ENGLEWOOD, N.J., July 23,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Englewood Health has received a
distinguished recognition from the American Hospital Association
(AHA), being named a finalist for the Foster G. McGaw Prize for
excellence in community service. This prestigious, national honor
recognizes Englewood Health's leadership in driving improvements in
community health through innovative programs, strong community
partnerships, and increased access to high-quality, safe, and
equitable health care.
More than 100 hospitals nationwide apply each year, and
Englewood Health soared to the top, being named a finalist
alongside New York-Presbyterian. While Boston Medical Center was
awarded the top prize, Englewood Health's selection as a finalist
in its first year of participating underscores the extraordinary
impact of its initiatives and relentless dedication to the
communities it serves.
"This acknowledgment is a powerful testament to the hard work
and commitment of our entire team and our dedicated community
partners. Together, we have made significant strides in ensuring
that everyone in our community has access to the vital services and
support they need to lead healthy, fulfilling lives," said
Warren Geller, president and CEO of
Englewood Health. "To be recognized as a finalist in our very first
year of participation is an incredible honor and a moment of
immense pride for all of us."
Englewood Health was chosen after
a comprehensive application and review process, followed
by an immersive day-long site visit by the AHA, which
reviewed the health system's extensive health equity and community
health initiatives. Five key programs were highlighted:
- Comprehensive Health Equity: Empowering Korean Patients with
Accessible Healthcare
Englewood Health's Center for Korean Health and
Wellness, established in 2012, addresses healthcare barriers faced
by the Korean community. With Korean patient volume growing by 10%
annually, the center collaborates with trusted Korean organizations
and maintains an active presence on Kakao Talk, a popular Korean
text-messaging service. The center's YouTube channel, with over 2
million views and nearly 15,000 subscribers, further engages the
community by providing accessible health information.
- Community Outreach: Health E Englewood and the Shirvan Family Live Well
Center.
Health E
Englewood began in 2018 as a four-week workshop, available
in both Spanish and English, focusing on physical, emotional, and
nutritional wellness. The initial program included fitness
education and the incorporation of wearable tech monitoring
devices, practical and budget-friendly nutrition education, cooking
lessons, grocery shopping techniques, and stress management
tools.
In 2023, the program expanded with the opening
of the Shirvan Family Live Well Center, a space focused on
improving the health of the community by providing free health
education and hands-on programs to support the development of
healthy lifestyle skills for all ages. To date, the center has
served thousands of families facing barriers to preventive care due
to social, educational, cultural, or financial obstacles.
- Innovative Mental Health Support: Transforming
Behavioral Health Services in the Community
In response to high rates of behavioral health
disorders and a lack of available services, Englewood Health opened
the Gregory P. Shadek Behavioral Care Center in 2018. This
comprehensive outpatient program integrates psychotherapists into
primary care practices. All providers are credentialed to take
insurance, reducing financial barriers to seeking care.
By working with regional partners, the center provides
front-line clinical, educational, preventative, and navigation
services with a focus on mental health and substance use
disorders.
- Nutrition and Wellness Programs: Fighting Food
Insecurity and Promoting Healthy Eating
Englewood Health's Food Insecurity Response
Initiative (FIRI), launched in 2019, screens all patients for food
insecurity and refers them to local food banks. The initiative also
provides guidance to food pantry recipients on how to prepare
healthy meals with the ingredients distributed by most pantries.
Budget-conscious education materials, cookbooks, and portion plates
were also developed and distributed.
A 2021 survey of nearly 300 patients revealed
that three-quarters of participants suffer from chronic conditions
like diabetes, heart problems, and cancer, suggesting that FIRI not
only addresses immediate food insecurity needs but also potentially
improves long-term health outcomes.
- Partnerships with Local Organizations: Pioneering
Bloodless Medicine for Improved Patient Outcomes
Three decades ago, members of the Jehovah's
Witnesses community asked Englewood Health to provide care for its
members without using blood transfusions and the health system
embraced the challenge. Englewood Health is now a leader in
bloodless medicine and surgery, and the birthplace of patient blood
management, a new clinical standard for all patients that reduces
infection risk and speeds recovery times.
Today, more than 90% of Englewood Health's
cardiac surgeries utilize bloodless techniques, improving surgical
outcomes for all patients. Leveraging the trust with this community
to deliver necessary health information, the health system offers
frequent educational seminars, with one virtual session attracting
over 16,000 participants.
The Foster G. McGaw Prize was created to recognize hospitals
that have distinguished themselves through efforts to improve the
health and well-being of everyone in their communities. Being
honored as a finalist acknowledges Englewood Health's mission to
transform lives through healthcare on a national level. It
highlights their leadership in enhancing community health and
well-being, and their lasting impact on the lives of those they
have the privilege to serve.
About Englewood Health
Englewood Health is one of New
Jersey's leading healthcare systems. Through its hospital
and network of physician practices, urgent care centers, and
imaging centers, the health system delivers nationally recognized
inpatient and outpatient care. Englewood Hospital, founded in 1890,
consistently earns high marks for clinical excellence and patient
safety. It is recognized as a 2022-23 Best Regional Hospital by US
News & World Report, holds the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
'A' (fall 2023), and was named a Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospital
(2023). Englewood Hospital is nationally recognized for nursing
excellence, earning a fifth consecutive designation by the Magnet
Recognition Program in 2021. The Englewood Health Physician
Network—a coordinated network of more than 600 office-based and
hospital-based providers—offers primary care, specialty care, and
urgent care at more than 100 locations in five counties across
northern New Jersey. Englewood
Health's focus on health equity and population health encompasses
outreach to underserved communities to enhance individual and
public health, prevent disease, support lifelong wellness, reduce
the burden of mental health challenges and substance use disorders,
and meet the cultural, social, and holistic needs of specific
populations. With its high-quality, culturally sensitive inpatient
care, outpatient services, and community health and wellness
programs, Englewood Health delivers a healthcare experience that
puts patients at the center.
Media Contact:
Office of Communications
Englewood Health
201-894-3499
communications@ehmchealth.org
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SOURCE Englewood Health