Oh, poor HMO's, is Michael Moore picking on you? Don't worry - Google is here to help:

The healthcare industry is no stranger to negative press. A drug may be a blockbuster one day and tolled as a public health concern the next. News reporters may focus on Pharma's annual sales and its executives' salaries while failing to share R&D costs. Or, as is often common, the media may use an isolated, heartbreaking, or sensationalist story to paint a picture of healthcare as a whole. With all the coverage, it's a shame no one focuses on the industry's numerous prescription programs, charity services, and philanthropy efforts.

Many of our clients face these issues; companies come to us hoping we can help them better manage their reputations through "Get the Facts" or issue management campaigns. Your brand or corporate site may already have these informational assets, but can users easily find them?

We can place text ads, video ads, and rich media ads in paid search results or in relevant websites within our ever-expanding content network. Whatever the problem, Google can act as a platform for educating the public and promoting your message. We help you connect your company's assets while helping users find the information they seek.

I saw Moore's Sicko last weekend. It was as much of a tearjerker as you would imagine, and the healthcare industry really does take quite a beating. But is it Google's job to defend these companies? I would say probably not, and it's turned out to be a very unwise move anyways. Bloggers are calling for Lauren Turner, the author of the post, to be fired, for Moore to target Google in his next documentary, etc. I enjoyed the film, and I think it has the potential to make a difference (especially in 2008) in America, as long as people use it as a the beginning of a discussion and not as an answer to our healthcare problems. The issue is more complex than, "Let's be just like France."