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A focus group considers about two dozen new names, many using the word "Regional.'' Hospital officials say nothing is certain yet.
By DAVID KARP
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 7, 2000
TAMPA -- For generations, the sick and the poor have known the city's premier teaching hospital by the name Tampa General Hospital.
But now the private corporation that runs the 877-bed hospital on Davis Islands is considering a way to spruce up TGH's image. The hospital conducted a focus group last week using the Herron Group of Tampa Inc. to test new names for the non-profit hospital.
Officials invited about 10 people to attend a focus group last week at the West Shore office of the Herron Group, a consumer research firm. Participants were paid about $35 for the session, which lasted an hour and a half.
Hospital spokesman John Dunn stressed that holding the focus group did not mean Tampa General had decided to change its name. The hospital's board will be getting a report on the research and will then discuss the findings. Dunn declined to discuss the report's results.
"Changing a name isn't as simple as just changing a name," Dunn said. "Obviously you want to check with people to see how much recognition there is, and also gauge some of the reaction.
"This is a step you take to see if it's worth going any further," he said.
Participants in the focus group said officials threw out about two dozen names; about half with the word "Regional" in it.
Hospital officials want to stress the hospital's regional appeal to help attract more funding from the state Legislature.
Some of the names considered, according to participants, were Bay Harbor Regional Hospital, Tampa Towers Center, and Tampa Regional Hospital.
One option discussed was to keep Tampa General's name unchanged, but add a tag line at the end on stationery and signs. The tag would say: Tampa General Hospital -- Tampa's Premier Regional Hospital.
- Times staff writer David Karp can be reached at (813) 226-3376 or karp@sptimes.com