Care Ring Receives National Healthcare Award from Health Industry Leaders
Healthcare Leadership Council Honors Care Ring with the Redefining American Healthcare Award
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC) honored Care Ring with the Redefining American Healthcare Award during a virtual ceremony on Zoom on August 9, 2021.
Care Ring has multiple programs which increase accessibility to healthcare services to uninsured and underinsured locals as well as at-risk mothers and their babies. The organization uses its Low-Cost Clinic, Nurse-Family Partnership and Physicians Reach Out to provide comprehensive healthcare to those who would not otherwise be able to obtain it. Care Ring serves as a link within the community to affordable, high-quality preventive healthcare.
Tchernavia Montgomery, executive director of Care Ring, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. “We happily serve as a catalyst for change, conduit for synergistic partnerships and a champion for all, representing the voices of those who need it most.”
Care Ring’s chief medical director, Dr. Kaaren Sailer, stated in a video recording, “As access to healthcare has increased, so has our understanding that addressing social determinants of health is critical to improving the health of those we serve.”
“One of the most important priorities for the healthcare system in the 21st century is to envision and implement new models that go beyond conventional clinical care paradigms and deliver better health and improved well-being to people where they are, meeting the needs of people who have been overlooked and underserved for far too long” said Mary R. Grealy, president of HLC. “It’s not an overstatement at all to say that Care Ring is the picture of what American healthcare needs to be right now.”
“We are deeply intertwined with Care Ring and believe whole heartedly in the work that it does,” said Eugene A. Woods, president and CEO of Atrium Health, highlighting Care Ring’s commitment to health equity. “Care Ring is on the leading edge in developing new ways to help patients with challenges such a food security, stable housing, medication access, health literacy, transportation and so much more.”
“Care Ring estimates savings of more than $15 million in avoidable emergency room visits and hospital charges in the past year alone. These are costs that would have been paid by all of us, in the form of higher price tags on medical care and health insurance premiums.” Dr. Tunde Sotunde, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, stated. “With an ear to the past and an eye to the future, Care Ring is indeed redefining American health care.”
Representative Alma Adams (NC-12) recorded video remarks in advance. “As co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Illinois representative, Lauren Underwood, I am especially proud of the work that you do to improve the health outcomes of mothers of color and their babies.”
The Healthcare Leadership Council created the “Redefining American Healthcare Award” to recognize best practices and programs in communities and organizations across the nation that optimize care for vulnerable patients. Award recipients are organizations developing and activating cost-effective, measurable community programs promoting a patient-centered approach to care that considers outside social factors in order to achieve the best outcomes.
The Healthcare Leadership Council is a coalition of chief executives of the nation’s leading healthcare companies and institutions. Follow us on Twitter at @HealthInFocus.
A video of the virtual presentation of the award can be found here: https://vimeo.com/585146810
For Immediate Release
August 09, 2021
Contact: Kelly Fernandez 202-449-3452
