May 02, 2000
Contact:
Tony Dagnone
President & Chief Executive Officer
LHSC
519-685-8462
Contact:
Cliff Nordal
President & Chief Executive Officer
SJHC London
519-646-64200
London hospitals honoured for excellence in health care communications
(LONDON, Ontario) London hospitals and foundations have been selected for communications honours by the Health Care Public Relations Association (HCPRA), which earlier this month announced its annual Hygeia Award winners in Toronto, Ontario.
The Hygeia Awards program recognize excellence in Canadian health care communications. The annual awards program encourages Canadian health care public relations professionals to strive to meet the highest standards in their communications work, regardless of the size, resources or location. The Health Care Public Relations Association, with more than 200 members nationwide, is the only organization primarily focused on concerns of the public relations professional in the Canadian health care setting.
London hospitals and foundations garnered accolades for three separate entries. A second place Hygeia was bestowed on London Health Sciences Centre and London Health Sciences Foundation for their combined 1999 Annual Reports, Through the voices of our patients, Through the voices of our community. In the internal newsletter category, a third place went to the hospital's newsletter, thePage.
"I'm delighted to see the peer recognition of our communications efforts and very proud of the team of people who made these projects a success," says London Health Sciences Centre President and CEO Tony Dagnone. "Effective communication with our staff and physicians, our patients and our community is a big part of the excellence we strive for."
A third place honour was also presented jointly to London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care London and the Lashbrook Group, a local communications consulting firm, in the special publications category. This distinction was awarded for a report announcing the master plan for city-wide hospital restructuring, London Hospitals: Building solutions for a healthier tomorrow.
"The shared nature of the awards reflect the kind of cooperation we have developed together with St. Joseph's, and the close link between our hospital and our foundation," concludes Dagnone.
Adds St. Joseph's Health Care, London President, Cliff Nordal, "I am pleased the efforts to keep our community informed of London's future hospital system have been recognized nationally. Communication is central to our work together and with our community."
The HCPRA received a total of 115 entries from around the country, and handed out 27 Hygeia awards in nine categories, including the three shared by LHSC.
