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Sanofi-aventis Affirms Its Commitment to Partnering with Local Communities to Improve Hispanic and African American Health

Posted on: Monday, 27 April 2009, 08:00 CDT

Baltimore Activity Demonstrates Benefits of Linked Community Health Resources

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sanofi-aventis U.S. today presented progress of its Community Health Partnership (CHP), It's In Our Hands, at the 6th Annual National Minority Quality Forum Health (NMQF) Disparities Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. The CHP is a unique community-based initiative that aims to decrease health disparities among minority communities through collaboration between the private and public sectors.

Deborah Jones, Ph.D., R.N., Assistant Professor of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and member of the CHP's Community Health Action Team, has seen the program's effects on the community firsthand and comments, "The CHP has strengthened relationships in Baltimore between some of the city's largest institutions and smallest community-based organizations and as a result, we are able to provide a more holistic and proactive approach to patient care."

In Baltimore alone, the CHP has forged significant alliances with the city's most influential institutions including Johns Hopkins University and The University of Maryland Medical System. Additionally, the CHP in collaboration with the University of Maryland will be launching an outcomes study to explore improvement in patient compliance to prescribed regimen when combined with follow-up support from physician's offices, pharmacists and other community resources. The study will also quantify the impact of raising awareness of community resources with healthcare providers.

"We are very pleased with the results of the program in Baltimore. Since our launch in October 2008, we've worked in close partnership with leaders in our community to distribute information to patients and to increase the effectiveness of patient self care," noted Dwyan Monroe, Community Health Liaison for Baltimore. "It's very rewarding to see our communities working together for a greater good."

The overall objective of the CHP is to empower patients in the African American and Hispanic communities by leveraging and strengthening connections among existing healthcare providers, community-based resources and patients. In the cities of Baltimore, Newark, Memphis, San Antonio, the Bronx and Miami, the CHP actively supports and enhances access to the resources that are already available in each community. A Community Health Liaison in each city facilitates continued community resource collaboration and helps bridge the gap between local organizations, health resources and patient communities. By providing patients with customized Health Resource Guides for each city, culturally relevant patient education materials, and guidance from patient ambassadors, the program aims to encourage individuals to take action toward better health by providing the tools to make the road to a healthier life easier.

"NMQF and sanofi-aventis U.S. share the same goal -- to decrease disparities among minority populations in the United States," said Gary Puckrein, President & CEO of NMQF. "Our summit is an ideal place to discuss the program's progress and explore ways to reach even more people in need of community-based health solutions."

The CHP was introduced during the 2008 NMQF Summit as an example of solutions based in public and private sector collaboration. The NMQF Summit gathers legislators, policy makers, clinical experts, and distinguished honorees to discuss solutions aimed at helping reduce disparities in health-care quality.

For more information about the CHP, consumers and healthcare providers can call 866-61-HANDS (866-614-2637) or visit www.communityhealthpartner.com.

About National Minority Quality Forum

The National Minority Quality Forum (formerly the National Minority Health Month Foundation) was founded in 1998 to address the critical need for strengthening national and local efforts to use evidence-based, data-driven initiatives to guide programs to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness for racial and ethnic minorities and other special populations. The Forum is a research and educational organization dedicated to ensuring that high-risk racial and ethnic populations and communities receive optimal health care. This nonprofit, nonpartisan organization integrates data and expertise in support of initiatives to eliminate health disparities.

The Forum strives to prepare the health system in the United States to provide optimal health care for a diverse society. The Forum aims to assist health-care providers, professionals, administrators, researchers, policy makers, and community and faith-based organizations in delivering appropriate health care to minority communities. This assistance must be based on science, research, and analysis that lead to the effective organization and management of system resources to improve the quality and safety of health care for the entire U.S. population, including minorities. To find out more, visit http://www.nmqf.org.

About sanofi-aventis

Sanofi-aventis U.S. is an affiliate of sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to help improve the lives of patients. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

For more information, www.sanofi-aventis.us or www.sanofi-aventis.com.

U.S. Contacts: Amy Ba Amy.ba@sanofi-aventis.com (908) 981-6563

US.NMH.09.04.008 (C) 2009 sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC

SOURCE sanofi-aventis

Source: PR Newswire

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