Jefferson Regional Medical Center has been awarded The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania’s (HAP) 2008 Community Outreach and Engagement Award for its Health for Her initiative.

The Health for Her program at Jefferson Regional is dedicated to providing free women’s health education programs to empower women with expert medical information so they can play a more active role with their physician in deciding which health care decisions are right for them.

Each year HAP recognizes the innovation, creativity and commitment to patient care by hospitals and health systems throughout Pennsylvania through its annual HAP Achievement Awards, which showcase and share member hospital and health system best practices in a variety of areas.

Michael Suchanick, chief operating officer at HAP, visited Jefferson Regional on Monday, Aug. 11, to present the award during a Health for Her program. He said the key to the success of the initiative is engaging the medical staff and other healthcare professionals to commit their time and effort to educating women in the community.

“The programs have resulted in the participants’ improved health and sense of well-being,” he said. “The Health for Her initiative continues to bring the women of the community, physicians and allied health care professionals to a place of common ground.”

Suchanick noted that the Health for Her program has provided 42 health education programs to more than 3,000 participants through 2007.

“These results clearly demonstrate the Medical Center’s commitment to improving health education to the community and showing how great things can be accomplished with community support, commitment and teamwork,” he added.

Team members who have contributed to the success of the Health for Her program were recognized for their efforts. They include Nupur Dashottar, MD, medical director, Health for Her; Janet Cipullo, vice president of professional services, Jefferson Regional Medical Center; Joan McCarthy, manager of Health for Her, and program volunteers Judy Werling, Elizabeth Jimick, Louise Porvaznik, Sandy Colonna, Carol Ferron, Thresa Yerman, Linda Ferris, Debbie Sitko and Joyce Kushner.

IN THE PHOTO:

From left, Thomas Timcho, president and CEO, Jefferson Regional Medical Center; Nupur Dashottar, MD, medical director, Health for Her; Joan McCarthy, manager, Health for Her; Michael Suchanick, COO, Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, and Janet Cipullo, vice president, Professional Services, Jefferson Regional.