CORNELL SCOTT-HILL HEALTH CENTER WINS NATIONAL AWARD

[Cornell Scott - Hill Health Center]

$100,000 Grant to Target Diabetics Most in Need

New Haven, CT —Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center was honored by BD, Direct Relief and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) with an Innovations in Care Award at NACHC’s Community Health Institute and EXPO. Part of the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities™ initiative, this $100,000 award acknowledges community health centers for innovative approaches to the prevention and treatment of diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

The health center was recognized for our shared medical visit program, Arrive 6.5. Designed for severe diabetics with an A1C of nine (9) or greater this multi-week program combines primary care medical visits with group diabetes education. The goal of the program is to lower patients’ A1C levels by at least one point with the ultimate goal of getting them to a normal level of 6.5.

“Diabetes is a serious issue in the communities we serve,” said Dr. Douglas Bruce, the Center’s Chief of Medical Services. “Many patients do not have the resources needed to properly manage their diabetes. This grant will allow us to take a more aggressive approach to treating diabetes and helping our patients on a road to wellness.”

A total of seven community health centers were recognized this year with an Innovation in   Care Award for programs that address diabetes prevention and management. Decisions on innovation award winners are guided by a panel of reviewers with expertise in clinical and community healthcare in each of the three disease areas. 

“Through their innovative approaches to care that address the specific needs and circumstances of the communities they serve, this year’s winners represent the best of what’s possible for community health in the U.S.” said Vincent A. Forlenza, Chairman, CEO and President of BD. “We are excited and proud to support and scale-up these new models of care.”

“The Innovation in Care Award recognizes a huge and typically unrecognized fact: clinics and community health centers are America’s healthcare safety net,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief. “Direct Relief is delighted to once again work with BD and NACHC to recognize and support such new and unique approaches to community health.”

BD Helping Build Healthy Communities™ is a four-year initiative to expand access and improve care for underserved and vulnerable populations in the U.S. The initiative, first announced in 2012 with a founding pledge at the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, includes a BD commitment of approximately $5 million in cash and product to clinics and community health centers across the US.

For more information about the 2015 Innovations in Care Award winners, including project information and photos, please visit: https://www.bd.com/responsibility/community/healthy_communities/.

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About BD
BD is a leading medical technology company that partners with customers and stakeholders to address many of the world’s most pressing and evolving health needs. Our innovative solutions are focused on improving medication management and patient safety; supporting infection prevention practices; equipping surgical and interventional procedures; improving drug delivery; aiding anesthesiology and respiratory care; advancing cellular research and applications; enhancing the diagnosis of infectious diseases and cancers; and supporting the management of diabetes. We are more than 45,000 associates in 50 countries who strive to fulfill our purpose of “Helping all people live healthy lives” by advancing the quality, accessibility, safety and affordability of healthcare around the world. In 2015, BD welcomed CareFusion and its products into the BD family of solutions. For more information on BD, please visit www.bd.com. .

About Direct Relief
The only U.S. nonprofit to obtain Verified Accredited Wholesale Distributor© (VAWD) certification by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Direct Relief is among the largest medical suppliers to safety-net facilities throughout the U.S. and the world. Named among the “World’s Most Innovative Nonprofits” by Fast Company, Direct Relief maintains a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and a 100% fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes magazine. For more information, visit www.DirectRelief.org. 

About National Association of Community Health Centers
Founded in 1970, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance and expand access to quality, community-responsive health care for America’s medically underserved and uninsured. NACHC represents the nation’s network of over 1,200 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which serve over 22 million people through over 9,000 sites located in all of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. For more information, please visitwww.nachc.com.

About Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center
The Cornell Scott – Hill Health Center is the oldest and among the largest community health centers in Connecticut. The center provides integrated medical, dental and behavioral health solutions throughout the greater New Haven area and the Naugatuck Valley with the goal of improving the health status of patients and the community at large. The Cornell Scott – Hill Health Center has been a leader in community healthcare innovation for over 45 years. Learn more at www.cornellscott.org.

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