The American Hospital Association presented a national award today (Aug. 23) in Enos Park to HSHS St. John’s Hospital and Memorial Medical Center for their work to improve the health and quality of life in the Enos Park neighborhood.

The two nonprofit hospitals received the NOVA Award, which recognizes hospitals and health systems across the nation for their collaborative efforts toward improving community health. The hospitals were among five recipients of the national award.

The outdoor ceremony was held in Enos Park at Seventh and Enterprise streets.

Doug Shaw, the AHA’s senior vice president for field engagement, attended the local ceremony to present the award to Ed Curtis, president and CEO of Memorial Health System, and Dr. Charles Lucore, president and CEO of HSHS St. John’s Hospital.

Launched in 2015, the Enos Park Access to Care Collaborative is a partnership between the two hospitals and SIU Medicine’s Center for Family Medicine, a federally qualified health center.

The hospitals and SIU launched a community health worker program to serve the approximately 2,300 residents of the neighborhood, which is located between the two hospitals.

The program has increased the number of people with a medical home, reduced emergency department visits for non-emergent health issues and improved the self-sufficiency of program participants.

The program also has increased access to pediatric mental health services through screening intervention and educational services at its local elementary school and other neighborhood sites.