Wii helps the cause in bidding war for patients

[Star Tribune, January 01, 2010] In the game of economics, health care systems deploy increasingly sophisticated marketing strategies. One is even giving away Nintendo Wii gaming consoles. It's one more sign of rising competition among clinics and hospitals to recruit new patients and retain old ones in a saturated Twin Cities market.

"Fairview and Allina go head-to-head, with HealthEast and Park Nicollet in secondary position, and Mayo encroaching in this space," says Christopher Causey, a Twin Cities health care strategy and marketing consultant.