Concord, NH — The New Hampshire Hospital Association has announced it earned a Power of Associations Gold Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for its COVID-19 Response and Recovery initiative.

The New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA) and its affiliated organization, the Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC), demonstrated the Power of Community Support and Engagement through its response to the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of the health care community and residents of New Hampshire. Those efforts included establishing its incident command on behalf of member hospitals, launching the COVID-19 Response & Recovery team that remains in place today, and transforming staff resources to prioritize the needs of member hospitals and New Hampshire residents.

“Congratulations to the New Hampshire Hospital Association and its partner, the Foundation for Healthy Communities, for exemplifying the impact associations have on the industries and professions they represent, and on society at large,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “It’s always so incredibly satisfying to see associations going above and beyond their everyday mission to change the world. We’re very proud to spotlight this award-winning initiative.”

The NHHA engaged the Foundation for Healthy Communities and its Granite State Health Care Coalition, the regional health care emergency response coalition that works across the continuum of care with hospitals, long-term care facilities and public health networks, along with public health officials with the Department of Health & Human Services, member hospitals and others in support of the state’s public health response to the pandemic. Strengthened by this collaboration, the NHHA continues to address variant surges, clinical and public health recommendations, vital updates on COVID-19 responses, trending COVID-19 metrics, and vaccine and anti-viral medication distribution efforts as well as vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

“From the very beginning of the pandemic, our priority was to ensure the highest level of collaboration and engagement on behalf of New Hampshire residents,” stated Steve Ahnen, president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association. “The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the true depth of community support and engagement needed in order to support patients and communities across New Hampshire, and we couldn’t be more proud of those efforts.”

“New Hampshire hospitals came together to face the worst public health crisis they have ever experienced with such strength and resilience on behalf of their patients and communities,“ stated Kevin Donovan, Chair of the New Hampshire Hospital Association Board of Trustees. “Their partnerships with the state and other stakeholders throughout COVID-19 continues to be an absolute testament of their commitment to end this pandemic, together.”

The New Hampshire Hospital Association and the Foundation for Healthy Communities will be recognized at the Annual Power of Association Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C. on Thursday, September 29^th by ASAE, along with other recipients.

To learn more about the ASAE and the Power of Associations Awards program, visit them online at www.asaecenter.org.

About the New Hampshire Hospital Association

Hospitals have been collaborating through the New Hampshire Hospital Association since 1934. The association’s mission is to provide leadership through advocacy, education, and information in support of its member hospitals and health care delivery systems as they strive to improve the health of the patients and communities they serve.

About the Foundation for Healthy Communities

The Foundation for Healthy Communities is a non-profit organization that builds healthier communities for all by leading partnerships, fostering collaboration, and creating innovative solutions to advance health and health care.

About The Power of Associations Awards

ASAE’s Power of Associations Awards recognize the associations’ economic and societal contributions locally, nationally and globally. The Power of Associations Awards reward outstanding initiatives in five categories: Industry/Professional Advancement, Community Support and Engagement, Global Development, Diversity and Inclusion and Advocacy. ASAE will celebrate The Power of Associations Award winners during its annual Summit Awards Dinner on September 29, 2022, at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

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