This year's winners of the HealthLeaders Media Top Leadership Teams share a common characteristic: The willingness to make big moves.
From a behemoth Arizona health system to a tiny two-bed hospital in the Appalachian region to a growing mid-sized community hospital to a specialty practice with offices in two states, leaders at each of these four organizations took a chance—and they, their patients, and their communities reaped the rewards.
In its eighth year, the Top Leadership Teams in Healthcare award program's mission remains clear:
- Celebrate outstanding teamwork in healthcare organizations,
- Share what makes top leadership teams successful, and
- Encourage other healthcare leaders to learn more from the best practices of top leadership teams.
This year, HealthLeaders recognized the value of outstanding leadership teamwork at three hospitals and one medical group practice.
"The award program The Top Leadership Teams program was founded on the premise that the core value for every successful healthcare organization must be teamwork—this year's winners certainly demonstrate that concept," said Gienna Shaw, a senior editor at HealthLeaders Media, who oversaw this year's program.
2011 Winners
"Everyone involved in selecting this year's winners was so impressed with the hard work that these leadership teams did to make significant changes at their organizations. Each one has a compelling and unique story—but their experiences also hold lessons for all healthcare organizations that want to improve their patients' experience, the quality and patient safety of their clinical care, and their financial and business operations," Shaw said. The winners are:
- Banner Health, Phoenix, AZ, for Large Hospitals and Health Systems
- Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Richland, WA, for Community and Mid-Sized Hospitals
- Johnson County Community Hospital, Mountain City, TN, for Small Hospitals
- ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP, Tarrytown, NY, for Medical Group Practices
Large Hospitals / Health Systems
In the large hospitals and health systems category, the leadership team at Banner Health was recognized by the judges for implementing a five-step plan to industry leadership.
Community and Midsize Hospitals
Kadlec Regional Medical Center was singled out in the community and midsize hospitals category for the team's ambitious work toward becoming a world-class medical center.
Small and Rural Hospitals / Health Systems
In the small and rural hospitals category, Johnson County Community Hospital's leadership impressed the judges with its focus on satisfaction scores and adapting to the needs of a community that is resistant to and distrustful of change.
Medical Group Practices
And in the medical group practices category, ENT and Allergy Associates leadership team's work to reduce patient no-shows impressed the judges.
Each organization will be profiled in the October issue of HealthLeaders magazine. Information about the contest, and lists of previous winners may be viewed here.
Marianne Aiello is a contributing writer at HealthLeaders Media.