Michigan Health & Hospital Association Announces Awards Honoring Healthcare Leaders, Programs

June 24, 2021

The following news is being shared from MHA/Michigan Health & Hospital Association

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) announced its 2021 awards recognizing several individuals and programs during its virtual Annual Membership Meeting June 24.

The team at Bronson Healthcare was honored with the MHA Advancing Safe Care Award for its Community Partnered Vaccine Clinics and Health Equity project. The award recognizes healthcare teams within MHA-member hospitals who demonstrate a fierce commitment to providing quality care, lead the charge for quality improvement, show evidence of an improved safety culture and demonstrate transparency in efforts to improve healthcare. The team’s efforts improved the health system’s COVID-19 vaccination rate among people from racial and ethnic minority groups from 5% to 50% during four clinic events, and the number continues to rise. Read the article.

Robert Crumb, CEO, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, Manistique; and Darryl Elmouchi, MD, president, Spectrum Health West Michigan, Grand Rapids, were recognized for receiving the MHA Healthcare Leadership Award. The award honors outstanding individuals who have provided exceptional leadership to healthcare organizations and to the health and well-being of the community. These two leaders share the necessary skills to create positive environments for both employees and patients and to manage complex financial challenges, even during a global pandemic. Read the article.

Three hospital programs were chosen for the 2021 MHA Ludwig Community Benefit Award, which is presented to member organizations integrally involved in collaborative programs to improve the health and well-being of area residents. Mercy Health Muskegon is a partner in the “Coalition for A Drug Free Muskegon County,” an initiative of the Muskegon Community Health Project that strives to reduce substance use disorder in Muskegon County through education, prevention and treatment. “Bridge to Belonging” was implemented by MidMichigan Health, Midland, to address loneliness in the aging population and reduce its effect on morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital and the Spectrum Health Medical Group customized a team-based protocol to develop the School Blue Envelope Program to prevent suicides among Ottawa County students. Read the article.

The 2021 MHA Special Recognition Award recognizes five individuals for their extensive contributions to healthcare. Joneigh Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP, chief medical executive for the state of Michigan and chief deputy director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS); Gerry Anderson, executive chairman of DTE Energy; Nancy Schlichting, retired CEO of Henry Ford Health System, were honored for their work leading the Michigan Economic Recovery Council (MERC), unconditionally caring for Michigan citizens and front-line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and playing critical roles in the protection and recovery of the state’s health and economy. Ed Bruff, CEO, Covenant Healthcare, is receiving the award for his leadership at Covenant HealthCare and his extensive contributions to his community and the state during a 38-year healthcare career. The award honors David Spahlinger, MD, former president of the University of Michigan Health System and executive vice dean for clinical affairs in the university’s medical school, for leading the health system in improving quality and safety, creating a safety culture and a highly reliable organization. Read the article.

The MHA Meritorious Service Award, the association’s highest achievement award, is being bestowed on three individuals in 2021. James “Chip” Falahee, senior vice president, Legal & Legislative Affairs, Bronson Healthcare, has more than 40 years of experience in healthcare law and legislation and has served on the MHA Board of Trustees since 2014. David Jahn, president and CEO, War Memorial Hospital, has had a 40-year healthcare career. He was an MHA Board member for several terms beginning in 1987 and served as its chair in the 2001-2002 program year. The late Bill Jackson, former senior vice president and chief financial officer, MHA, was previously president and CEO at Charlevoix Area Hospital. Jackson represented the hospital on the MHA Board, serving as chairman in the 2012-2013 program year. Read the article.

Contact:
John Karasinski, MHA
(517) 886-8637, jkarasinski@mha.org