The National Cooperative of Health Networks Association (NCHN) announced the 6^th national award winners during its 2014 Annual Educational Conference in St. Louis, Missouri last month. Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance (CCHA) was selected nationally as the 2014 Outstanding Health Network. The Outstanding Health Network award recognizes a network that has improved access to health services in its service area and has improved the coordination of resources for members using particularly innovative and comprehensive approaches. Award winners are nominated and chosen by their national peers.

Established in 1991, Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance (CCHA) has proven to be a sustainable and growing network of twelve hospitals throughout Southeastern North Carolina and Northeastern South Carolina.  Now more than ever, regional collaboration and community partnerships play a pivotal role in accomplishing the mission of CCHA, which is to improve the quality of healthcare while reducing costs. In 2013 alone, CCHA saved its member hospitals over 6.1 million dollars.

CCHA members remain on the cutting edge of healthcare training and technology. This year, CCHA’s Health Information Exchange (CCHIE) was honored with both a Member Achievement Award for Community Impact and Innovation from Amerinet and an Intel Health IT Award from NCHICA. CCHIE has gone above and beyond simply putting a dollar amount on the value they are bringing to North Carolinians statewide—they have captured “Stories From the Field” exploring the use of HIE resources among practices and hospital system.  These stories continue to capture the lasting impact on populations served.  The leadership, outreach, and education CCHIE brings to all levels of healthcare entities in their region are innovative and lasting.

“Coastal Carolinas Health Network is a model of a sustainable, innovative, and successful network,” said Rebecca Davis, Ph.D., Executive Director of NCHN. “From adapting to the changing context of healthcare delivery to saving members millions of dollars and improving patient care, CCHA illustrates the immense value that a well operated health network can have in its community.”

Yvonne Hughes, CEO, accepted the award on behalf of CCHA. “For over twenty years, CCHA’s mission has been excellence. Whether in providing cutting-edge educational opportunities, regional networking and collaboration, or cost-savings that directly impact the quality of patient care, we have worked hard to bring outstanding value to our members,” said Hughes. “Every success for the Alliance is a success for the patients within our communities.”

NCHN is a professional membership organization of health network leaders across the nation. Its mission is to support and strengthen health networks through collaboration, networking, leadership development and education. The Association has members in 31 states. By definition, health networks are formed when three or more health care providers formally come together to better meet the needs of patients in their service area. These providers often include hospitals, community health centers, critical access hospitals, physician practices, mental health providers, rural health clinics and other for-profit and not-for-profit health care organizations. Networks strive to increase access to quality health care for local patients and streamline the cost of that care. For more information, please go to www.nchn.org