2014 Award Winner

Minnesota Hospital Association

Hearts Beat Back: The Heart of New Ulm Project and New Ulm Medical Center are the recipients of a 2014 Community Benefit Award (small hospital category) from the Minnesota Hospital Association.

The Minnesota Hospital Association’s Annual Health Care Awards honor the best and brightest in Minnesota health care — individuals who have offered dedicated service to hospitals and organizations that have implemented successful, innovative programs.

The Heart of New Ulm Project is a 10-year initiative to significantly reduce heart attacks among residents in the community of New Ulm and is a collaborative partnership of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Allina Health’s New Ulm Medical Center and the community of New Ulm.

Jackie Boucher, senior vice president and chief operating officer for the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, said, “New Ulm is a great example of a community where the clinic and hospital, local employers, civic organizations, businesses, public health, local schools and individual community members are all successfully working together to create a sustainable culture of health. In the future, we hope that other communities will look to New Ulm as an example of how stakeholders in health and wellness can effectively connect to transform their community.”

Toby Freier, president of New Ulm Medical Center, added, “Rising health care costs and greater demand for quality outcomes are challenging hospitals and health care systems everywhere to develop population health approaches focused on prevention, improved chronic disease management and wellness activities. The partnership between New Ulm Medical Center and the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation has enabled the Heart of New Ulm to be innovative in its approach and demonstrate quality outcomes.”