(February 20, 2012)
One program features nurses specially trained in forensic
medicine to come to the aid of sexual abuse victims. Other
programs reach out to homeless people, patients who have no
insurance or children who need to learn healthier lifestyles.
Ten programs-each one exceptional in setting new standards for
giving back to their communities-were named Programs of Excellence
by the Hospital Charitable Service Awards, an annual program
sponsored by Jackson
Healthcare.
At a banquet that was the culmination of the national Hospital
Charitable Service Conference, each program was presented with a
$10,000 investment toward their growth. This year's
conference featured a keynote speech by Julie Trocchio, Senior
Director of Community Benefit and Continuing Care Ministries of the
Catholic Health Association of the United States. The
conference focused on "return on invested giving," which carefully
documents the amount of good a hospital program achieves with
donated funds.
The charitable programs designated "Programs of Excellence,"
were chosen from 197 nominees. They are:
- ARCHES Project, Thomas Jefferson University
Hospitals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Featuring education,
advocacy and screening, the program works to serve community
residents who experience the greatest disparities in health status
and access.
- CARE Maternal/Child Health Clinic, Saint
Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise, Idaho. To meet
medical and cultural needs of the area's refugee community, the
clinic provides prenatal, pediatric and primary medical care and
enhances communication with healthcare providers.
- CFI Lexington Community Fitness Initiative,
Lexington Regional Health Center, Lexington, Nebraska.
Focusing on children in kindergarten though fifth grade, the
initiative teaches nutrition and exercise, and fosters positive
lifestyle changes.
- Diabeticos Saludables (Healthy Diabetics),
Memorial Hospital of South Bend, South Bend, Indiana. Case
managers help "hard-to-reach" diabetics of diverse backgrounds get
treatment and learn about their disease.
- Forensic Nurse Examiner Program, St. Mary's
Hospital, Richmond, Virginia. Specially trained nurses serve
victims of sexual or physical abuse, from the time a crime is
reported through its prosecution with well-focused continuity of
care.
- Healthier Laramie County, Cheyenne Regional
Medical Center, Cheyenne, Wyoming. By providing medical care,
medications and dental services, the program benefits people who
have little or no access to healthcare.
- Homeless Initiative, Cook Children's
Healthcare System, Fort Worth, Texas. The initiative assists
homeless people by furnishing healthcare and education to
strengthen patients' health and allow them to emerge from a cycle
of illness on the streets.
- Memorial FIT Kids Program, Memorial
Healthcare, Owosso, Michigan. Teaching lessons about food and
exercise, the program works to instill good habits with children
before problems develop.
- The Breathmobile Program: LAC + USC Pediatric Asthma
Disease Management Program (PADMAP), Los Angeles County
& University of Southern California Healthcare Network, Los
Angeles, California. Four mobile asthma clinics bring
much-needed regular treatment to low-income children who can't
afford doctors and medicine.
- The Concussion Program, Children's Hospital of
Colorado, Aurora, Colorado. By training coaches and parents
to recognize signs of concussion, the program reduces the risk that
student athletes will get injured again while a head injury is
healing.
"These programs demonstrate an overwhelming compassion for those
in the community who don't have access to adequate and timely
healthcare," said Charles R. Evans, FACHE, Chairman of the Hospital
Charitable Service Awards Program. "They stand out among many
great charitable initiatives by impacting their communities in
tangible, remarkable and unmistakable ways."
Jackson Healthcare instituted the Hospital Charitable Service
Awards in 2010 to identify such programs, share their stories and
make them models for other programs. Jackson Healthcare also
uses the awards to cultivate a community of charitable hospitals
that want to encourage and learn from one another, and establish
best practices.
Each nominee had to demonstrate excellence in at least one of
the following five criteria areas: community impact,
innovation, collaboration, transferability and best practice.