{"id":6058,"date":"2024-12-05T19:18:16","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T19:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildapricotlive.local\/?p=6058"},"modified":"2025-05-12T05:29:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T05:29:30","slug":"digital-health-canada-case-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/digital-health-canada-case-study","title":{"rendered":"Building a Thriving, Engaged Community: How CommUnity Powers Member Connection and Action"},"content":{"rendered":"

Behind the scenes, hospital administrators and IT pros <\/span>are the ones ensuring<\/span> everything runs smoothly \u2014 and Digital Health Canada<\/a> seeks to educate, connect and empower them. Digital Health Canada is a not-for-profit, member-based organization offering advocacy, professional development opportunities and a place for members to network and build community. Perhaps the largest draw for members is the organization\u2019s variety of in-person events. With smaller regional conferences held throughout the year and one major annual conference, many members join to take advantage of the networking opportunities these events offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

In between conferences, however, DHC needed a way to retain member engagement, foster an online community and provide ongoing professional development opportunities for roughly 700 members. To find out how <\/span>CommUnity<\/span><\/a> has helped DHC fulfill these needs \u2014 and more \u2014 we spoke to DHC Member Programs Coordinator Amanda Delorey. Amanda filled us in on how CommUnity provided the perfect members-only platform to promote upcoming events, share and store webinars and other resources, and host a vibrant online community where conversation and connection thrive. <\/span><\/p>\n

Creating Communities of Action <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

When it came to building an online community, DHC didn\u2019t want theirs to be just another corporate-branded social media. Instead, DHC wanted their community to be a tool for driving change. Amanda envisioned vibrant online spaces where members could gather to exchange ideas, delve deeply into important topics, and even mobilize people to action. The only challenge? These communities weren\u2019t just quiet\u2014they were stagnant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere were two pre-existing communities when I joined,\u201d Amanda said. \u201cOne on diversity, equity and inclusion, and one on nursing. But neither was particularly active. You could see that there were only about 37 group members, which just means that somebody joined at some point \u2014 they followed a newsletter link or something like that. But the groups were mid when it came to actual participation.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The question then became: how could DHC transform passive members into active participants? Amanda knew that CommUnity had the tools to help bring life back into these groups, so she set out to convert \u201clurkers\u201d into contributors. <\/span>Using the platform’s features\u2014polls, forums, and discussion boards\u2014she set <\/span>in motion<\/span> a series of strategies to boost engagement.<\/span><\/p>\n

To start, Amanda began posting a new discussion question each week to encourage members to jump in. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI engage them with questions every week,\u201d Amanda said. <\/span>\u201cPeople comment on the thread<\/span>, <\/span>but <\/span>they\u2019ve also<\/span> started their own threads.<\/span> There are<\/span> a couple of members <\/span>who<\/span> have taken the lead on this, which was a pleasant surprise.<\/span> I had no idea who would step up, but it\u2019s been fun watching the discussion grow.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Building on this momentum, Amanda introduced specialty forums for niche topics, giving members a platform to share ideas and even have their contributions published. \u201cOne of the most popular forums I launched was a working group on an AI and healthcare lexicon,\u201d Amanda recalled. \u201cI prompted members to submit terms, provided them with a structure, and their submissions would be published on our website. People were excited about the opportunity to be featured, and we received 25 pages of contributions. <\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t just one person posting repeatedly \u2014 it was a diverse group sharing their knowledge.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

In addition to creating engaging content, Amanda learned that a little nudge could go a long way. \u201cI did send a somewhat \u2018threatening\u2019 email once, saying that if they didn\u2019t participate, I\u2019d have to remove them from the group,\u201d she said with a laugh. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got 79 actions in one day after that email. Sometimes, you need a little push to get things moving!\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Rather than taking a “set it and forget it” approach, where members join a group only to disengage, Amanda succeeded in fostering an active, ongoing dialogue. With a steady rhythm of new posts to look forward to, members now log in regularly to engage, even creating their own threads and posing new questions. The chance to discuss cutting-edge topics and see their contributions published sparked enthusiasm, while the possibility of being removed from the group encouraged consistent involvement. Amanda’s strategy effectively tapped into CommUnity\u2019s tools to create a dynamic, member-driven space that fosters meaningful connections and continuous engagement, ultimately turning a stagnant community into one of action.<\/span><\/p>\n

Members-Only Benefits<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the key features Amanda repeatedly highlighted during our conversation was the exclusive, members-only access that CommUnity provides. The paywall surrounding the platform isn\u2019t just a barrier \u2014 it\u2019s a strategic choice that benefits both DHC and its members<\/a>. As Amanda explained, “I\u2019ve found that when people don\u2019t pay anything for a membership, they don\u2019t value it as much, so they don\u2019t really engage.” This insight prompted a shift toward maximizing the value of paid membership by offering tangible, members-only benefits that drive both engagement and retention.<\/span><\/p>\n

A standout example of this is the weekly webinar series, <\/span>Webinar Wednesday<\/span><\/em>. Each week, Amanda records a presentation on a topic of interest to the community and makes it available exclusively to members through CommUnity. <\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

“It\u2019s free for members only, and we record it every week. It\u2019s not available on a public platform like YouTube. It\u2019s all private. <\/span>So, if you want to watch a previous webinar <\/span>Wednesday<\/span>, you have to log into the <\/span>CommUnity<\/span>.<\/span> You cannot access it on our website whatsoever,\u201d Amanda shared.<\/span><\/p>\n

This members-only format <\/span>not only protects the content but also<\/span> encourages ongoing participation and engagement.<\/span> By having this content hosted within the app, it becomes an integral part of the member experience \u2014 one that they must log into CommUnity to access.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe weekly webinars are a great way to drive engagement, discussion, and education \u2014 all of which are central to DHC\u2019s mission,\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Amanda explained. Beyond offering value to members, these exclusive webinars create a deeper incentive to join and remain engaged in the community. <\/span><\/p>\n

After each session, Amanda archives the webinar in the app\u2019s resource tab, ensuring members can revisit past sessions at their convenience. New members also gain access to the <\/span>full<\/span> back catalog of webinars, further enhancing the appeal of joining DHC.<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

\u201cSpecific programs tend to drive engagement on our end; people are not spontaneously involved. So, if they have a specific thing to do, then they\u2019re a lot more interested,\u201d Amanda observed. “It\u2019s a great way to run a members-only program and to have it be behind a paywall.”<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the webinars, email plays a pivotal role in maintaining regular communication with members. Through a well-established weekly email schedule, members are prompted to register for webinars and stay up-to-date on upcoming events. This regular communication ensures that members are always aware of key initiatives and allows them to plan their participation in advance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe regular schedule and prompts in the emails really help our members know what to expect,\u201d Amanda said. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost of them are familiar with our initiatives before they even engage with them in <\/span>CommUnity<\/span>.\u201d This consistency strengthens member engagement and helps build anticipation for each event, ensuring a high level of participation when the content goes live.<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Lifting the digital barrier <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

For overworked and overstressed hospital employees, in-person events are more than just a fun getaway \u2014 they\u2019re a highlight of the year, a chance to recharge, connect, and gain inspiration. Understanding this, DHC is dedicated to ensuring its members make the most out of their experience before, during, and after the conference ends.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the weeks leading up to each event, DHC\u2019s <\/span>CommUnity platform<\/span><\/strong> becomes a bustling hub of activity. Members post introductions, share their excitement, and hype each other up in anticipation. The platform provides an exclusive space where members can promote their expertise, highlight their ambitions, and spark interest in their speaking engagements or projects. This level of interaction doesn\u2019t happen on broader, impersonal platforms like LinkedIn, where connections often feel superficial. Instead, <\/span>CommUnity<\/span> fosters meaningful engagement by focusing on shared goals and the unique camaraderie of DHC\u2019s members.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda noted that this pre-event interaction has a tangible impact on the event itself: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen members come to the conference already feeling connected, it changes the entire atmosphere. People are more engaged, more likely to approach each other, and more comfortable jumping into conversations.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

During the conference, connection deepens as members interact in person and continue conversations through the CommUnity app. Members use the app to coordinate meetups, share updates <\/span>and<\/span> keep the excitement going. This digital engagement complements the face-to-face experience, ensuring attendees maximize every moment of the event.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the value of <\/span>CommUnity<\/span> doesn\u2019t end when the conference wraps up. As Amanda put it, \u201cOften, you don\u2019t get a chance to meet someone, or you meet them for two seconds and forget their name. That can be frustrating, but not when you have a chance to reconnect online the next day.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

CommUnity<\/span> provides an accessible post-event hub where members can rekindle missed connections, collaborate on shared ideas, and continue brainstorming.<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

More than just a networking tool, CommUnity bridges the gap between in-person and digital interaction, ensuring that members feel supported year-round. Whether they\u2019re sharing insights from the conference, planning future collaborations, or simply catching up, the platform ensures that connections formed at DHC events aren\u2019t fleeting \u2014 they\u2019re the start of something much more impactful.<\/span><\/p>\n

CommUnity has proven to be an indispensable tool in Digital Health Canada\u2019s member engagement strategy. By combining the power of exclusive, members-only benefits, a dynamic platform for ongoing conversation <\/span>and<\/span> seamless integration with in-person events, CommUnity has created a thriving online community that fosters meaningful connections, sparks discussions, and drives real-world action. <\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda Delorey\u2019s strategic use of the platform \u2014 from weekly webinars and specialty forums to consistent email engagement \u2014 has helped turn passive members into active contributors, ensuring that DHC’s members are engaged, educated, and supported year-round. The result is a community that not only survives between events but thrives, providing members with the tools they need to drive change and stay connected with their peers in the healthcare industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you ready to elevate your own organization’s member engagement? <\/span>Schedule a demo today<\/a> to see how <\/span>CommUnity<\/span> can help you achieve similar results and build an online community that drives action, engagement <\/span>and<\/span> lasting impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking to read more about CommUnity? Check out these resources:<\/p>\n