"So, Josh, what do you do for a living?"

I pause for a second, thinking about the weirdness of the previous week's work.

“I’m in healthcare marketing, but it's a lot more than writing press releases," I say.

A lot more. A sampling from my week’s Outlook calendar could look like:

• Validate exterior signage at new hospital site
• H&R Block "Last Baby of the Year" promotion
• New logo rollout employee celebration
• Physician Services Team update

This isn't considered outside the “realm” of healthcare marketing, but it’s not the industry to be in if you’re interested in consistency or a static list of responsibilities. Last week, I received a call from Michael Schwartzberg, the media relations manager at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. When I called him back, his out-of-office voicemail alert forecasted a three-day schedule of special events/seminars/summits that gave me a warm fuzzy feeling when I heard it.

A brother. He understands.

He later shared with me his complete project list, which, looked surprisingly familiar. A sampling: Attend an H1N1 summit, pitch a news story about "ED Red & Yellow Alerts," work on the “Best Places to Work” designation. He said the department motto is “Something Different Every Day.”

Yup.

Healthcare, like many industries right now, is strapped, so it isn’t the time to be questioning why the Marketing/PR person is walking around a new hospital site, wearing a construction helmet and steel-toe boots, discerning the exact location of a “Toilet” sign.

Rather, let's be happy that:
a.) We have a job.
b.) It’s one that offers a constantly evolving menu of responsibilities.

I’d love to hear what some of your “other duties as assigned” are or have been. I know you have them, and you're among friends, so please share.