Hospitals and Health Systems Have Amazing and Inspiring Stories to Tell

Hospitals and health systems provide healing, compassion and care to all people who walk through their doors.

But that’s only one part of the hospital story and how they benefit communities. The other part of the story often involves words like wellness, community health, cornerstone, innovator and partner.

Hospitals and health systems are leading efforts outside of their four walls that are advancing health for everyone. For example:

• UMass Memorial Health in Massachusetts pursues and prioritizes being an anchor organization in the community by investing in local projects that address issues, such as affordable housing, homelessness and food insecurity; hiring individuals from some of the most disadvantaged areas of its community; purchasing locally to support local businesses; and offering opportunities for employees to get involved and contribute to the hospital’s mission outside of their traditional roles.
• Atlanta-based Grady Health System has partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Open Hand Atlanta on a Food as Medicine partnership, a multipronged intervention to address both chronic disease and food insecurity. Food prescriptions allow patients to receive healthy foods, and they also are enrolled in nutrition and cooking classes to equip them with the knowledge and skills to achieve healthy diet changes and manage their health conditions.
• Children's Hospital Colorado and the Aurora Housing Authority have partnered to secure long-term housing for patients and their families. Housing case managers also work with families to get employment, education, job training, day care, transportation and food assistance.

Every hospital and health system has many examples of their own programs, services and partnerships that are helping to create healthier communities. Please visit our Telling the Hospital Story  webpage for inspiring stories from all across the country.

Recognizing the tremendous efforts happening each and every day in our field is essential to what we do and that’s why we’re excited that AHA will be a sponsor of this year’s "A Capitol Fourth" concert, the nation’s longest running live Independence Day celebration airing on PBS. This year’s concert will feature a tribute to health care workers and all they do to keep this country healthy and safe.

As part of this sponsorship, AHA will air a 30-second television spot at the top and bottom of the concert broadcast on PBS. We also will highlight the stories of health care workers and their contributions via digital media throughout the programming. AHA as well as local caregivers will be on site in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the star-studded lineup for this year’s concert, which includes Chicago, Belinda Carlisle, Boys II Men, the National Symphony Orchestra and Northwell Health’s nurse choir, among others.

This year’s concert will air on approximately 340 PBS member stations covering over 180 markets across the United States and on the show’s YouTube page. The concert is simulcast nationwide on NPR, and broadcast on the American Forces Network to military members stationed or serving overseas.

There are many ways hospitals and health systems across the country can get involved in the celebration too. See the recent AHA Member Advisory for details about hosting watch parties for team members and sharing your stories on social media and with the AHA.

Like the story of America itself that we celebrate each July 4, stories of the contributions that health care workers, hospitals and health systems make each and every day have the power to inspire and bring out the best in all of us.