Minnesota Hospital Association’s annual awards recognize
patient safety, volunteerism, innovations in patient care, hospital excellence
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Hospital
Association (MHA) honored innovative programs and outstanding leaders in health
care at its 31st annual awards ceremony on Friday, April 24.
Seventeen awards were
given for extraordinary achievement in categories ranging from advocacy on
behalf of hospitals and volunteerism to innovation and improvement in patient
care and patient safety.
“Each day, all across
the state, hospitals are working to strengthen the health of our communities,”
said MHA President and CEO Lawrence Massa. “The women and men of these
innovative, high-performing hospitals have set the bar high for patient care
and for meeting the needs of their communities. Thanks to their innovation,
diligence and commitment, Minnesota hospitals continue to be among the best in the
nation.”
The awards and
recipients are:
Best
Minnesota Hospital Workplace: Owatonna Hospital,
part of Allina Health
Bruce
and Denise Rueben Courage Award: George Gerlach, CEO
and administrator, Granite Falls Municipal Hospital and Manor
Caregiver
of the Year: Ed Wurtzberger, RN, New Ulm Medical Center, part of
Allina Health
Community
Benefit: Winona Health; Lakewood Health System, Staples
Good
Catch for Patient Safety: Sara Lorenz, RN, BSN, Mayo
Clinic Rochester Hospital, St. Marys Campus
Health
Care Workforce Champion (individual): Laura Beeth, system
director, talent management, Fairview Health Services, Minneapolis
Health
Care Workforce Champion (hospital): Fairview Health
Services, Minneapolis
Innovation
of the Year in Patient Care: PrairieCare, Maple
Grove; Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park
Patient
Safety Improvement: University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s
Hospital, Minneapolis; Catholic Health Initiatives – St. Joseph’s Health, Park
Rapids
Public
Achievement: Sen. Tony Lourey (DFL-Kerrick)
Spirit
of Advocacy: Mary Maertens, regional president, Avera Marshall Regional
Medical Center
Stephen
Rogness Distinguished Service Award: Larry Schulz, CEO,
Lake Region Healthcare, Fergus Falls
Trustee
of the Year: Mary Theurer, Lakewood Health System, Staples
Volunteers
of the Year Award: Carole and Jim Lang, Mayo Clinic Health System in
New Prague
Please visit our website for descriptions of the 2015 award
winners: www.mnhospitals.org/about/mha-awards
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The Minnesota Hospital
Association represents 143 hospitals and health systems, which provide quality
care for their patients and meet the needs of their communities.