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Middlesex Hospital has been recognized by VHA, Inc., a national health care alliance, for its efforts to provide health care that matches the needs of its community, with a 2009 VHA Leadership Award for Community Benefit Excellence.

“Hospitals across the nation do an excellent job of providing high-quality care for their patients, but there are still community needs that often go unmet through the regular course of care,” said Laura Martino, vice president for Philanthropy at Middlesex Hospital. “This is where community-owned, not-for-profit hospitals like ours can make a difference. The mission of Middlesex Hospital is to improve the health of the people it serves. Our community benefit programs accomplish this mission by providing improved, expanded and more accessible health services throughout the community beyond the walls of the hospital.” 

The award focuses on three areas: demonstration of a comprehensive community benefit strategy; highlighting a “best of class” community benefit program (which for Middlesex is its Chronic Care Management programs for diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, chronic heart failure, and childhood obesity); and providing an effective communications plan to tell the community benefit story.

“Providing for the unique health needs of their communities is the hallmark of not-for-profit hospitals. The VHA Leadership Award for Community Benefit recognizes organizations for their focus and commitment to community benefit and the effective strategies they use to tell their community benefit story,” said Michael Regier, senior vice president of VHA.

VHA, Inc. is a national health alliance that provides industry-leading supply chain management services and supports the formation of regional and national networks to help members improve their clinical and economic performance.

Middlesex Hospital is part of the Middlesex Health System, Inc., an independent, not-for-profit, community-based health network of inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic, emergency and rehabilitation facilities. In addition to Middlesex Hospital, and a fully integrated, state-of-the-art Cancer Center in Middletown, Middlesex Health System also has medical centers in Essex and Marlborough and serves more than 250,000 residents in Middlesex County and beyond. The Hospital was named one of the Top 100 hospitals in the country in 2004, 2007, and 2008. Middlesex is also the first hospital in Connecticut to earn the national Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence. It was redesignated as a Magnet hospital in 2005.