Community Health Improvement Week, June 1-7, 2014

ATLANTA, June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Community Health Improvement (ACHI) is celebrating Community Health Improvement Week June 1-7. This is the event's third annual celebration.

Community Health Improvement Week is a national event to raise awareness and increase understanding of community health improvement activities and the people and organizations that lead them. The week's primary intent is to highlight the value that community health professionals contribute to improving health in their local towns, cities and counties.

"Community health improvement programs and the professionals who run them are a vitally important part of our health system," says ACHI Executive Director Stephen Martin.  "Community health works to provide access to preventive health services for all, delivers health education and connects people to resources, and helps to ensure the health and safety of the environment in which people live, work and learn. It complements medical care by striving to help people maintain and improve their health every day."

According to Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, "Keeping people healthy makes a lot more sense than treating them once they become ill." He cites estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that 70 percent of premature deaths in the U.S. stem from health and the environment.

In addition to helping drive awareness for this event, Atlanta-based healthcare staffing company, Jackson Healthcare, is hosting an education event for community program representatives through its annual Hospital Charitable Services Awards. This program honors hospital-sponsored community health programs that demonstrate measurable impact and set new standards for health and wellness in their communities through education, access and care delivery.

"We proudly support ACHI's efforts to raise awareness and create opportunities for hospitals and communities to work together to achieve measurable health improvements," said Charles R. Evans, FACHE, chairman of Jackson's awards program.

About ACHI

ACHI is the premier national association working to expand knowledge and enhance performance for community health, community benefit and healthy communities professionals. The association provides education, peer networking and practical tools to more than 850 members, including managers, directors, vice presidents and executives in hospitals and health systems, community health coalitions, health centers, public health departments, and related organizations. ACHI is a personal membership group of the American Hospital Association. Visit http://www.healthycommunities.org to learn more.

About Jackson Healthcare 
Jackson Healthcare is the third largest healthcare staffing company in the U.S. and serves more than five million patients in over 1,300 healthcare facilities. The company also provides technology solutions that enable total hospital efficiency. Jackson has earned national media coverage by providing innovative solutions to healthcare problems, in addition to championing local, national and international charitable work. Atlanta Business Chronicle has recognized the company as one of the Best Places to Work for seven consecutive years. Visit http://www.JacksonHealthcare.com/awards to learn more.

SOURCE Jackson Healthcare