NorthShore issues plea for public responsibility with launch of new ad campaign

In an effort to help stem the continued rise of COVID-19 hospitalizations, NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) has produced a series of public service announcements through the holiday season to encourage the public to wear their mask, watch their distance and wash their hands.

The 30-second television and radio spots feature NorthShore President and Chief Executive Officer J.P. Gallagher and Chief Medical Officer Lakshmi Halasyamani. The spots, available online here, will begin airing in early December across local broadcast networks. In addition, NorthShore will extend the messaging to its digital channels and through community outreach across its footprint, including Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park, Skokie and Swedish Hospitals. The announcements are part of an ongoing campaign including online tools to encourage COVID-19 Safety.

“We are battling a public health crisis and the only way it is going to go away is if the public modifies its behavior. With our new ad campaign, we are hoping to engage in direct conversations with our communities about the individual responsibility we all have to be part of the solution,” said J.P. Gallagher, President and Chief Executive Officer of NorthShore. “Most of what we are seeing in our hospitals is avoidable. We hope these spots clearly communicate how important it is to take action to protect our families and neighbors against this virus.”

In Illinois, hospital and ICU beds are being filled at an exponential rate and one in five hospitalized patients will die of COVID-19. As resources become limited with the rise in cases and hospitals and staff reach their breaking points, NorthShore is calling on the community to do their part to help control the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve.

“The only way we can beat this virus is to stop transmission – and that means taking personal accountability and abiding by public health measures outlined by healthcare experts,” said Lakshmi Halasyamani, Chief Medical Officer of NorthShore. “At NorthShore, the health and well-being of our patients is at the center of every decision we make. We are on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19 for our communities and we need our communities to stay home for us.”