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Riverhead, NY – HRHCare Community Health is pleased to announce that the HRHCare Health Center at Riverhead will be presented with a Planetree Award for Innovation in Patient Care. This award is presented by the HRHCare Planetree Institute to exemplary staff who find new ways to advocate for patients and create innovative ways for them to access high quality and affordable health care.
During a snowstorm in early 2016, Anne Nolon, MPH, President and CEO of HRHCare, paid a visit to the Riverhead Health Center. The staff took this opportunity to show her the outdoor central atrium, then covered with cinderblocks and other debris, and proposed the idea to turn this space into a garden. Mrs. Nolon approved the plan and the staff immediately set to work on planning how to beautify the space. When spring came the staff were given a budget to purchase flowers and gardening tools to bring this transformation project to life. Giving of their own personal time and a hefty amount of elbow grease, their project was quickly noticed by other tenants of the building in which the Health Center resides. While at first perplexing the county office workers in the building, they quickly came to realize what a beautiful project this was and how everyone in the building would benefit. The Department of Labor was so excited that they even asked to take part in the spring clean-up.
“The Riverhead staff have created an oasis in the atrium that has thrilled everyone in the building,” said Kathy Brieger, MA, RD, CDE, HRHCare Chief of Patient Experience and Staff Development. “This project has been a live illustration to staff and patients that HRHCare brings to life places that were previously not in bloom!”
Planetree is the global leader in advancing patient-centered care solutions, integrating the technology of modern medicine with the healing dimensions of compassion, comfortable surroundings, shared knowledge and freedom to make educated choices. HRHCare has been an affiliate since 1996 and remains the only Federally Qualified Health Center to be a part of this alliance. The HRHCare Planetree Institute was established in 2012 and provides state-of-the-art training to prepare staff in delivering passionate and personalized care. The HRHCare Planetree Spirit Award honors employees who have been nominated by their colleagues for going above and beyond to provide individualized patient care and enhance health care services in their respective facility.
About HRHCare
HRHCare Community Health is a nonprofit, New York State licensed, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Founded over 40 years ago to provide care to the medically underserved population of Peekskill, New York, HRHCare is now one of the nation’s largest community health providers. From the Capitol Region to the East-End of Long Island, the HRHCare network of 26 health centers provides affordable, accessible care to more than 150,000 patients through 500,000 visits annually. Our more than 350 primary care practitioners and 700 specialists and support staff have made HRHCare a destination for high-quality and compassionate care for all.
As HRHCare has grown it has retained its core values of community and compassion. Excelling in patient care, HRHCare provides comprehensive services to anyone who walks through our doors. HRHCare health centers provide primary and preventive treatment including adult and pediatric care; obstetrical and gynecological care; family planning; HIV counseling, testing, and referral; dental services; mental health counseling; nutrition counseling; podiatry; WIC services; health education; and a full complement of outreach, translation, transportation, benefits counseling and health insurance enrollment assistance.
HRHCare has a profound commitment to the communities it serves and works to improve community health through partnerships and collaborations with local community leaders, businesses, social service agencies, housing organizations, food banks, agricultural worker alliances and other local stakeholders. HRHCare believes if it wants to ensure quality care for its patients, it should ensure quality pay for its staff, which is why it provides a minimum living wage of $15 an hour for all employees.
For more information contact:
Jeffrey Palmer
Public Relations Specialist
914.425.0890
