BILOXI, Miss.—Methodist Rehabilitation Center has been recognized by the Mississippi Hospital Association for excellence in the field of health care marketing and public relations.

MHA honored the Jackson hospital’s safety program, Web site, magazine and media relations program with seven Maggie awards and a certificate of merit at their annual convention in Biloxi.

Think First, Methodist Rehab’s statewide injury prevention program received the highest honor in the community service and education category. In the last year, more than 15,000 school children in 60 Mississippi schools have heard the hospital’s safety message.

"We put so much time and effort into Think First," said Jim Albritton, director of public relations at the hospital. "It is great to be recognized by your peers for work you truly enjoy and think is important. This recognition means so much to all of us."

The hospital’s Web site, www.methodistonline.org, was singled out as best in the state among those costing more than $2,500 to build. The site, which is updated daily, includes feature stories, question and answer sections, audio, video and more than 120 news releases.

Ways & Means, Methodist Rehab’s magazine, also received the top honor in its category. The bi-annual publication includes patient profiles, feature stories and the latest research news from the hospital’s Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery.

The public relations department received two Maggies and a certificate of merit in the news and feature story categories. A series of stories about treadmill gait therapy and the motion analysis lab were recognized for excellence in the news category and a story about a rock climbing program for physically challenged athletes was singled out in the feature story category.

Another story about a 15 year-old boy who received new arms and legs at the hospital’s orthotics and prosthetics center received a certificate of merit.

The hospital’s redesigned logo and a magazine ad were also honored with Maggie awards.

The public relations staff includes special events manager Lauren Fairburn and communications manager Collin Johnson. In addition to planning special events, writing news releases, working with the media and producing publications, Fairburn, Johnson and Albritton also work closely with hospital staff to organize and present Think First programs throughout the state.

The public relations department works with RARE Design, a Hattiesburg-based advertising firm, and with Mindbender, a Web site developer in Jackson.

MHA member hospitals are eligible to participate in the annual Maggie Awards competition.