Washington Redskins, Hospital Corporation of America and AARP Join Forces to Improve Health Status of Area Residents

Come to Redskins Park October 9 for Community Health Huddle 12 – 4 p.m.

Source: AARP Press Center | October 3, 2005

The Washington Redskins, in partnership with the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Virginia and AARP, are introducing an innovative health-screening program called "Community Health Huddles." The initiative is open to all Washington Metropolitan residents 21 and older. The program offers health screenings through HCA and provides follow-up programs for those whose screening results suggest the need for further health intervention.

This unique partnership brings one of the nation's most storied and successful football franchises together with AARP, a national organization with nearly 36 million members (over 700,000 in the Washington Metropolitan area) and HCA Virginia, the state's second largest private employer with a workforce of 12,500 on 13 hospital campuses in northern, central and southwest Virginia. All three organizations have had an ongoing commitment to the health status of area residents through innovative programs, health initiatives and health information dissemination.

"For AARP and HCA to provide Redskins fans with free Health Huddles is a wonderful community service. I am proud that the Redskins can be a part of this much needed public service," said Bubba Tyer, Director of Sports Medicine for the Washington Redskins.

"At Reston Hospital and our other HCA facilities in the state, our goal is to be more than just a healthcare provider—it's to be a positive community influence," said William Adams, CEO of Reston Hospital Center. "That means being proactive in helping people take charge of their health and well-being. We're delighted to be a partner with the Redskins and AARP in this program."

"We want our members to take advantage of this opportunity," said Chris Hansen, AARP's Group Executive Officer for State and National Initiatives. "And we will promote it to our members because elevated cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure are particular challenges, and for some this screening may be their first indication that they might have a problem."

The first "Community Health Huddle" will be held at Redskins Park on Sunday, October 9, from noon to 4 p.m. To register for this event, visit www.redskins.com. Participants will receive blood pressure, glucose and total cholesterol screenings, which will provide key indications of their current health status. Screenings will be administered by personnel from Reston Hospital Center and HCA Health Drive, who will also provide counseling to patients.

Participants whose clinical indicators fall outside of the normative range will have the opportunity to take part in a year-long program that focuses on health improvement through nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle improvements.

In addition, the three organizations will be offering a variety of incentives to help participants improve their health status. Those who stay engaged in the program through October 2006 will be eligible to join the Redskins All Metro Health Team and will be publicly honored for their efforts, with additional prizes to be determined.

Plans call for holding similar health screenings in Maryland and the District of Columbia in the coming months.

HCA operates Reston Hospital Center, Reston Surgery Center, Northern Virginia Community Hospital, Dominion Hospital and Fairfax Surgery Center, and has received state approval to build Broadlands Regional Medical Center in Ashburn. In central Virginia it operates CJW Medical Center, Henrico Doctors' Hospital, Retreat Hospital, John Randolph Medical Center, Hanover Outpatient Surgery Center, and Tuckahoe Surgery Center; in southwest Virginia, Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Montgomery Regional Hospital, Alleghany Regional Hospital and Pulaski Community Hospital.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.