Hospital Association Presents Awards for Commitment to Healthcare

PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Several individuals and organizations were honored at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) today at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.

The 2011 NJHA Distinguished Service award was presented to Gene C. Milton Ph.D., FACHE, of Hackesttstown, former president and CEO of Hackettstown Regional Medical Center. Milton, who retired Dec. 31, was honored for his leadership, years of service and many accomplishments including expanding the scope and size of the medical center.

The 2011 NJHA Healthcare Professional of the Year award was presented to Richard T. Hader, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, CHE, CNA, CPHQ, of Jackson, vice president and chief nursing officer at Meridian Health in Neptune.  Hader was honored for his dedication and advocacy for nursing and healthcare quality improvement. Among his many accomplishments, Hader is credited with pioneering an innovative model of care at Meridian Health and increasing access to nursing education in Monmouth and Ocean counties through the Seton Hall University at Georgian Court University accelerated BSN program. The successful program has enabled more than 100 new registered nurses to join New Jersey's nursing workforce.    

The NJHA Hospital Trustee of the Year awards were presented to Robert Rumfield of Easton, Pa., from Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, and Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams of Newark, from East Orange General Hospital.

Rumfield is chairman of the board at Warren Hospital. He was honored for his years of  service and leadership. Rumfield is credited with taking a troubled health system through a restructuring, including putting new management in place. He led the board through a number of actions, including development of Board orientation programs for new trustees, a mandatory training program for all members and the establishment of professional "skill set" criteria for nominating new trustees.

Dr. Ellis-Williams is chair of the board at East Orange General Hospital and was honored for her leadership in guiding major decision-making by the board. The board at East Orange has been cited as a board model in governance by NJHA, and she was noted by Modern Healthcare magazine for her leadership. Dr. Ellis-Williams also serves on the American Hospital Association's Regional Policy Board.

The NJHA Healthcare System Trustee of the Year award was presented to George Norcross III of Cherry Hill from The Cooper Health System in Camden. Norcross was honored for his long term service and leadership in reshaping and leading a financially troubled institution to become one of the top tier academic medical centers in New Jersey.

NJHA also recognizes hospitals that demonstrate unique and effective methods of reaching out to better serve the healthcare needs of area residents.  The 2011 Health Research and Educational Trust of New Jersey's Community Outreach Awards recognize outstanding community achievements in the following categories: disease and injury prevention; improving access and quality of care; reducing healthcare disparities; and programs with budgets less than $50,000.

For Preventing Disease and Injury, The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood was recognized for its Center for Women's Health which provides education, screening and treatment of cardiovascular diseases for women. In partnership with local corporations and community groups, the program has educated 4,600 women about cardiovascular disease and screened more than 1,600.

For Improving Access and Quality of Care, Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick was recognized for its program, The Developmental Screening Clinic and Autism Program.   This program provides education to healthcare professionals on the importance of performing developmental surveillance and screening for ASD. It also offers  parenting workshops, therapies and support groups for newly-diagnosed families.

More than 160 pediatric healthcare professionals at 63 sites have received education and training and the number of children referred for early screening and interventions has increased dramatically.

The Community Outreach award for Reducing Healthcare Disparities was presented to Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen for its Faith-based Community Outreach Initiative. The hospital partnered with the North Hudson Community Action Corporation, Christ Hospital School of Nursing and the Hudson Perinatal Consortium and used positive messages emphasizing proper diet, exercise and preventive care to educate Hispanic communities through their houses of worship. More than 3,500 community members have received health screenings and 550 were referred to area clinics or local physicians.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center received the Community Outreach award for a Program with a Budget Less than $50,000 for its program, The Beth Challenge: A Wellness Program for Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the Community It Serves.

Originally designed as a 12-week contest for hospital employees, the wellness program's success was duplicated for the entire Newark community.  Through nutrition and wellness education, as well as an affordable place to exercise, this program has provided significant weight loss results, reduced blood pressure and cholesterol and increased levels of energy and self-esteem for its participants.

The New Jersey Hospital Association, based in Princeton, is the statewide advocate for its 110 member hospitals, its 300-plus post-acute members and the patients they serve.

SOURCE New Jersey Hospital Association