Stratis Health Announces First Building Healthier Communities Recipients

Published Monday, October 22, 2007

Stratis Health has announced the first recipients of the organization’s new Building Healthier Communities award–The Institute for Nursing Quality and the Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership. The announcement coincides with the celebration of National Healthcare Quality Week (October 21-27), an annual celebration highlighting the influence of health care professionals in achieving improved outcomes in patient care and health care delivery. Governor Tim Pawlenty also has proclaimed this week as Health Care Quality Week for Minnesota.

As a non-profit organization guided by an independent community-based board of directors, Stratis Health is committed to being a responsible and engaged community member. “The Building Healthier Communities award supports initiatives that can help grow an appreciation for culture of health care quality in Minnesota,” said Jennifer Lundblad, PhD, MBA, President and CEO, Stratis Health. “By funding these programs, we can be a catalyst for collaboration and innovation in our community.”

Nominations for the award are made by Stratis Health Board or staff members. Award nominees must align with Stratis Health’s mission and vision, advance Stratis Health’s work and relationships, benefit the community, and focus on Minnesota.

The Institute for Nursing Quality is just launching its work. The goal of this institute is to serve as a resource for practicing nurses to more fully understand quality improvement concepts. The institute plans to provide further education and resources via a Web site, newsletter, and a bibliography with timely updated nursing improvement resources.

The Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership is new coalition of health care consumers and literacy groups, together with the state’s health and social service agencies and provider organizations, to educate providers and consumers about health literacy. With the Building Healthier Communities award, the partnership plans to work statewide to provide a greater awareness of health literacy-both with health care consumers and providers.

Stratis Health is a non-profit organization founded in 1971 that leads collaboration and innovation in health care quality and safety, and serves as a trusted expert in facilitating improvement for people and communities. Visit the Stratis Health Web site at www.stratishealth.org for more information.