Saint Alphonsus CARE Clinic and Federal Way Clinic Win National Charitable Service Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


For more information, contact Elizabeth Duncan.

ATLANTA – Saint Alphonsus refugee health programs, including the CARE Maternal/Child Health Clinic and Saint Alphonsus Medical Group – Federal Way Clinic, were among 10 programs from across the country named a Program of Excellence by the Hospital Charitable Service Awards, a national program sponsored by Jackson Healthcare.

The CARE Clinic delivers specialized healthcare and outreach to address the unique concerns — and traumatic histories — of expectant refugee mothers and their families. CARE assists newly-arrived Americans in adapting to the challenges of pregnancy and parenting in a new home, while respecting and honoring their culture of origin.

Saint Alphonsus Medical Group – Federal Way Curbside Care program brings physicians to the doorsteps of our community’s refugee patients. By providing an RV outfitted with a complete exam room, vitals monitoring, and lab services, refugee patients who may otherwise be limited in their access to care now have a convenient way to receive medical care in the places where they live.

The ten programs were commended for exceptional work in setting new standards for giving back to their communities in sustainable ways, and with measurable outcomes. At a banquet that was the culmination of the Hospital Charitable Services Conference, each winning program was presented with a $10,000 investment toward their growth. The Federal Way Clinic will use the funds to increase the access to transportation for patients through the use of Curbside Care, Home Visits and other future projects. The CARE Clinic will invest in a new counseling room for mothers who have experienced trauma from war, or other atrocities as well as providing much needed baby supplies for our new refugee babies.

“These programs would not have been successful without support from a variety of sources,” said Corey Surber, Director of Advocacy and Community Benefit for the Saint Alphonsus Health System. “These include the Trinity Health Call to Care Fund, physicians and staff who are passionate about caring for our community’s most vulnerable patients and the refugee peer health advisors who serve as “wise women” and help refugee patients navigate and understand the health care system.”

Jackson Healthcare instituted the Hospital Charitable Service Awards in 2010 to honor exemplary hospital-sponsored community programs, share their stories and make them models for other programs. Jackson Healthcare also uses the awards to cultivate a community of charitable hospital programs that want to encourage and learn from one another, and establish best practices.

197 nominees were chosen from a wide field of applicants. Those candidates were narrowed to a field of 38 official finalists. The 10 Programs of Excellence were chosen from among them. Each nominee had to demonstrate excellence in at least one of five areas: community impact, innovation, collaboration, transferability and/or best practice.

About Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center


Saint Alphonsus is a 387-licensed bed regional medical center serving people throughout the Northwest. As a not-for-profit medical center, Saint Alphonsus reinvests profits back into the community and works to improve the health and well-being of those we serve by emphasizing care that is patient-centered, innovative and community based. Saint Alphonsus focuses on providing services in a spiritual, healing environment, and is renowned for its state-of-the-art digital environment and pioneering technologies; award-winning clinical services; and the region’s only Level II Trauma Center. Saint Alphonsus is part of Saint Alphonsus Health System, a four-hospital, 714-bed integrated healthcare system serving the full range of the health and wellness needs of the people in southwestern Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada. Saint Alphonsus Health System is a member of Trinity Health. For information about Saint Alphonsus visit www.saintalphonsus.org.

About Jackson Healthcare


Jackson Healthcare is the fourth largest healthcare staffing company in the U.S. and serves more than three million patients in over one thousand healthcare facilities. The company also provides technology solutions that enable total hospital efficiency. Jackson Healthcare has earned national media coverage by providing innovative solutions to healthcare problems, in addition to championing local, national and international charitable work. It has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle for five consecutive years. Visit JacksonHealthcare.com to learn more.

About the Hospital Charitable Service Awards


The Hospital Charitable Service Awards is a national program sponsored by Jackson Healthcare. It recognizes hospitals whose commitment to their community - whether defined locally, regionally, nationally or globally - goes beyond "community benefit" and "free care" and has led to innovative efforts to improve community health and increase access to healthcare education and services. All hospital-funded charitable programs are eligible to participate regardless of the size, tax or ownership model. A national charitable services conference was scheduled in Atlanta, Georgia on February 3, 2011 to bring together individuals and hospitals in an effort to explore evidence-based approaches to community benefit and charitable services.