Licking Memorial Health Systems - Measurably different...for your health
Quality & Safety > Awards & Recognitions > 2013 Active•Fit Youth Wellness Program and Jane Melin, RPh., Bring Prestigious Recognitions to LMHS
2013 Active•Fit Youth Wellness Program and Jane Melin, RPh., Bring Prestigious Recognitions to LMHS

2013 Active•Fit Youth Wellness Program and Jane Melin, RPh., Bring Prestigious Recognitions to LMHS

Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) received two prestigious awards at a reception in Columbus.  The 2013 Health Care Heroes Awards, presented by Columbus Business First, recognized LMHS’ Active•Fit Program and Registered Pharmacist Jane Melin, RPh.
 
Active•Fit Youth Wellness Program – Community Outreach Award Winner
The Active•Fit Youth Wellness Program received the Community Outreach Award which was designed to recognize an awareness program that educates the general community about vital healthcare issues.  Active•Fit began in 2012 as a collaborative effort between LMHS and Newark Advocate Media to address the rising incidence of childhood obesity in Licking County.  Under the innovative program, youth between the ages of 6 and 12 are encouraged to make beneficial lifestyle changes that include increased physical activity, healthy eating choices and adequate sleep.  Under the supervision of an adult, participants set goals and track their progress.  In addition, LMHS frequently hosts free, fun health-related events that can be used toward the youths’ goals.  At the end of each four-month period, participants are eligible for a prize drawing if they have met their goals.  Prizes have included Xbox 360 units with fitness software, bicycles, iPods with exercise software, gift cards to sporting goods retailers and athletic shoes.  Active•Fit was previously recognized by Jackson Healthcare as a Program of Promise.  
 
“We developed the Active•Fit Youth Wellness Program in an effort to make a meaningful impact on the community’s health,” stated LMHS President & CEO Rob Montagnese.  “By helping our youth develop healthier habits at a young age, we believe their healthier lifestyles will continue into adulthood and improve their health on a lifelong basis.  We are thrilled with the community’s response to the program and that the Community Outreach Award recognizes the importance of our efforts.”
 
Jane Melin, RPh.
Jane Melin, RPh., of the Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Pharmacy, received an Honorable Mention in the Care for the Underserved Award category.  In her 30 years at LMH, Jane has helped shape the Hospital’s prescription policies, expanded the LMHS Employee Prescription Program, educated physicians about affordable prescription alternatives, matched indigent patients with free or reduced-cost prescriptions, provided medication information at Diabetes Self-Management Classes, and counseled patients on insulin therapy.  Jane has also been instrumental in the Central Ohio Diabetes Association’s Project Impact that is part of a national initiative to study the impact of pharmacist counseling on diabetes patients’ outcomes.
 
“Jane exemplifies the Health Systems’ mission to improve the health of the community,” Rob said.  “She believes strongly that education will enable patients to take better care of their conditions.  When patients have concerns or difficulties, she listens compassionately and sets out to help them find solutions.  LMHS is fortunate to have Jane demonstrating how much difference one person can make in others’ lives.”