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Hospitals Promote Good Health, Generosity as The Holidays Kick Off

 |  By Marianne@example.com  
   December 04, 2013

Healthcare organizations use holiday cheer to make a positive impact on their communities, through shopping discounts for preventive care, a food drive, and staff volunteering.

Last Friday, about 140 million Americans dragged themselves out of post-Thanksgiving food comas to hit the Black Friday sales. There seems to have been even more talk than usual this year about how the increasing commercialization of the holidays has been affecting traditional values. This got me wondering how hospitals, which are held in high regard for such values, have reached out to their communities during the lead-up to Thanksgiving and if their tactics have changed.

I found four organizations that have used holiday cheer to make a positive impact on their communities—including one that is using the season's retail fever to its advantage.

Retail discounts for health screenings

Chicago-area shoppers can now receive discounts along with taking an active role in their preventive care, thanks to Silver Cross Hospital's partnership with a local mall.

As part of the program called "I Matter," mall retailers such as Caché, Eddie Bauer, Fannie May chocolates, Today's Nails, Virgin Mobile, and Wetzels Pretzels are offering savings to patients who complete a mammography or heart screening at the Silver Cross hospital in New Lenox, IL.

While the retail partnership is new, the I Matter campaign isn't; over the past four years, more than 4,200 women have joined the program. In addition to the retail discounts, members also receive a welcome gift, which includes information on how to schedule a mammogram or cardiac screening.

For completing one health screening per year, a member receives a discount card that provides 5% off on unlimited purchases at 55 area businesses. Completing a second health screening in the year gets you 10% off unlimited purchases.

"As a trusted healthcare partner with exceptional services for women, I Matter is our way of adding extra value to the most valuable asset of all, your good health and the great life that comes with it," said Marci Vasiliades, manager of the Silver Cross Center for Women's Health, in a press release.

The I Matter program has its own interactive microsite detailing the campaign's benefits as well as lots of valuable health and screening information. This program is an inventive way to help patients become more proactive in their healthcare while also lowering holiday shopping bills.

'Food fight' for needy families

Last week, two Oregon hospitals partnered with a local food bank to start a friendly competition for a food drive campaign.

Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria and Providence Seaside Hospital in nearby Seaside each set up several locations in their communities to collect donated food. The competition runs on a point-based system:

  • 10 points each for items such as canned meats, boxed cereal, cooking oil, Bisquick baking mix, coffee, chili and beef stew, large soups with meat, condiments, peanut butter, jam, or jelly.
  • 5 points each for items such as cocoa and hot chocolate, instant oatmeal, canned fruit, dried fruit, apple sauce, hamburger helper and tuna helper, Rice-a-Roni, macaroni and cheese, pancake mix, sugar, maple syrup, bottled juice, and canned vegetables.
  • 1 point each for items such as Jell-O, canned spaghetti sauce, Stove Top stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, and cake mix.

Cash and check donations were welcomed, as well, with each dollar adding 5 points to the corresponding hospital. The healthy competition will help needy families eat well this winter, and that's a win for everyone involved.

Hospital employees dish out meals, clothing

CarePoint Health, a three-hospital system in northern New Jersey, donated funding and encouraged staff to volunteer at local homeless shelters this Thanksgiving to ensure that anyone in need could get a hot meal. The health system also donated sweaters, hats, and blankets to the shelters to help their patrons stay warm this winter.

CarePoint gave $1,000 checks to several food pantries to make certain they didn't run out of food, while hospital staff signed up at local shelters to help prepare and serve meals.

"This is about CarePoint's commitment to the community," said Karen Stewart, director of marketing and public relations for CarePoint, who handed out clothing at one shelter. "These are often the same people the hospital serves."

Volunteer opportunities like these not only help an organization's community but improve staff morale, too, by promoting teamwork and the philanthropic spirit.

Marianne Aiello is a contributing writer at HealthLeaders Media.

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