One of Five Collaborative Programs Nationwide to Win AHA NOVA Award
The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced that the CARE Network, a program of Queen of the Valley Medical Center, will receive a prestigious AHA NOVA Award at its annual Health Forum Leadership Summit in San Francisco on July 21. The award honors hospital-community collaborations that improve community health.
The CARE Network is one of five programs nationwide that will be honored at a special ceremony during the AHA summit.
"We are pleased to honor this year's AHA NOVA winners for the innovative ways they work in the community to improve health and wellness," said AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock. "Working collaboratively with like-minded organizations, hospitals are helping provide preventive care, disease management, asthma awareness, nutrition counseling and opportunities for physical activity to people where they learn, work and live – bettering lives and building healthier communities."
The CARE (Case Management, Advocacy, Resources, and Education) Network is a community-based disease management program designed to improve the quality of life of low-income adults with chronic diseases and/or co-morbidities and complex socio-economic needs. Low-income, uninsured or underinsured patients who have chronic conditions such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and cancer benefit from the services.
An interdisciplinary team comprised of registered nurses, social workers, community care aides, a behavioral health specialist and a chaplain provide comprehensive support and case management services to referred patients, including:
- Disease education (including coping and decision-making)
- Medication compliance and adherence
- Benefits, financial and community resources
- Limited social or family support
- Home safety concerns
- Over- or under-utilization of medical services
The CARE Network has been highly successful in reducing costs associated with emergency medical services and preventable hospitalizations. Nearly 400 patients were served by the program in 2011, with an average of 70 percent decrease in emergency room visits and a 40 percent decrease in hospitalizations after program enrollment.
"At Joseph Health and Queen of the Valley, our mission calls us to care for the sick and the vulnerable, both in the hospital and out in the community," said Sister Marian Schubert, Vice President of Mission Integration at Queen of the Valley Medical Center. "The CARE Network is a cornerstone of the Queen's community benefit programs that bring health, healing and empowerment to people in Napa most in need. We are thrilled that it has had so much success in promoting wellness and disease prevention and in helping individuals with chronic conditions better manage their own health needs."
"It's an honor to receive this recognition," added Dana Codron, Executive Director of Community Outreach at Queen of the Valley Medical Center. "This award is also an acknowledgment of the hard work and commitment of a broad network of community partners whom we work with to build and strengthen shared accountability toward quality care. Our partners include Community Health Clinic Ole, Napa Valley Hospice & Adult Day Services, Napa County Public Health, Napa County Health and Human Services, Family Service of Napa Valley, and Partnership Health Plan, among others."
The additional 2012 AHA NOVA Award recipients are Fitness in the City in Boston; Puff City in Detroit; The Beth Embraces Wellness: An Integrated Approach to Prevention in the Community in Newark, N.J.; and the Rural Health Initiative in Shawano, Wisc.
About Queen of the Valley Medical Center
Queen of the Valley Medical Center is a 191-bed, acute-care facility founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. The Queen is the largest health care facility and one of the largest employers in Napa County. It is home to the area's only Level III Trauma Center, the Peggy Herman Neuroscience Center, a Regional Heart Center, a Regional Orthopedic Center, and a Regional Cancer Center accredited with distinction by the American College of Surgeons. Specialties also include maternity and infant care, inpatient and outpatient minimally invasive surgery, occupational health, imaging and wound care. In addition to providing hospital-based care, Queen of the Valley plays a large role in the community providing health services, education, prevention and support to vulnerable populations through its Community Benefit programs. More information may be found atwww.thequeen.org.