Lourdes wins 1995 McGaw Prize. Camden, N.J., hospital receives coveted award for excellence in community service.
Once a year, the prestigious Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service is presented to a hospital. This year's award, presented Aug. 21 at the American Hospital Association's 1995 convention in San Francisco, was awarded to Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, N.J. Camden, N.J., is a city awash in negative statistics. It is considered the most economically depressed city of its size in the United States. A Rand Corp. study considers it one of the three worst areas in the country (placed in the "disaster" class). Not surprisingly, the problems extend to healthcare indicators as well. In the middle of Camden and in the middle of the statistics in Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. Their efforts and their commitment to the community is driven by its mission and vision, which states that working collaboratively, Lourdes "...will be both a catalyst and major participant in the revitalization of the city...in community benefit programs and community activities that give meaning, dignity and hope to all." Our cover story this issue examines the many and varied programs that enabled Our Lady of Lourdes to win the coveted prize, awarded "to a healthcare organization that demonstrates commitment to community service through a range of innovative programs that expand access to healthcare." And if your healthcare organization plans to enter the competition next year, we've included a bonus: Some helpful hints from this year's winner on putting the application together.
D001363:Awards and Prizes; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations / Q000592:standards*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000592:standards*; D009515:New Jersey; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D012574:Schools