 |
 |
Send to a Friend |
|
|
Receive Allina Hospitals & Clinics news via RSS feed.
|
For Immediate Release | For more information, contact: |
Allina Hospitals & Clinics launches The Backyard InitiativeMINNEAPOLIS 11/10/2008--Allina Hospitals & Clinics and community leaders celebrated the beginning of an ambitious health improvement effort in south Minneapolis. The Backyard Initiative is Allina's effort to galvanize residents and organizations in the Phillips, Powderhorn Park, Central and Corcoran neighborhoods toward improving their health and health care. "By participating, you will help create a legacy for the city of Minneapolis in improving health for many years to come," Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak told a gathering of residents, researchers, policy makers, community leaders and others at a kick-off Monday, November 10 at the Midtown Exchange. The Backyard Initiative reflects Allina's desire to combine wellness and disease prevention with traditional hospital and clinic care. The initiative will focus on community involvement; disease prevention and management; increased access to healthcare, and early childhood health and learning. "This project will help us find new ways to move care upstream and create the kind of relationship between patient-centered care and community health that will be critical to the good health of the communities we serve," said Allina's CEO Dick Pettingill. Allina has committed $50 million over the next five years to the Center for Healthcare Innovation, of which the Backyard Initiative is a key part. The Backyard is defined geographically as the approximately one square mile area surrounding Allina Commons, Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the Phillips Eye Institute, all located in Minneapolis' Phillips Neighborhood. "One thing I've learned in my years as a physician is that we can only take health so far by focusing on what we do in the clinical setting. We have to go outside the walls of our institutions if we are going to make a meaningful difference in health," said Penny Wheeler, MD, Allina's chief clinical officer. Julie Schnell, president of Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota, said many of the union's members live in the designated backyard and work at Allina facilities. "At SEIU, we know the power to create change that can come from people working together for common goals. We can build a healthier community and make this community a model of how to improve the broader health of communities across the country." Candice Washington, who lives in the community and is also an Allina employee, encouraged other residents to be involved. "I see firsthand the challenges families in our neighborhoods face – families with children, our community elders and people new to our neighborhood and our country. Our health is something that unites us. I'm excited that Allina is partnering with it's neighbors to improve health.." Allina board member Terry Saario said the initiative will require a sustained effort to be successful. "Change will not come quickly, and we are committed to work persistently to achieve our vision of a healthier community," she said. For more about The Backyard Initiative, visit www.allina.com/backyard. About Allina Hospitals & ClinicsAllina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit family of hospitals, clinics and other care services dedicated to meeting the lifelong health care needs of communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. As they deliver exceptional health care and support services, our more than 23,000 employees, 5,000 physicians and 2,500 volunteers share a common mission, vision and values. # # # |