Houston Healthcare Wins Georgia Hospital Association Community Leadership Award
Responding to the health and lifestyle issues within their community, Houston Healthcare in Warner Robins is helping residents live healthier lives outside of the hospital. The hospital’s holistic approach to health education, wellness, and disease prevention earned the hospital the Georgia Hospital Association’s prestigious Community Leadership Award.
Established in 1997, the Community Leadership award honors an individual, organization or group that has made exemplary contributions to the health or well-being of Georgians through leadership on a major health policy or initiative.
Houston Healthcare won the honor for several partnerships and outreach initiatives of the hospital’s Community Education and Services Department designed to improve health care access, education, preventive care, and chronic disease management.
The department’s diabetes management program, which earned national recognition from the American Diabetes Association, is one of the department’s many successful collaborative programs. Working with several agencies throughout Houston County, the hospital provides one-on-one counseling, support groups, diabetes educational programs and events for children and adults with diabetes. Participants who have completed the program have experienced dramatic improvement in glucose (sugar) control levels and a nearly 70 percent decrease in the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits.
A prenatal outreach program was also developed to address the needs of low-income, uninsured women who often experience barriers to necessary health services during their pregnancy. The program provides comprehensive case management including support, education, and linking to services to improve their pregnancy outcomes. The program has resulted in improved pre-term and low-birth weight rates as well as fewer unplanned hospitalizations and emergency room visits.
The hospital’s efforts also include community screenings and health fairs as well as SeniorCare, a health management program for seniors designed to encourage preventive health and physical activity.
“Houston Healthcare has demonstrated true courage and dedication in addressing the complex social and health issues of their community,” said GHA President Joseph A. Parker. “The improved health and wellness of the county is a testament and living legacy of their leadership.”