Health Central wins Nova Award for Improving Community Health

Health Central is one of five winners of the American Hospital Association’s 2006 Nova Award this year. The AHA has recognized five collaborative hospital-led programs that improve community health by extending help to low-income and uninsured children and adults, the chronically ill and racial and ethnic minorities.

The Nova Award was presented at a ceremony on July 15th during the association’s annual Health Forum Leadership Summit in San Francisco. Richard Irwin, President/CEO of Health Central attended the Forum and is very pleased with the Primary Care Access Network (PCAN) program, which serves the under- and non-insured in the community through various avenues, such as Shepard’s Hope and the West Orange Health Alliance. Health Central shares the award with Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Healthcare Systems.

“The PCAN grew out of a model created by the West Orange Healthcare District to forge a community partnership to make healthcare a priority for the uninsured,” Richard said. “We looked to the leadership from area healthcare providers and formed a network to improve access to medical care for so many in our community who don’t have healthcare coverage.”

PCAN centers serve individuals without health insurance or on limited income, as well as those with Medicaid, Medicare and Florida KidCare. The network is also striving to educate the community on appropriate use of hospital emergency rooms. PCAN also includes the Health Central School Nurse Program, which provides nurses in 32 Orange County Public Schools who serve more than 40,000 children annually. Through this program, referrals are provided for free clinics at locations, such as the West Orange Health Alliance and Shepard’s Hope clinics.

Photo caption: (Left to right): Richard Irwin, President/CEO of Health Central, accepts the NOVA award in San Francisco. (left to right) Molly Coye, MD, AHA Board member and CEO of Health Technology Center; George DeLong, Orlando Regional Healthcare; Maureen Kersmarki, Florida Hospital; Richard Irwin, President/CEO of Health Central; Larry Jones, Orange County Health and Family Services, and Neil Jesuele, EVP of AHA and president of Health Forum.