ALMH, along with the other affiliates
of Memorial Health System, was recognized in December 2003 for its
commitment to quality with the
Bronze Award from the Lincoln
Foundation for Performance Excellence. William Hull, president of
the ALMH board, noted that this was a pivotal event in the life of
ALMH and that the entire Memorial Health System had set a goal to
become a Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Organization by the end
of the decade.
Hull also acknowledged that ALMH's
transition to Critical Access Hospital status set a positive tone
for financial outcomes this fiscal year. The federal program
administered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
assists smaller community-based hospitals with a more fair
reimbursement for the services they provide to Medicare patients. "ALMH
can continue to purchase the latest medical technology, hire the
best clinicians and actively pursue its vision of becoming the best
rural hospital in America," said Hull.
A full year-end financial statement for
ALMH was included in the ALMH Advance and recently mailed to all
area households.

Hull also praised the efforts of the
ALMH Auxiliary, which recently fulfilled a $36,000 pledge to
purchase the third new Care-A-Van for ALMH.
As president of the hospital's medical
staff, Dr. Paul Kasa commended the ALMH staff for their commitment
to patient-centered care through a laser-sharp focus on quality,
safety and clinical effectiveness. With 11 board-certified primary
care providers, two board-certified ob-gyn doctors on the staff and
an additional 91 physicians, representing 19 medical specialties,
who are credentialed by ALMH to treat patients in Lincoln, Kasa
noted that there is no reason why ALMH and its affiliated physicians
cannot serve as the front door to a world of health care for all in
the Logan County area.
Kasa also serves as the chair of the
ALMH Quality and Safety Council, sits on the ALMH board of
directors, and, along with Hull, represents Logan County on the
Memorial Health System board of directors.
Robert Clarke, chief executive officer
of Memorial Health System, recognized the 10 years of partnership
between ALMH and the Memorial Health System. He praised the
leadership of the 1994 ALMH board for the bold steps they took to
affiliate with Memorial Health System. The leaders included board
chair Bill Sahs, executive board members Terry Brown, Don Behle,
Robert Albert and Perry Schneider, and president and CEO David
Sniff. The leadership team of the ALMH parent board at the time
consisted of William Hull, Shirley Edwards and Judy Awe.
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The ALMH annual meeting also signifies
the start of a new board year for its volunteer leaders.
It was announced that retired Sen.
Robert Madigan begins a three-year term on the ALMH board of
directors. He fills a seat vacated by John Blackburn of Lincoln, who
has completed two three-year terms on the board, the last three
years serving as secretary of the ALMH executive board. President
and CEO Woody Hester honored Blackburn with a plaque and signed copy
of the book "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. Blackburn, who is the
CEO of Country Insurance and Financial Services, recommended the
book to Hester, who credits the concepts therein as a framework for
organizational change and excellence.
William Hull will continue to lead the
ALMH board of directors as chairman, with Tom Kissel as chair-elect,
Patty Becker as secretary, Bob Arneaud as treasurer and Woody Hester
as president and CEO.
Retiring Abraham Lincoln Healthcare
Foundation board members include Melody Shew, who had been a
director since 2001, and Shirley Bartelmay, a director since 1995.
Bartelmay had also served as the ALHF treasurer from 1997 to 1999
and from 2001 to 2004.
New community leaders joining the ALHF
board for a three-year term include Sharon R. Marten from Emden and
Pamela K. White from Beason. The foundation board will be led this
year by Brad Neal, chairman; Robert Meinershagen, vice chair; Steve
Aughenbaugh, secretary; Mary Beth Sparks, treasurer; and executive
director Marty Ahrends.
The annual meeting concluded with a
video saluting the talents of the ALMH staff.
New
and retiring board members
[Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
news release]

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