier assessments to market. “The best part of my work is watching, with pride, how our employees and Medicom Health have grown and thrived for the past 19 years!” Today the evolution continues as Rx Savings Assistant rolls out to market, helping ensure medication adherence, increasing pharmacy revenue, decreasing readmissions, and improving the patient experience.
FUN FACTS
- Barb attended 6 different elementary schools! Born in Detroit, Michigan, spent 3 years in West Virginia, moved to Jackson, Michigan; Ann Arbor Michigan; Madison, Wisconsin; and then to Minnesota where she has remained.
- Loves watching the Voice, Twins baseball and Michigan football/basketball games.
- Spends time travelling, attending concerts and plays, boating, and playing with 4 grandchildren.
- Work/Life Motto: “Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” — Julia Child
Bridget Thomas
Growing up in a family of providers to critical access hospitals, she took note early on of the importance of quality healthcare and proper outreach. From there she went on the work as a marketing manager for a small system in south central Wisconsin, eventually moving into clinic management and liaison work.
In 2014, she shifted gears to the SaaS-vendor side of healthcare and spent years in the CRM space, where she worked remotely doing client work, running trainings, and developing relationships. A good portion of her time is spent face-to-face with clients talking through operational hiccups, ways to best target consumers, appropriate use of budgets and most importantly – how to measure effectiveness of marketing dollars.
Bridget has a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, M.A. in Public Relations from Webster University and an M.A. in Counseling from Lakeland University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development, and Forum for Healthcare Strategists.
Latest posts by Bridget Thomas (see all)
- Barb Goergen: Turning Experience Into Purpose - July 1, 2019
- Tips & Support:Putting HRAs to Work in Your Marketing Campaigns - June 5, 2019
- Health Awareness:Stroke Risk is about more than being F.A.S.T. - April 30, 2019