Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr. CEO Name],
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes of New York and the 1199SEIU National Benefit Fund, in collaboration with the New York City Health Department, are committed to providing 1199SEIU members with a wide range of wellness programs. To this end, we encourage [hospital name] to join two Health Department initiatives designed to enhance the health of your employees, patients, and visitors – the Healthy Hospital Food Initiative and the Tobacco-Free Hospitals Campaign.
The Healthy Hospital Food Initiative provides hospitals with food guidelines for patient meals, vending machines, and retail locations to complement your current efforts to provide a healthy food environment. Health Department staff can support your efforts with technical assistance and will publicize your progress by annually recognizing your achievements.
The Tobacco-Free Hospitals Campaign helps hospitals achieve excellence related to employee cessation programs and patient assessment and treatment for tobacco use. The Health Department will provide resources and technical assistance for hospitals to improve employee health and fulfill Joint Commission and Meaningful Use tobacco-related measures. Joining this campaign will support your efforts to create a comprehensive system to promote a tobacco-free environment and help people quit smoking.
Enclosed please find fuller descriptions and a sample letter to indicate your commitment to join the Healthy Hospital Food Initiative and the Tobacco-Free Hospitals Campaign. Both programs are supported by a time-limited federal grant; therefore, we encourage you to enroll by September 30th. The key contact for each program is:
Healthy Hospital Food Initiative
Erica Krepp, MS, CHES
(347) 396-4325; ekrepp@health.nyc.gov
Tobacco-Free Hospitals Campaign
Marie Bresnahan, MPH
(347) 396-4550; mbresnahan@health.nyc.gov
We are confident that, working together, we can make significant progress in creating hospital worksites that promote good health.
Sincerely,
George Gresham, President Bruce McIver, President
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes
Maria Castaneda, Secretary-Treasurer Thomas Farley, MD, MPH, Commissioner
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Mitra Behroozi, Executive Director
1199SEIU National Benefit Fund