Press Releases

CHICAGO, Feb. 9, 2005 – Honoring the breadth and depth of its health care initiatives that serve Southeast Michigan’s minorities and disadvantaged residents, Henry Ford Health System in Detroit has won the 2004 Foster G. McGaw Prize for excellence in community service – one of the health care field’s most prestigious awards. 

Each year, the $100,000 award is given to an organization committed to providing its community with innovative programs and services that promote the health and well-being of the community. The award is sponsored by the American Hospital Association, The Baxter International Foundation and the Cardinal Health Foundation.

Named as finalists and receiving $10,000 each were Harlem Hospital Center, New York; Saint Francis Medical Center, Grand Island, Neb.; and St. Joseph’s/Candler in Savannah, Ga.

“The 2004 Foster G. McGaw Prize winner and finalists are truly inspirational organizations. Their outstanding community programs are significantly improving the health and quality of life of the people they serve,” said Susan Manilow, chair of the Foster G. McGaw Prize Committee.

Since 1915, when auto pioneer Henry Ford founded a hospital to improve the health of metro Detroit, the non-profit health care organization has been devoted to patient safety, clinical excellence and superior service. The health system partners with dozens of local agencies and organizations to serve more than one million residents in southeast Michigan.

“Henry Ford Health System is an outstanding example of a health care delivery organization that continues to reach out to its community during very difficult economic times to bridge the gap in health care and address the needs of its broad and diverse population,” said Manilow. “The system demonstrates exceptional leadership in developing creative solutions to extend beyond its walls and make a real difference in Detroit and Southeast Michigan.”

Among other programs, Henry Ford Health System was recognized for its involvement in:

> The School-Based Health Initiative, which takes primary and preventive care to Detroit classrooms where it may be the only health care a child receives. The Henry Ford sites handle nearly 20,000 student visits each year. A 1999 evaluation found that standardized test scores in the schools with Henry Ford health centers were 23 percent higher than their non-clinic counterparts across the city.

> AIM-HI -- African American Initiative for Male Health Improvement, a program within the Institute on Multicultural Health at Henry Ford. This program provides mobile health screenings and onsite health education for diabetes, hypertension, and strokes. Nearly 8,000 participants have been screened since February 1999. About one-third of those screened had abnormal screening results for diabetes and hypertension.

> Addressing the needs of the uninsured. Henry Ford is one of four health systems serving Detroit and Wayne County and, as such, is a major stakeholder in the formation of a collaborative approach to addressing the problems of the uninsured and underinsured in the region. Detroit Wayne County Health Authority goals include providing safety-net services, facilitating care coordination and serving as a model for other communities across the country.

> SandCastles, a division of the Hospices of Henry Ford Health System, which offers grief support for children and families who have lost a loved one. In 2004, this program served 378 children and 274 adults from 228 families. Since its inception in 1997, it has served more than 947 families representing more than 2,753 people throughout southeast Michigan.

> City Year Detroit, a program that is supported financially and housed by Henry Ford Health System. In this program, outstanding young adults make a 10-month, full-time volunteer service commitment to help youth in Detroit’s lowest-income neighborhoods. Between 2000-2003, City Year Detroit members have assisted and served as role models for more than 14,400 children. At least 75 percent of the children tutored by City Year Detroit members improved their test scores by at least one academic year, and many made quite dramatic increases in academic performance, attitude, behavior, and self-esteem, evaluation surveys show.

“What an honor for our entire community,” said Nancy Schlichting, president and chief executive officer of Henry Ford Health System. “We work tirelessly to provide health-enhancing programs that might not be possible otherwise. At Henry Ford, our commitment to health is also our commitment to the community.”

Henry Ford Health System (www.henryford.com), one of the country’s leading health care systems, integrates primary and specialty care with research and education. It includes Henry Ford Hospital and three owned hospitals; Health Alliance Plan, a 540,000 member HMO; the 800 physician/scientist Henry Ford Medical Group and 22 ambulatory centers and many other health-related services located throughout southeastern Michigan.

The Foster G. McGaw Prize
The Foster G. McGaw prize, first awarded in 1986, recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate commitment to community service through a range of programs that demonstrate a passion and continuous commitment to making communities healthier and more vital.

The American Hospital Association is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations that are committed to health improvement in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care. Founded in 1898, AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA web site at www.aha.org.

The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., helps organizations expand access to health care in the United States and around the world. The foundation, established in 1981, began to focus exclusively on increasing access to health care in 2002 – particularly for the disadvantaged and underserved – in communities where Baxter employees live and work. Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists health care professionals and their patients with the treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. For more information, please visit www.baxter.com.

Supported by the global resources of Cardinal Health (www.cardinalhealth.com), including more than 55,000 employees around the world, the Cardinal Health Foundation is the focal point of the company's community relations efforts. The Foundation's mission is to advance and fund regional and national programs that improve access to and delivery of quality health care services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion and operations on six continents, Cardinal Health is the leading provider of products and services supporting the health care industry.