Presence Mercy Medical Center honors Compañeros en Salud with Inspire Award
Compañeros en Salud/Partners in Health, NFP was honored with the 2015 Inspire Award for Community Service from Presence Mercy Medical Center at a ceremony on May 14.
This award, presented annually, recognizes community leaders or organizations exemplifying the values that inspire the hospital's outreach to the community.
Presence Mercy's mission committee, an advisory group of committed community citizens, nominated Compañeros en Salud in recognition of the organization's ongoing dedication to help the Hispanic community and other diverse groups access appropriate health care and social services.
By sharing information, education and guidance, the organization helps empower the Hispanic population to become an integral participant in the community.
"Thanks to their volunteer driven coalition, many in our area view Compañeros en Salud as a bridge to a culturally responsive exchange of information and resources to improve health and well-being of our neighborhoods. We recognize their efforts as a critical extension of our commitment to support a healthy and safe community," said Michael L. Brown, president and CEO of Presence Mercy Medical Center.
As a key Hispanic social service agency in the Fox River Valley area, Compañeros en Salud's programs not only advocate for Hispanic individuals but also bring focus to issues that impact them as individuals and our community at large.
"Compañeros en Salud was instrumental in establishing the Center for Diabetic Wellness at Presence Mercy Medical Center," said Maria Aurora Diaz, director of Presence Mercy Medical Center Community Health. "With their help obtaining grant funding, the Center for Diabetic Wellness was opened in 2005 and has since served over 3,000 people in the community."
Compañeros en Salud is also responsible for driving the formation of Language Access to Healthcare, a program that provides translating services at Presence Mercy Medical Center and in the community.
"We are deeply honored to receive this Inspire Award. I am proud of the collaboration that exists between our organizations," said Maria Iniguez, board chairwoman of Compañeros en Salud. "I come from a family that had a language barrier for many years and lacked the knowledge of the health care system. Coalitions like Compañeros en Salud can change a life. It is rewarding to empower people to take charge of their health."
Compañeros en Salud will also be honored along with the Inspire Award winners from other Presence Health hospitals at a ceremony in Chicago on June 30.
About Presence Mercy Medical Center
With family-friendly, patient-centered features like new private rooms and a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center, Presence Mercy Medical Center is positively impacting the health of Fox River Valley communities. Offering 293 licensed beds and more than 450 physicians, Presence Mercy provides advanced services in cardiology, cancer care, behavioral health, GI, diabetes care, orthopedics, and maternal/child health.
About Presence Health
Presence Health is the largest Catholic health system based in Illinois, created in November 2011 through the merger of Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care. With more than 150 sites of care, including 11 hospitals, Presence Health has more than 20,000 employees, 4,000 medical professionals and a revenue base of $2.5 billion.