FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Susan Krieger Bruce Rossman
(616) 391-5541 (616) 391-3706
susan.krieger@spectrum-health.org bruce.rossman@spectrum-health.org
Spectrum Health Healthier Communities Wins Honor
“Commit to Be Fit” Program Named Ludwig Award Winner
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 21, 2010 – The “Commit to Be Fit” wellness program has been selected to receive the 2010 Ludwig Community Benefit Award. “Commit to Be Fit” is a collaborative effort between Spectrum Health and The SOURCE, a nonprofit workforce collaborative organization in Grand Rapids.
The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) presents the Ludwig Community Benefit Award to member organizations that have aided their communities in extraordinary ways. The award is presented annually to health care organizations that demonstrate community benefit by improving the health and well-being of their communities through health care, economic or social initiatives. The award criteria strongly emphasize outcomes that impact the welfare of the communities the programs serve.
The program offers on-site health interventions to employees at area manufacturers, including one-on-one quarterly health screenings, individual consultation in setting health and wellness goals, health challenge events and educational presentations. Employers provide incentives for employees to join the program.
Since 2006, more than 2,200 area employees have enrolled in “Commit to Be Fit.” Since then, 23 percent of the participants quit smoking, 64 percent increased their physical activity, and 98 percent achieved improved blood pressure rates.
“This program is a great example of the difference true collaboration can make in the health of a community,” said Erin Inman, director, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities. “Partnering with area employers to encourage healthier lifestyles benefits everyone involved.”
Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan that offers a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, a collection of eight hospitals and more than 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group, mmpc® and West Michigan Heart—physician groups totaling more than 400 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with nearly 580,000 members. Spectrum Health's 16,000 employees, 1,500 medical staff members and 2,000 volunteers are committed to delivering the highest quality care. The organization provided $79.4 million in community benefit during its 2009 fiscal year. In 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, call Marci Singer at 231.487.4003
Northern Michigan Regional Hospital
Honored for Using Patient Safety Bar-Code Technology
Petoskey, Mich. – May 6, 2010 – Northern Michigan Regional Hospital was recently awarded the Way-Paver Award for being among the earliest hospitals in the country to implement barcode-enabled point-of-care.
The Way-Paver Award was established by The TerraPharma Project in 2006 to honor the exceptional contributions of individuals and institutions that have helped clear the path and accelerate the adoption of barcode-enabled bedside technologies in Hospitals across North America. This year’s Way-Paver Awards were presented on May 6, 2010.
According to the Institute of Medicine, at least one medication error per hospital patient takes place each day while 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries and 7,000 drug-related deaths occur each year in U.S. hospitals. Barcode scanning of patients and drugs at the point-of-care, combined with pharmacy and nursing best practices, prevents harm to patients and saves lives.
Since going live in October 2001, Northern Michigan Regional Hospital caregivers have administered more than 5.5 million doses, prevented nearly 50,000 errors, and avoided at least nine fatalities. The Hospital has fostered the conviction and coined the phrase, "drugs should be given to computers before they are given to patients."
Additionally, Northern Michigan Regional Hospital helped its vendor refine barcode-enabled point-of-care technology in its infancy, setting the bar high for better barcode-enabled point-of-care technology across the industry. As importantly, the Hospital
provided early leadership in identifying and promoting best- barcode-enabled point-of-care practices.
About Northern Michigan Regional Hospital
Northern Michigan Regional Hospital is a 214-bed regional referral center located in Petoskey, serving residents in 22 counties across northern Lower Michigan and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. A medical staff of nearly 200 physicians represents nearly all medical and surgical specialties, enabling full-service care with an emphasis on heart, cancer, orthopaedics, and neuroscience services. Additional information can be found at northernhealth.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, call Marci Singer at 231.487.4003
Northern Michigan Regional Health System Recognized as an American Heart Association Start! Fit Friendly Company
Petoskey, Mich. – April 7, 2010 – Northern Michigan Regional Health System has been recognized as a Platinum-level Start! Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association’s Start! movement for helping employees eat better and move more.
The organization, which had attained Gold-level status the previous two years, received Platinum in 2010 for being a champion for the health of its employees and for working to create a culture of physical health and activity within the workplace. Specifically, the system had a positive outcome in the cost savings category as a result of the implementation of the Transitional Back to Work Program and Ergonomic Evaluation Program with Colleague Health and Occupational Therapy.
“Physical activity and employee wellness are important priorities at Northern Michigan Regional Health System,” said Reezie DeVet, RN, EdD, President and CEO of Northern Michigan Regional Health System. “We are honored and excited to be recognized by the American Heart Association’s Start! movement as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company. We’re committed to providing the best workplace environment possible. This will benefit our employees’ health and produce even more positive results for our company overall.”
As a Platinum-level employer, Northern Michigan Regional Health System offers employees:
· Physical activity options in the workplace including a walking track and a fitness room available 24 hours a day;
· Healthy eating options including only trans-fat free foods in the cafeteria and vending machines and farmer’s markets throughout the growing season;
· Wellness programs including tracking physical activity and weight reduction to promote a culture of wellness in the workplace;
The Health System has also implemented at least nine criteria outlined by the American Heart Association in the areas of physical activity, nutrition, and culture, and has demonstrated measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness.
Because many American adults spend most of their waking hours at sedentary jobs, their lack of physical activity raises their risk for a host of medical problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Employers face $12.7 billion in annual medical expenses due to obesity alone.
“Northern Michigan Regional Health System is proud to be part of a catalyst for positive change in the workforce by making our employees’ health and wellness a priority,” DeVet said.
Northern Michigan Regional Health System is a non-profit organization that is committed to providing patient-centered specialized care to residents in 22 counties throughout northern Michigan and the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. The flagship of Northern Michigan Regional Health System is Northern Michigan Regional Hospital, a 243-bed, regional referral center located in Petoskey with a medical staff of nearly 200 physicians representing nearly all medical and surgical specialties, enabling full-service care with an emphasis on advanced heart, cancer, orthopaedics, and neuroscience services. Other Health System affiliates include Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Foundation, Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, Boulder Park Terrace, VitalCare, Michigan Heart & Vascular Specialists, Rogers City Medical Group, Prescription Services, and the Community Free Clinic. Regional partners include Mackinac Straits Hospital, Mackinac Island Health Center, and Beaver Island Health Center.
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Sparrow Hospital Recognized as One of Nation’s Best Hospitals for Nursing Excellence
12/23/2009
Magnet® recognition achieved by only 5 percent of hospitals
LANSING, Mich. — Sparrow Hospital has earned the nation's most prestigious honor for nursing achievement and excellence – American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. Considered the "gold standard" for nursing care in hospitals, status as a Magnet recognized organization is held by only about 5 percent of America’s hospitals.
"We are absolutely honored with this national recognition,” said Elizabeth Henry, RN, MN, senior vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer “It truly recognizes the excellent professional practice that Sparrow nurses deliver every day in our community.”
Magnet recognition was granted after a rigorous process that began in 2005 and included multiple stages of review and an on-site appraisal. The Magnet Commission voted unanimously to grant Magnet recognition to Sparrow.
“Magnet recognition is a genuine mark of excellence for our nursing program and our entire organization,” said Dennis A. Swan, Sparrow President and CEO. "We thank the whole Sparrow family for their dedication to clinical and service excellence for every patient, every time.”
According to the ANCC, research indicates that Magnet hospitals produce better patient outcomes than other hospitals. Independent research also shows that hospitals with Magnet recognition consistently outperform their peers in recruiting and retaining nurses, resulting in increased stability in patient care throughout those hospitals. The ANCC is the largest and most prominent nursing credentialing organization in the United States.