THA Celebrates Excellent Healthcare Leaders at 2023 Annual Assembly

From West Tennessee Healthcare:

The Tennessee Hospital Affiliation (THA) honored eight hospital and well being system executives and leaders at its annual assembly this month. The awards had been offered by THA President and CEO Wendy Lengthy, M.D., and THA Chair Janelle Reilly, market CEO, CHI Memorial, Chattanooga.

Trustee of Distinction – Jill Aplin (Wendy Lengthy, M.D., Jill Aplin, Janelle Reilly)

Small and Rural Hospital Management – Thomas Kidd (Janelle Reilly, Thomas Kidd, Wendy Lengthy, M.D.)

Senior Govt of Distinction – Teresa Freeman (Wendy Lengthy, M.D., Teresa Freeman, Janelle Reilly)

Affected person Security Management – Jennifer Radtke (Janelle Reilly, Jennifer Radtke, Wendy Lengthy, M.D.)

Nurse Chief of Distinction – Nikki Polis (Wendy Lengthy, M.D., Nikki Polis, Janelle Reilly)

Variety Champion – Cyrilyn Walters, M.D. (Wendy Lengthy, M.D., Cyrilyn Walters, M.D., Tim Adams)

Scientific Nurse of Distinction – Natalie Huffine (Janelle Reilly, Natalie Huffine, Wendy Lengthy, M.D.)

CEO of Distinction – James Ross (Wendy Lengthy, M.D., James Ross, Tim Adams)

Awards had been offered to the next people:

CEO of Distinction: James Ross , president and CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare, Jackson

, president and CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare, Jackson Small and Rural Hospital Management: Thomas Kidd , CEO, Macon Group Hospital, Lafayette

, CEO, Macon Group Hospital, Lafayette Senior Govt of Distinction: Teresa Freeman , vice chairman/chief nursing officer, Jackson-Madison County Normal Hospital

, vice chairman/chief nursing officer, Jackson-Madison County Normal Hospital Trustee of Distinction: Jill Aplin , board chair, CHI Memorial, Chattanooga

, board chair, CHI Memorial, Chattanooga Nurse Chief of Distinction: Nikki Polis , senior vice chairman and chief nursing government, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis

, senior vice chairman and chief nursing government, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis Scientific Nurse of Distinction: Natalie Huffine , cost nurse, medical surgical unit, Henry County Medical Middle, Paris

, cost nurse, medical surgical unit, Henry County Medical Middle, Paris Affected person Security Management: Jennifer Radtke , vice chairman of high quality and affected person security, College of Tennessee Medical Middle, Knoxville

, vice chairman of high quality and affected person security, College of Tennessee Medical Middle, Knoxville Variety Champion: Cyrilyn Walters, M.D., medical director, ambulatory companies, Regional One Well being, Memphis

Movies of award winners can be found right here. Images can be found right here.

The CEO of Distinction Award is the affiliation’s highest honor. It acknowledges management and repair by a person member along with contributions to the healthcare business.

James Ross, president and CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare (WTH), has devoted his whole profession to WTH. He started within the group as an EMT, then moved on to quite a lot of roles – registered nurse, director, vice chairman, and now president and CEO. A real servant, his sturdy management has centered on concern for sufferers for 37 years. Ross is well-respected by his staff at WTH and works tirelessly with native and authorities leaders to make sure sufferers obtain the best high quality of care.

The Small and Rural Hospital Management Award is offered in recognition of serious contributions to rural healthcare in Tennessee.

Thomas Kidd, CEO, Macon Group Hospital, Lafayette, was acknowledged for his exemplary management and dedication on the hospital for the previous 19 years. Colleagues have praised Kidd for his involvement and deal with hospital rural points in Tennessee and admire his efforts to deal with points impacting rural hospitals, particularly legislative and regulatory efforts supporting crucial entry hospitals.

The Senior Govt of Distinction Award acknowledges management and repair by a person in help of a THA member hospital or well being system.

Teresa Freeman, vice chairman and chief nursing officer, Jackson-Madison County Normal Hospital, has labored clinically and administratively on the hospital all through her profession, which started in 1987. She has led many high quality enchancment and price discount initiatives. She additionally has labored with the efficiency enchancment groups for hospital-acquired situations to enhance documentation and dietary standing. As well as, she has created new job classifications and really versatile hours and pay to have interaction and retain employees.

The Trustee of Distinction Award acknowledges an energetic or just lately retired member of the board of administrators or affiliate/advisory board of a THA member establishment.

Jill Aplin, board chair, CHI Memorial, Chattanooga, was acknowledged for her supportive and visionary management on the hospital board. Her a long time of management in healthcare have given her perception into hospital points and challenges. A registered nurse, she is thought for her steadying affect, collaboration and calm internal energy. She additionally has an curiosity in mentoring the following technology of board members and healthcare influencers.

The Affected person Security Management Award acknowledges a person who has taken extraordinary and revolutionary steps to make affected person security and high quality a high precedence of their group.

Jennifer Radtke, vice chairman of high quality and affected person security, College of Tennessee Medical Middle, Knoxville, was honored for her dedication to affected person security and excellence in apply. She has led profitable efforts to enhance numerous an infection charges at or higher than nationwide requirements, main multidisciplinary groups to deal with CLABSI, CAUTI, healthcare-associated infections and others. Her management additionally was essential throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nurse of Distinction Awards acknowledge excellent contributions by registered nurses employed at a THA member hospital or well being system.

Nurse Chief of Distinction

Nikki Polis, senior vice chairman and chief nursing government, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis, was honored for her imaginative and prescient and route for nursing throughout the well being system’s community of hospitals and clinics. With willpower and ingenuity, she has steered an expert apply setting that emphasizes affected person care excellence, and evidence-based nursing.

Scientific Nurse of Distinction

Natalie Huffine, cost nurse, medical surgical unit, Henry County Medical Middle, Paris, was acknowledged for her dedication to offering wonderful affected person care throughout her 20 years of service. She fosters a optimistic and productive working setting, shares her medical data to assist mentor different nurses and is acknowledged for her distinctive management expertise.

The Variety Champion Award acknowledges leaders who’ve made excellent contributions in management and office variety, fairness and inclusion, and demonstrated dedication to a various workforce.

Cyrilyn Walters, M.D., medical director, ambulatory companies, Regional One Well being, Memphis, was honored for being a champion of variety and inclusion associated to workforce and affected person care. She is dedicated to supporting sufferers’ wants, guaranteeing entry for all, and treating them with respect. She is also a mentor to future doctor leaders, providing her expertise to information them.