Harris Health Again Earns Employer CEO Cancer Gold Standard™
Harris Health System has again earned the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ for its efforts to reduce the risk of cancer for its employees and covered family members. The health system joins The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center as the only other hospital system in Houston to receive the accreditation.
The CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer is given to organizations for their work in promoting healthy lifestyle choices, encouraging early detection through cancer screenings and ensuring access to quality treatment for its employees. Only three other hospital systems in Texas received the accreditation.
“Harris Health is committed to ensuring our staff is the healthiest it can be,” says George V. Masi, president and CEO, Harris Health System. “By continuing to meet the high standards of this initiative, we not only help with cancer prevention, but we will assist in reducing the risk for other serious conditions such as obesity, and chronic and costly diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
The designation calls for organizations to evaluate their health benefits and corporate culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to fight cancer in the workplace. To earn Gold Standard accreditation, a company must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by discouraging tobacco use; encouraging physical activity; promoting healthy diet and nutrition; detecting cancer at its earliest stages; and providing access to quality care, including participation in clinical trials.
“Your team continues to show dedication and commitment to maintaining this high standard of excellence in cancer prevention, early detection and quality care,” says Martin J. Murphy, CEO, CEO Roundtable on Cancer. “It is because of your leadership that your employees and their families will continue to celebrate their employer’s keen interest in their health and well-being.”
In addition to Harris Health, other notable recipients of the Gold Standard accreditation include U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Duke University Health System, Mayo Clinic and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
CEOs from across industries are keenly aware of the tremendous impact they can have in improving health, controlling healthcare costs and making a difference beyond their organization’s walls in the fight against cancer and other chronic diseases. Other Gold Standard employers include insurers like Aetna, Cigna, State Farm and several Blue Cross affiliates; law firms; technology companies such as Dell and SAS Institute; institutes of higher education and a range of leading employers, including American Century Investments, Johnson & Johnson and Lowe’s.
For more information on the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ and the Web-based accreditation process and support, please visit www.CancerGoldStandard.org.
