Skip navigation
  1. Home
  2. Connection Newsletter
  3. Connection newsletter 10-26-23
26 October 2023

Connection newsletter 10-26-23

Check out an update on this week's 2023 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference, the 2024 AzHHA Board of Directors announcement, and award winners that were named at this week's conference.

 

 

   
Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) Banner
 

Connection Newsletter

By AzHHA Communications ● Oct. 26, 2023

Smart Brevity® count: 5 mins...1343 words

This newsletter features:

  • An update on this week’s 2023 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference.
  • The 2024 AzHHA Board of Directors announcement.
  • Award winners, including the winner of AzHHA’s highest honor - the 2023 Salsbury Award.
 

Bringing together Arizona’s healthcare leaders

2023 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference logo

This week more than 200 healthcare leaders from across the state join AzHHA in Tucson for the 2023 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference.

Why it matters: This year’s theme focuses on “Reimagining the future of healthcare in Arizona” and explores important topics such as:

  • Elevating your culture through your mindset and by creating people-first work cultures
  • How to think expansively about the future
  • Innovation in healthcare
  • Cybersecurity
  • Workforce recruitment and retention

Go deeper: View the agenda and more information about the conference.
 

AzHHA announces new slate for 2024 Board of Directors

Board of Directors image

What’s new: The AzHHA Board of Directors announced today that it approved new healthcare executives to serve on its board and confirmed its roster for 2024.

The following Arizona healthcare executives were approved to join the Board:

  • Philip Fitzgerald, RN, CEO, Havasu Regional Medical Center
  • Jackie Lundblad, CEO, Wickenburg Community Hospital

The board also approved Jennifer Gutowski, FACHE, director, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, as a board observer to participate in board dialogue and to bring the perspective of the Southern Arizona VA into our healthcare ecosystem.

Learn more

 
 

The 2023 Salsbury Award winner is…

Confetti flying out of a megaphone.

Congratulations to Steve Purves, president and CEO of Valleywise Health, for being recognized as this year’s recipient of the Salsbury Award.

Why it matters: This award is the highest honor AzHHA bestows. Named in honor of the late Dr. Salsbury (the first AzHHA president), it is given to a healthcare executive who demonstrates outstanding service and unselfish purpose while advancing healthcare and increasing its access in Arizona.

“Like the late Dr. Salsbury, Steve Purves has dedicated his career to improving healthcare and uses his influence for the benefit of others, especially the most vulnerable. Steve is an incredible ambassador and champion for healthcare throughout Arizona serving as president and CEO of Valleywise Health, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving public teaching healthcare system. He is a community champion as evidenced by his active participation on many state and local committees and organizations. His influence spans the nation serving on national boards for America’s Essential Hospitals and the American Hospital Association. He is a dedicated champion for improving healthcare, especially for the underserved, and we are grateful to work alongside and be inspired by Steve’s example.”

Ann-Marie Alameddin, president and CEO of AzHHA
 

And the Legislator of the Year Award goes to…

Representative David Cook (R-Dist. 7) was presented this year’s Legislator of the Year Award.

👉This award recognizes his unwavering dedication and outstanding work in the Arizona legislature on behalf of Arizona’s hospitals. Rep. Cook is a strong champion defending the hospitals that deliver care to Arizonans every day.

Congratulations, Rep. Cook!
 

Grassroots Champion Award is presented to…

🏆Neal Jensen, CEO of Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center and AzHHA Board Chair, received the Grassroots Champion Award.

Why it matters: The award recognizes a hospital leader from an American Hospital Association member institution in each state for her or his work cultivating relationships with lawmakers and their staff, then effectively leveraging those relationships to advocate tirelessly on behalf of patients, hospitals and their communities.

Congratulations, Neal!
 

AzHHA Quality Awards - Top Overall Excellence winner

🏆Southern VA Health Care System received the Top Overall Excellence Award as part of this year’s AzHHA Quality Awards for their submission titled “COVID Operational Status Process.”

The submission highlighted how the organization took some lessons learned, and through their commitment to innovation and process improvement, created a better, more efficient process to ensure positive outcomes for their patients.

Why it matters: This award recognizes the highest achievement among the top scores from each category of the AzHHA Quality Awards.

  • These applications were blinded and went to volunteers from other state hospital associations to be scored. The winner was the highest of the three.

Congratulations!
 

AzHHA Quality Awards - Community Engagement winners

🎉The winners of the Community Engagement Award are:

  • Top critical access hospital/small rural hospital (less than or equal to 100 beds): Gila River Health Care for their submission titled “Critical Access to Health Care.”
  • Top general acute care (greater or equal to 101 beds): Yuma Regional Medical Center for their submission titled “Keeping Patient-Centered Care in the Community.”
  • Top federal hospital: Southern Arizona VA Health Care System for their submission titled “Native American Advocacy.”

Why it matters: This award highlights healthcare facilities’ exceptional commitment to community involvement with the intent to enhance health and improve access to healthcare services.

Congratulations!
 

AzHHA Quality Awards - Patient Safety and Quality winners

🎉The winners of the Patient Safety and Quality Award are:

  • Top critical access hospital/small rural hospital (less than or equal to 100 beds): Cornerstone Specialty Hospital Southeast Arizona for their submission titled “Acute Transfer Out Process.”
  • Top general acute care (greater or equal to 101 beds): Mayo Clinic Arizona for their submission titled “Stroke Door to Needle Times: Improvement and Sustainability.”
  • Top federal hospital: Phoenix VA Health Care System for their submission titled “A Multifaceted Approach to CAUTI Reduction.”

Why it matters: This award celebrates healthcare facilities in Arizona for their outstanding achievements in enhancing clinical quality and patient care.

Congratulations!
 

AzHHA Quality Awards - Emergency Management Innovation winners

🎉The winners of the Emergency Management Innovation Award are:

  • Top critical access hospital/small rural hospital (less than or equal to 100 beds): Northern Cochise Community Hospital (partner of Tucson Medical Center Health System) for their submission titled “Rural Hospital Emergency Management.”
  • Top general acute care (greater or equal to 101 beds): Summit Healthcare for their submission titled “Implementing Peer Support Specialists into the ED.”
  • Top federal hospital: Southern Arizona VA Health Care System for their submission titled “COVID Operational Status Process.”

Why it matters: This award recognizes healthcare facilities’ commitment to safeguarding the community, maintaining a high level of emergency response readiness and fostering resilience in the face of unforeseen events.

Congratulations!
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, Oct. 31 - Healthcare Leadership Academy application deadline
Apply now! Submit your resume, letter of support and statement of purpose in one PDF to [email protected]. Learn more about the program here.

Wednesday, Nov. 1 - AZ Community Grand Rounds
This webinar will include an overview of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Diabetes Action Plan and highlight progress of key initiatives to address diabetes in Arizona. Register now.

Thursday, Nov. 2 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Action webinar
Gain valuable insights from CDC subject matter experts and partners about how to implement effective structures and processes to improve sepsis identification, management and recovery. Register today.

Thursday, Nov. 9 - Introduction to POLST 
Join physician orders for life-sustaining treatment paradigm (POLST) for their one-hour virtual workshops equipping healthcare professionals with knowledge and resources to begin using POLST in Arizona. Register here.

Thursday, Nov. 16 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Tracking and reporting webinar
CDC subject matter experts and partners discuss how to measure sepsis epidemiology, outcomes, program goals and the impact of sepsis initiatives. Register now.

Saturday, Nov. 18 - Health Fair at Burton Barr Central Library
This event will offer a wide range of health services and health-related information to attendees. This program is open to all ages at no cost and is accessible to uninsured, underinsured and/or Medicare and Medicaid eligible guests. Learn more.

Thursday, Dec. 7 - Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements - Education webinar
Discover the impact of sepsis education for healthcare professionals during onboarding and as an annual refresher. Register today.

Save the date: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 - Arizona Rural and Public Health Policy Forum 2024
Mark your calendars for the upcoming forum which will be held at the Virginia G. Piper Auditorium located at 600 E. Van Buren Street in Phoenix. More details will be shared on this information page soon.
 

IN THE NEWS
 

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to share your feedback.
 
 
 
featured