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Book for expectant and new parents wins national
“best consumer health information” award
Owatonna, MN 09/28/2001--
A patient education manual used at Owatonna Hospital and published
by Allina Health System Press received a 2001 Gold Award, the highest
honor, in the annual National Health Information Awards competition.
The awards program, coordinated by the Health Information Resource
Center, recognizes the nation’s best consumer health information
programs and materials. The book, titled
Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, was authored by a
group of physicians and employees who provide pregnancy care within
Allina’s hospitals. The internal experts who created the manual
continue to collaborate on all pregnancy and birth information that
is developed into patient education materials.
Nearly 21,000 copies of
Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, have been distributed
to Allina facilities and referring physician offices, including the
collaborative efforts of Owatonna Hospital, Owatonna Clinic, and
Steele County public health. The manual also is available in Spanish.
“We’ve found this manual to be a great tool that steps expectant
mothers through each phase of pregnancy and birth,” says Sharon
Kapp, RN, who oversees Owatonna Hospital’s prenatal and pregnancy
programs. “The manual also helps us keep our messages consistent no
matter who you contact first – public health, your physician’s
office, or the hospital. We even ask women to bring the book with
them when they come in to have their baby because we reference things
such as how to complete a birth certificate.”
The book’s popularity with patients, along with its retail
potential, continues to grow. A generic edition that omits specific
references to Allina facilities has been published and sold to health
care facilities outside of Allina’s market area, including hospitals
in Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
For more information about
Beginnings: Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, or to purchase a copy
of the book ($29.95), contact the Allina Education and Research
Administration office at 612-775-9626.
Owatonna Hospital is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a
non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health care
services. Allina Hospitals & Clinics provides care throughout
Minnesota and western
Wisconsin.
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