Healthy West Kendall and West Kendall Baptist Hospital recognized with tribute in the Florida House of Representatives
MIAMI ―February 20, 2020 ― Healthy West Kendall and West Kendall Baptist Hospital have been honored with a Tribute on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives. Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez (District 105) formally recognized the organizations recently for their work to improve the health and wellness of the community.
Launched in 2013, Healthy West Kendall began as an initiative to make West Kendall the blueprint for a healthy, thriving community. West Kendall Baptist Hospital serves as the anchor organization of the initiative, which includes partnerships with area schools, local government, business and religious leaders, universities, law enforcement and transportation experts. Together, the group is tackling issues from all sectors of the community, including health, safety, economics, education and more.
The Tribute calls attention specifically to free health screenings offered daily in the hospital lobby and at special events and the Walking School Bus project, that brings school children, their parents, community leaders and hospital employees together as they discover the benefits of walking to school. These are just two examples of numerous projects ― from economic and mental health studies to a free food and school-supply pantry at local schools with a high population of underserved children to an annual water safety event ― that involve many area residents.
“To solve our community’s biggest challenges, Healthy West Kendall is harnessing the strengths and expertise of a variety of organizations to work toward a common goal. We have made great progress on our journey,” said Michelle Mejia, assistant vice president of Health Promotion & Strategic Partnerships at West Kendall Baptist Hospital. Ms. Mejia accepted the Tribute from the House of Representatives on behalf of the organizations.
Healthy West Kendall also supports the Communities of Excellence 2026 initiative, a national program that is determined to improve health, educational outcomes and economic conditions for residents by 2026, the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. West Kendall Baptist Hospital has advanced to the third level of the program that follows the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework.
About West Kendall Baptist Hospital
West Kendall Baptist Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, more than 23,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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