INOVA HEALTH SYSTEM : LIFE AT INOVA : Community Involvement

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Community Involvement

Inova Health System staff raised over $155,000 for the United Way of the National Capital Area Campaign.
The Inova Community Access Program was founded with a $901,000 grant from HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration). The grant was awarded to the Inova Community Health Division, in partnership with Fairfax County. The purpose of the program is to develop the infrastructure needed to improve and strengthen integrated systems of care that coordinate health services for target populations and underinsured residents. The Inova Community Access Program is being considered by HRSA as a national model.
Partnership for Healthier Kids (PHK):
- Cited as one of four national models in the report to President Clinton on "School-Based Outreach for Children's Health Insurance," released by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education and Agriculture, July 2000.
- Awarded the 2000 Northern Virginia Leadership Award for Community Partnership. Nominated by Fairfax County Public Schools.
- A total of 2,192 children were linked to medical care in 2000, bringing the total to 4,562 children linked to medical care since the program's inception.
- More than 9,000 children participated in prevention activities.
A total of 66,226 flu shots were provided throughout the community ¾ a 10 percent increase over 1999. Proceeds went to the Inova Health System Foundation and is divided equally between Inova VNA Home Health and Inova HealthSource.
Inova Health System participated in five business/school partnerships: Inova Fairfax Hospital at Robinson Secondary School and Camelot Elementary School; Inova Fair Oaks Hospital at Navy Elementary School; Inova Mount Vernon Hospital at Groveton Elementary School; and the System Office at Braddock Elementary School.
Inova provided 52 volunteers, working at five different locations throughout Northern Virginia, for Christmas in April, a nationwide program to clean, paint, repair and refurbish the homes of the elderly or disabled so they can maintain their independent living status.
At the Celebrate Fairfax Fair, more than 80 volunteers with Inova People in Action staffed the admissions gate and the free train ride through the fair site. Volunteers from Inova's Women's and Children's Services provided a rest and diaper changing tent, and SafeKids offered car seat information and other child safety information.
At the International Children's Festival more than 60 volunteers with Inova People in Action provided free face painting to festival visitors. Employees from Women's and Children's Services staffed a rest and diaper changing tent and provided free art activities.
At Fall for Fairfax, Inova provided its Arcade of Health including educational health and safety activities for children and adults, nutrition information, blood pressure checks, blood typing, hand washing, etc. People in Action volunteers staffed many of the activities, along with employees from the various service lines.
Throughout Inova, more than 1,000 employees participated in Holiday Giving, a program to provide for needy families during the holiday season. Some departments and some individuals adopted a family, others provided gifts for shelter residents and Toys for Tots.
Respiratory Care Services sponsored a walk-a-thon at Burke Lake Park to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital hosted two health screenings for participants in the Special Olympics.
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital supported the American Cancer Society throughout the entire month of October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) with programs such as the "Tell-A-Friend Campaign" to heighten awareness about breast cancer and the importance of mammograms.
Inova provided weekly blood pressure checks and speakers on health-related topics as part of Inova's mall walking partnership programs with Northern Virginia malls at Dulles Town Center, Landmark, Springfield, Fair Oaks and Tysons Corner.
Women's conferences were held at Inova Alexandria and Inova Fairfax hospitals. The two conferences included educational interactions with physicians, health fairs and screenings.
A free clinic to screen for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) was held as Inova Alexandria, Inova Fair Oaks and Inova Mount Vernon hospitals. Nearly 425 community members participated in the screenings.
The Inova Joint Replacement Center held free community classes providing more than 300 participants with information on joint replacement.
Over 120,000 people participated in health education programs, screenings and classes provided by Inova HealthSource - a 13 percent increase over last year.
Inova Mount Vernon Hospital's 3A unit participated in the National Depression Screening Day, providing free depression screenings for staff and community members.
The annual Health Expo, held in conjunction with the GW Parkway 15K and 5K Classic, was held at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital with staff providing health information and screenings to community members.
Three patient reunions were held at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. More than 700 patients and family members who utilized services of the Inova Joint Replacement Center and the Inova Rehabilitation Center participated.
The Kids Can't Fly Campaign, a joint safety campaign by Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children and the Inova Regional Trauma Center, addressed window safety for children. The campaign received national media attention.
The Inova Regional Trauma Center, in cooperation with the 19th Judicial District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, offered the program Substance/Alcohol Focused Education (SAFE) to teenagers convicted of first-time drug and alcohol offenses. The program takes a "scared straight" approach by bringing teens to the hospital to see firsthand the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse.
A total of 170 tours attended by more than 3,100 people were conducted of the Cardiac Surgery Dome at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
Eighty-eight schools participated in the Safe Pennant Program aimed at increasing student awareness of preventable accidents.
In conjunction with Fairfax County Police and Fire and Rescue, SafeKids conducted more than 35 car seat safety check events. Of the 450 seats checked, only 36 were installed properly.
A three-year initiative in partnership with Aetna/USHC, the American Cancer Society and Darrell Green of the Washington Redskins was formed to address colon cancer problems in Northern Virginia through extensive education and awareness programs.
The Tobacco Use Prevention program reached 3,885 students, expanded the bedside counseling program at Inova Fairfax Hospital and sponsored a student rally for the Great American Smokeout at Inova Alexandria Hospital.
The Senior Health Access Resources & Education Program (SHARE) expanded its membership to more than 7,000. It successfully applied for Inova Health System Gala funds to be used to provide programming to needy seniors. In 2000, SHARE expanded systemwide and made significant improvements in the benefits offered to its members.
Two partnerships with the Fairfax County Public Library and the Alexandria City Library continued to expand. In addition to the Inova HealthSource classes offered at library branches, both partnerships worked on several joint projects including establishing a community resource center at Beatley Central Library to provide health information materials and access to Inova's automated Health Information Library.Year 2000 health and wellness programs offered through the Congregational
Health Partnership included:
- 979 people received flu shots at 10 Fight the Flu clinics.
- A quarterly newsletter was published and mailed to approximately 400 individuals in faith communities across Northern Virginia.
- In September, Congregational Health Partnership co-sponsored a health ministry conference attended by approximately 245 people.
A volunteer partnership, the Expanded Visions Program, was established between Fairfax County Schools and Inova's finance division.