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American Heart Association

HCR Home Care earns certification from American Heart Association

By Press Release

Press Release:

HCR Home Care has earned Home Health Heart Failure certification from the American Heart Association®, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all.

The certification provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating home health agencies against the American Heart Association’s rigorous science-based standards for heart failure patients, including program management, patient and caregiver education and support, care coordination, clinical management, and quality improvement.

“Obtaining American Heart Association certification for our heart failure program is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Adrianne Mann, RN, BSN, MSHA, chief nursing officer and administrator of HCR’s Certified Home Health Agency. “Our staff provides quality care to our patients, and it is great to be recognized for all of their hard work and dedication.”

“I am proud to be part of such an amazing interdisciplinary team of home care experts,” said Chris Chimenti, senior director of clinical innovation, HCR Home Care. “We have been working with the AHA for more than a year to achieve this valued designation. This partnership will ensure the highest standards of care are offered to our patients living with heart failure.”

“This certification affirms the lifesaving mission and goal of the American Heart Association to help every person everywhere have the opportunity for a longer, healthier life,” said Kyle G. Lavergne, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, American Heart Association volunteer and founding member of the certification standards writing committee and director of clinical programs of the LHC Group. “We’re pleased to have HCR Home Care join the national network of American Heart Association Home Health Heart Failure certified agencies.”

The certification signifies confidence that:

  • An agency’s heart failure program is based on standards aligned with the American Heart Association science.
  • The agency is recognized by the American Heart Association, based on professional evaluation criteria designed by heart failure and home care experts.
  • Care is coordinated from pre-admission through working with the home health agency to discharge.

ESL Federal Credit Union recognized for Workplace Health Achievement

By Press Release

Press release:

ESL Federal Credit Union, which has a branch in Batavia, is pleased to be recognized for taking significant steps to build a culture of health in the workplace. ESL recently received Gold recognition – the highest possible rating – for the second consecutive year by the American Heart Association 2020 Workplace Health Achievement Index.

The American Heart Association’s Workplace Health Achievement Index measures the extent to which the company has implemented workplace health best practices.

ESL offers a comprehensive program that addresses all facets of wellness through its BeWell@ESL Employee Wellness Program. The company provides its employees with the tools they need to stay healthy and well.

Some recent examples of programs offered include: a series of Wellness Webinars for employees; an on-site library with books focused on nutrition, fitness, financial wellbeing, mindfulness, and general health topics; financial incentives for healthy activities; as well as discounted medical premiums with annual health screenings.

“We are honored to receive Gold recognition for the second year in a row by the American Heart Association for our investment into our employee wellness programs,” said Maureen Wolfe, ESL senior vice president/director of human resources and community impact.

“The challenges workplaces face amid the COVID-19 pandemic reaffirms the importance and our commitment to ensuring employees have accessible tools and resources to make healthy choices and lead healthy lives.”

The American Heart Association created the Index with its CEO Roundtable, a leadership collaborative of more than 40 CEOs from some of America’s largest companies who are committed to applying evidence-based approaches to improve their employees’ overall health. 

The American Heart Association’s Workplace Health Solutions offers a suite of evidence-based tools to help optimize current employee health programs. These tools leverage the science behind the Index while improving consumer engagement and promoting healthier behaviors. For more information, visit www.heart.org/workplacehealth.

Byron-Bergen schoolchildren learn about smart eating and healthy living

By Billie Owens

Submitted photos and press release:

Bergen -- Byron-Bergen Elementary School received some very special guests on Nov. 1. Representatives from the American Heart Association and Bonduelle USA kicked off Eat Smart Month by visiting every classroom and delivering vegetable seeds and a message about the importance of eating and living healthily.

Marc Natale and Robin Swan from the American Heart Association were joined by Janette Bonstead, Diane Cholowsky, Kortney Connell, April Fox, Michelle Hoffman, and Beth Scroger from Bonduelle USA to greet the elementary students as they entered the school. Each child went home with vegetable seeds and an informational brochure about eating healthy including a recipe for Simple Chicken Pot Pie.

“It’s important for us to be involved in the community,” said one of the Bonduelle participants. “We are located right here and it’s exciting to share information on healthy eating with our families and neighbors.”

As the guests visited classrooms, students became very excited to grow their own vegetables to eat.

“We want to inspire families and kids to talk about what it means to eat healthy, offer healthy meal options and seeds to start their own garden,” said Lorri Harkins, IT Service desk manager, Bonduelle Americas Long Life.

The message of eating healthy was reinforced in the lunchroom where Friday’s lunches included a special side dish.

“We are serving peas and carrots in the cafeteria today,” said Byron-Bergen Food Service Director Mary Della Penna. “This is a very nice community outreach project and we’re happy to participate.”

Byron-Bergen was one of three districts chosen for a November visit. Bonduelle provided more than 1,500 seed packets of peas and carrots for distribution

 during the first week of November to Byron-Bergen, and two Rochester elementary schools -- Fyle and Lakeshore.

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