Promotional leave-behinds connect patients to care

Outreach tokens turn awareness into action

By Laurie Frees

Are your flyers doing their job—or ending up in the recycling bin? Read how a healthcare organization switched from flyers to QR code-imprinted promotional leave-behinds. The results may inspire you to try something new.

As a community health network caring for underserved populations, MyCHN opens in new window and the research subsidiary, AIH Research opens in new window, face challenges in getting their messages heard. To raise awareness, they rely on a variety of in-person outreach strategies that include connecting with community members at food banks, school events and clinics to introduce services ranging from primary care and behavioral health to clinical trials that offer access to new treatments at no cost.

For years, traditional flyers helped spread the word about MyCHN’s care or AIH Research’s clinical trials. But flyers don’t easily fit in a pocket or purse and are often forgotten. “A lot of people would take the flyers and just throw them away,” said Mariela Salgado, director of marketing at MyCHN. That led the team to try something different: small wooden tokens imprinted with a QR code on one side and their logo on the other.

Small token. Big conversation starter.

The change was small but effective. Unlike a piece of paper, the promotional tokens feel substantial, encouraging people to hold onto them. MyCHN hands out tokens that direct users to its website, while AIH Research-branded tokens point recipients toward learning more about clinical trial opportunities. For some patients, trials are a no-cost pathway to new medications and treatments before they are widely available.

While the tokens are just one part of a broader outreach strategy, the results have been significant. Since implementation in late 2024, engagement and participation have grown. AIH Research saw clinical trial enrollments rise from 92 in 2023 to 443 in 2025, reflecting increased awareness and stronger patient relationships. “Creating trust with patients is everything,” said Lori Hoskins, clinical trials associate director at AIH Research. “Once they know we’re here to help, they’re more open to learning and participating.”

For MyCHN and AIH Research, the takeaway is clear: When you meet people where they are—and give them promotional leave-behinds with staying power—your message sticks. And when it comes to healthcare access, small changes can make a world of difference.

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