Annual Meeting
CHA's 101st Annual Meeting: A Shared Vision For a Healthy Future
On Thursday, June 20, 2019, CHA welcomed to its 101st Annual Meeting nearly 500 hospital executives, administrators, healthcare providers, and other key decision makers from across the region, along with award winners. The theme for the celebration, A Shared Vision For a Healthy Future, reflects CHA’s work with many partners on multiple fronts—from improving patient safety to addressing social determinants of health, and finding sustainable funding solutions to ensure a vibrant healthcare system for the future.
CHA Board Chairman John M. Murphy, MD, Chief Executive Officer, Nuvance Health, addressed the gathering, describing progress made toward CHA strategic plan goals to ensure individuals, communities, and the economy are healthy; quality and patient safety are paramount; providers, policy makers, and payers are aligned; and the healthcare financing system is financially sustainable and linked to outcomes. He discussed a recent Commonwealth Fund report that ranked Connecticut fifth in the nation for state health system performance, progress being made to improve quality, and strides toward a new relationship with the Administration characterized by active engagement and mutual respect.
"Through bold leadership and effective advocacy, coupled with its unique ability to convene and inspire collaboration, CHA has made important strides in unifying and accelerating our approach to building a healthcare system that delivers care that is safe, accessible, affordable, equitable, and patient centered," said Dr. Murphy.
"Successful associations live the principles of unity," said Jennifer Jackson, CHA CEO. "I am confident that we will continue to work together to transform the challenges we face into opportunities. Never underestimate the power of working together."
CHA presented the 2019 John D. Thompson Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Healthcare Through the Use of Data to Norwalk Hospital for its project to improve the integration of care for patients receiving joint replacement surgery by implementing a Total Joint Replacement Destination Center of Excellence.
CHA and the Connecticut Department of Public Health awarded the 2019 Connecticut’s Hospital Community Service Award to Bridgeport Hospital and St. Vincent’s Medical Center for the Know Your Numbers program. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare also received the 2019 Connecticut’s Hospital Community Service Award for its Gynecological Clinic for Women with Disabilities.
David A. Whitehead, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Hartford HealthCare, was honored by the American Hospital Association as Connecticut’s 2019 Grassroots Champion. Mr. Whitehead was recognized for his exceptional leadership in educating elected officials on how issues affect hospitals’ ability to serve their communities or perform their vital role, as well as his commitment to broaden the base of community support for hospitals and health systems.
CHA also recognized an inspiring and committed group of individuals from across the state as Healthcare Heroes. Greenwich Hospital, L+M Hospital, and St. Mary's Hospital received 100-year AHA Service Awards.
Following the conclusion of the business meeting, guests enjoyed the keynote address delivered by Jeff Flake, who served as U.S. Senator from Arizona from 2013-2019, and as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001-2013. Known for his ability to work across the political aisle, Senator Flake took a stand for principle and civility in an era of hyper-partisanship in his New York Times bestseller, Conscience of a Conservative: A Rejection of Destructive Politics and a Return to Principle.
Senator Flake echoed the sentiments of Mrs. Jackson about the power of collaboration. "A divided government doesn't get anything done," he said in reference to the current atmosphere of partisan politics in Washington, D.C. "We should always look for bipartisan solutions." He lauded CHA's efforts to find a resolution to the hospital tax and for finding a way to negotiate across the aisles to achieve a goal.
CHA gratefully acknowledges the generous Annual Meeting sponsorship of Platinum Sponsors: Berkeley Research Group and Wiggin and Dana.
