LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Baptist Health’s TeleHealth Lactation Consulting Program was recently named a national finalist of the 2015 Hospital Charitable Services Awards sponsored by Jackson Healthcare.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Jackson Healthcare is among the largest healthcare staffing and technology companies in the United States and champions local, national and international charitable work. It founded and sponsors the Hospital Charitable Service Awards, which honors programs that set new standards for health and wellness in their communities through education, access and delivery.
Baptist Health’s TeleHealth Lactation Consulting Program was among 101 nominations from 33 states (and the only nomination from Arkansas) for the Hospital Charitable Service Awards. Only 52 were selected as finalist based on impact, collaboration, leading practice, transferability and innovation.
“As hospital-sponsored community benefit and health programs, these finalists stood out because of the way they’re changing lives,” said Charles R. Evans, FACHE, chair for Hospital Charitable Services Awards. “This year’s programs – which range from crisis response to chronic disease to childhood obesity – have demonstrated through data how they’re improving the health status of their community.”
Funded by a grant from The Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas and implemented by Baptist Health Expressly For You, the telehealth consulting program helps give new moms local support that they ordinarily wouldn’t have access to.
Using an iPad with a HIPAA compliant connection via Vidyo, nurses at rural hospital across the state can bring an RN IBCLC certified lactation consultant located in Little Rock right to a new mom’s bedside to offer assistance. IBCLC certified lactation consultants are healthcare professionals that specialize in the management of breastfeeding and are identified in the CDC guide as an intervention shown to be effective in improving hospital maternity care practices and breastfeeding rates. This is important because breastfeeding rates in Arkansas are among the lowest in the country.
On Feb. 9, 2016, at the national Hospital Charitable Services Conference in Atlanta, 10 programs from the 52 finalists will be named Programs of Excellence and awarded $10,000 grants. In addition, $2,500 grants will be awarded to Programs of Promise identified as newer programs that demonstrate a clear vision for addressing community need in innovative ways.
With more than 175 points of access, including eight hospitals, Baptist Health is committed to delivering “All Our Best” in healthcare to the people of Arkansas. For more information about Baptist Health services, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST.