Merger forms Illinois Health and Hospital Association
NAPERVILLE - The Illinois Health and Hospital Association is now in operation as an integrated, statewide organization representing more than 200 hospitals and nearly 50 health systems.
The former Illinois Hospital Association and former Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council recently completed their combination agreement, capping a nearly 18-month due diligence and implementation process.
"At this critical time in health care, the Illinois Health and Hospital Association is dedicated to helping our members as their trusted voice and resource to advance quality health care for their patients and communities and to transform the state's health care delivery system," said IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi. "With our combined 174 years of service to Illinois hospitals and health systems, IHA is bringing together the best talent, best services and best programs with a renewed and energized sense of purpose to serve our members and to benefit the health of all Illinoisans."
Emphasizing the importance of unity, teamwork and collaboration - within the health care community and with government, policymakers, and other key stakeholders - IHA has a new website URL (www.team-iha.org) and a new email address (@team-iha.org).
"Illinois hospitals and health systems are committed to achieving the Triple Aim of improving care, reducing costs and enhancing the health of populations," said Michael Eesley, IHA board of trustees Chair and CEO of Centegra Health System. "As an integrated statewide organization, IHA has a tremendous opportunity to enhance its voice and move Illinois forward as a leader in health care delivery."
Through its newly established Midwest Healthcare Institute, led by Dan Yunker, IHA's Executive Vice President and MHI's President and CEO, IHA is enhancing its array of innovative business and performance solutions, services and tools, including quality improvement and patient safety initiatives and collaboratives, technology, data analytics, and purchasing and insurance services.
IHA also announced its 2016 board of trustees. Board officers are:
• Chair: Michael S. Eesley, CEO, Centegra Health System, Crystal Lake;
• Chair-Elect: Edgar J. Curtis, President & CEO, Memorial Health System, Springfield;
• Immediate Past Chair: Dean M. Harrison, President & CEO, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Chicago;
• Treasurer: William Santulli, Executive Vice President & COO, Advocate Health Care, Downers Grove;
• President: A.J. Wilhelmi, President & CEO, Illinois Health and Hospital Association; and
• Secretary: Mark Deaton, General Counsel, Illinois Health and Hospital Association (Officer only).
Trustees elected to serve on the 2016 IHA Board are:
• Rex D. Conger, President & CEO, Perry Memorial Hospital, Princeton;
• David L. Crane, Executive Vice President & COO, Amita Health, Arlington Heights;
• Pam Davis, System CEO, Edward-Elmhurst Health, Naperville;
• Michael Englehart, President & CEO, Presence Health, Chicago;
• Larry Goldberg, President & CEO, Loyola University Health System, Maywood;
• Maureen Kahn, President & CEO, Blessing Health System, Quincy;
• Phillip Kambic, President & CEO, Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee;
• Barbara J. Martin, President & CEO, Vista Health System, Waukegan;
• Nancy M. Newby, Ph.D., President & CEO, Washington County Hospital, Nashville;
• José R. Sánchez, President & CEO, Norwegian American Hospital, Chicago;
• Kevin Schoeplein, Chief Executive Officer, OSF HealthCare, Peoria;
• John Jay Shannon, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Cook County Health & Hospitals System, Chicago;
• Mary Starmann-Harrison, President & CEO, Hospital Sisters Health System, Springfield;
• Mark B. Steadham, President & CEO, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers, Morris;
• Anthony Tedeschi, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago;
• Karen Teitelbaum, President & CEO, Sinai Health System, Chicago;
• Mark Turner, President & CEO, Memorial Hospital, Belleville; and
• Brenda J. Wolf, President & CEO, La Rabida Children's Hospital, Chicago.