Spectrum Health Recognized for Excellence in Community Service with 2016 Foster G. McGaw Prize
January 18 2017 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Finalists from Dallas, Los Angeles and Toledo,
Ohio, also Honored
In recognition of its cutting-edge programs and services to
reach the underserved residents of Western Michigan, Spectrum
Health is awarded the 2016 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in
Community Service and will receive $100,000 for programs creating
healthier and stronger communities.
As one of the most revered community service awards in
healthcare, the Foster G. McGaw Prize is sponsored by the Baxter
International Foundation, the American Hospital Association (AHA)
and its non-profit affiliate Health Research & Educational
Trust. First awarded in 1986, the annual prize recognizes the
achievements of hospitals and health systems and inspires strong
partnerships that significantly improve the health and well-being
of their communities.
Spectrum Health is a non-profit, integrated health system in
Western Michigan providing a full continuum of care. Its community
outreach arm, known as Healthier Communities, responds to the most
pressing needs by formulating innovative programs to address
specific health challenges and then collaborating with other
organizations to address them.
“Since 1997, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities has built the
infrastructure, resources, community-based programs and services to
reach the people who need care the most,” said John O’Brien, chair
of the Foster G. McGaw Prize Committee. “Through impactful
alliances with community organizations, Spectrum Health has shown
incredible perseverance, patience and a vision to dramatically
improve the health of individuals in their communities and reduce
healthcare costs.”
“We are honored to be recognized by the Baxter International
Foundation and the American Hospital Association for our work to
empower vulnerable populations and increase access to care,” said
Richard C. Breon, Spectrum Health President & CEO. “The Foster
G. McGaw Prize represents significant national recognition of our
mission to improve the health of the communities we serve. The
award also recognizes the power of collaboration. Healthier
Communities is successful due to dozens of community partners
coming together to carry out this challenging yet tremendously
rewarding work.”
Spectrum Health Healthier Communities’ three areas of focus
include maternal and infant health, children’s health and
preventing and managing chronic disease through such initiatives
as:
- Strong Beginnings Program –
Eight area agencies work together to improve maternal-child health
and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes. The
program, which offers outreach, case management, education, mental
health services and a fatherhood program, has helped to
significantly reduce the infant mortality rate in the county.
- Community Partnerships for Wellness
and Access to Healthy Food – Programs specifically tailored to
children and minority populations offer health screenings,
coaching, fitness and nutritional support. In addition, four
independent community agencies collaborate to provide healthy foods
to underserved and impoverished individuals.
- School Health Advocacy Program –
A partnership with seven local school districts serving nearly
29,000 students to provide first aid, medication administration,
tracking/facilitating immunizations, care for chronic health
conditions and communicable disease prevention. In less populated
areas, telemedicine services are provided.
- Core Health Program – A chronic
disease management program for underserved individuals, reaching
more than 2,500 community members to date, that has demonstrated a
measurable impact by achieving the Institute for Healthcare
Improvement’s Triple Aim goals – a framework that describes an
approach to optimizing health system performance.
Through programs like the Foster G. McGaw Prize, the Baxter
International Foundation continues to recognize and celebrate
health organizations that support an integrated approach to better
and more easily accessible care.
“The Foster G. McGaw Prize recognizes healthcare organizations
that serve as role models for taking a synergistic approach to
improve the health of the people in their communities. This year’s
winner and finalists offer wide-ranging programs to meet the needs
of their vulnerable populations,” said Stacey Eisen, president of
the Baxter International Foundation and vice president, global
communications at Baxter. “Through involved leadership, dedicated
staff and community collaboration, they significantly improve the
lives of the patients they serve and the communities in which they
operate.”
2016 Finalists
Three Foster G. McGaw finalists also were recognized for their
significant community health programs and will each receive
$10,000. These finalists include:
- Children’s HealthSM, the
leading pediatric health system in North Texas, for its unique
approach in using a cross-sector coalition to improve the health
and well-being of children in the community.
- ProMedica in Toledo, Ohio, for
establishing numerous community health programs for low-income
residents, including collaborative approaches to tackling hunger
and peer abuse.
- White Memorial Medical Center in
Los Angeles, Calif., for its dedicated prevention programs,
including healthy eating and interventions for pregnant and
post-partum women, as well as advancing a health careers program to
ensure sustainable health among all members of the community.
Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in
Western Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the
Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 12 hospitals,
including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; about 180 ambulatory and
service sites; more than 3,200 physicians and advanced practice
providers, including about 1,400 members of the Spectrum Health
Medical Group; and Priority Health, a health plan with about
752,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest
employer, with 25,200 employees. The organization provided more
than $326 million in community benefit during its 2016 fiscal year.
Spectrum Health was named one of the nation’s 15 Top Health
Systems—and in the top five among the largest health systems—by
Truven Health Analytics™ for 2016. This is the fifth time the
organization has received this recognition. Learn more at
www.spectrumhealth.org.
The Foster G. McGaw Prize
Celebrating more than 30 years of honoring excellence in
community service, the Foster G. McGaw Prize recognizes healthcare
organizations that are committed to community service through a
range of programs that demonstrate a passion and continuous
commitment to making communities healthier and more vital. The
prize, first awarded in 1986, inspires hospitals, health systems
and communities to assess and implement programs that improve their
communities. For more information, visit www.aha.org/foster.
The American Hospital Association
The American Hospital Association is a not-for-profit
association of healthcare provider organizations and individuals
that are committed to the improvement of health in their
communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members,
which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks
and other providers of care. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides
education for health care leaders and is a source of information on
health care issues and trends. Its not-for-profit research and
education affiliate, the Health Research & Educational Trust,
aims to create new knowledge, tools and assistance in improving the
delivery of healthcare by providers and practitioners within the
communities they serve. For more information, visit
www.aha.org.
About Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation
Baxter and the Baxter International Foundation are committed to
saving and sustaining lives and creating healthier communities.
Every day, Baxter employees strive to make a meaningful difference
in the lives of people who depend on Baxter products, and in the
communities where employees live and work. The company focuses on
three core areas including improving access to healthcare;
fostering tomorrow’s innovation and serving its communities. Baxter
works closely with public and private partners around the world to
ensure people have access to the healthcare they need, to develop
the next generation of innovators who will lead the way in
advancing care, and to create long-lasting impact in Baxter’s
communities. The Baxter International Foundation supports
initiatives and organizations that make a positive, lasting impact
on increasing access to healthcare for the disadvantaged and
underserved.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005095/en/
Beth Cranson, Spectrum
Healthelizabeth.cranson@spectrumhealth.org616-391-2603orSamantha
Dean, American Hospital Associationsdean@aha.org202-626-2264orJori
Fine, Baxtermedia@baxter.com224-948-5166
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