Chesapeake Regional Healthcare Receives Three 2022 Health Care Hero Awards

CHESAPEAKE, Va. –  Each year, Inside Business recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that are making a noteworthy difference in health care across Hampton Roads. There are 18 honorees this year and Chesapeake Regional Healthcare is receiving three. Each recognizes an individual, company, or organization for their contributions to improving health care in Hampton Roads. 

CORPORATE ACHIEVEMENTS IN HEALTHCARE
Women’s Wellness Wednesdays 
Created to help women in need access resources to improve their health. The goal was to break down barriers and disparities in care faced by many residents in South Norfolk. From June – December 2021, Chesapeake Regional collaborated with more than 40 community groups and organizations to offer information, health screenings, food, housing, internet access, employment and enrollment in programs to improve the community’s health. Roughly 150 women came each month. 

COMMUNITY SERVICE
HOPE Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response program 
HOPE (Healing Opportunities Providing Empowerment) is the only interpersonal violence prevention and response program of its kind in Hampton Roads and the only community-based victim support agency in Chesapeake. It’s also the only hospital-based interpersonal violence response entity assisting victims 24/7 as their emergency arises. The HOPE team is on-call for everything from emergency housing to court accompaniment. The program coordinator, Meredith M. Noha, is a former police officer, probation officer and sexual assault response coordinator, and hired to specifically build the program. 

NURSE LEADER
Sharon Blackwell, RN 
Registered nurse and certified case manager Sharon Blackwell, works as the multi-visit care manager in Chesapeake Regional’s Emergency Department. She assesses what keeps patients who visit the hospital five or more times in a 12-month time span coming to the Emergency Department and determines what barriers are preventing them from receiving necessary care. Her work has led to a 51% decrease in multi-visit patients returning to the ED. She created Women’s Wellness Wednesdays, a health initiative to provide resources to women in underserved areas of our city beginning in South Norfolk in 2021.

“We are very pleased to continue supporting the Health Care Heroes awards as Executive Sponsor,” said Reese Jackson, President and CEO of Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. “Each year we nominate several deserving programs and clinicians and are happy to help acknowledge many other deserving Health Care Heroes throughout Hampton Roads.” 

Health Care Hero awards epitomize the spirit embodied in the word “hero” for those delivering health care to our community. The goals of the program are to recognize excellence, promote innovation, encourage emulation of successful programs, educate the public, contribute to the enhancement of the value and quality of health care, and to give recognition to those deserving.

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About Chesapeake Regional Healthcare
Chesapeake Regional Healthcare is a health system laser focused on innovation, known for making medical history in the region and providing patients with truly personal care. It’s hospital, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, is the only independent, community-based hospital in Hampton Roads. With a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the best heart attack survival rates of the major systems in the region, and a nationally accredited Chest Pain Center, Chesapeake Regional’s cardiac program is expanding. The system has a state-of-the-art neurointerventional suite, comprehensive cancer care, the most preferred Labor & Delivery program in the area, nearly 40 practice locations and approximately 600 physicians on staff. Chesapeake Regional Healthcare’s technologically advanced health care saves lives every day. Learn more at ChesapeakeRegional.com.