Washington D.C.-- The American Hospital Association (AHA) has announced the winners of the AHA NOVA Award. These five collaborative hospital-led programs work to improve community health by improving health habits and other social and educational factors leading to better health status and improving access to care. Each program will be honored at a July 25 ceremony held during the association's annual Health Forum Leadership Summit in San Francisco.

"We know that hospitals improve the health of a community by caring for the sick, but hospitals can also inspire and work with those around them, so that together they can extend their reach," said AHA president and CEO, Rich Umbdenstock. "The AHA NOVA Award recognizes those hospitals that through collaboration provide for the community through education, outreach and so much more."

Established in 1993, the AHA NOVA Award recognizes hospitals and health systems for their collaborative efforts toward improving community health.
Program - Lighten Up 4 Life
Mission Health System, Asheville, N.C.
As part of an effort to educate the public on the importance of being aware of key health measurements, Mission partnered with its local Chamber of Commerce, newspaper and radio station to create a community-wide weight loss program called Lighten Up 4 Life (LU4L). The program was designed as a five-month weight loss challenge, focusing on creating teams of employees at area businesses who encourage and support each other to lose weight and become healthier.

Embraced by the entire community, over 3,000 individuals and 200 businesses participated in LU4L and over 20,000 pounds (an average of 5.2 percent of body weight) have been lost by participants. The success of LU4L has created its own momentum with a second year already in progress and participating businesses working to stay involved.

Program - Project BRIEF (Behavior intervention, Rapid HIV test, Innovative video, Efficient Cost and health care savings, Facilitated seamless linkage to outpatient HIV care)
Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital, Bronx, N.Y.
The goal of Project BRIEF is to increase access to HIV screening, provide risk reduction education and offer seamless linkage to care for those testing positive. The Bronx has a death rate from AIDS that is nearly ten times higher than the national average, while many patients most at risk lack coverage or access to health care providers. Because these patients primarily use the hospital emergency department for their care options, Project BRIEF offers HIV testing and education in the ED /Urgent Care area during all shifts, coupled with immediate linkage to clinical care.

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