RBA Healthcare Initiative Nationally Recognized

The Rochester Business Alliance has received two prestigious awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its leadership in promoting wellness and continuous improvements in our region's health care system.

At a news conference Tuesday (Sept. 18), Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt and Rear Admiral Penelope Royall, HHS deputy assistant secretary for health, presented the Rochester Business Alliance with the Prevention Award for a community rollout of the "eat well. live well. Challenge," a wellness program first developed by Wegmans Food Markets for its own employees, and the Community Leader for Value-Driven Health Care for several programs instituted by the RBA Healthcare Initiative.

Sandy Parker, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance received the awards, which she said really belonged to the community's business leaders who have worked diligently with our organization on achieving the RBA Healthcare Initiative's goals. Those goals include work place wellness, development of regional health care information network, encouraging increased use of generic drugs where appropriate and instituting Lean Six Sigma efficiency practices in the area's major health systems.

Parker said the HHS awards would be posted prominently in Rochester Business Alliance offices for the community to see.

Also speaking at the media conference, held at the Rochester Institute of Technology, were Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, County Health Director Dr. Andrew Doniger and Wegmans CEO Danny Wegman.

"On behalf of our member companies, our partners in these initiatives - as well as the 87 companies who participated in our spring '2007 eat well. live well. Challenge' - I am delighted to receive this important recognition," Parker said in prepared statement.

"For the last three years, our members have told us that rising health care costs are a major impediment to their business growth. And we also know that many employers are worried about their workers having access to quality health care. So I am proud to have the Rochester Business Alliance recognized for its efforts to address these critical issues in our community."

The designations are part of the Health and Human Services Department initiative to develop a nationwide system and network of collaboratives aimed at improving quality and value in health care. The Rochester Business Alliance is one of six organizations in New York state - and the only one specifically in Upstate New York - to receive the Community Leader designation.