Health occurs in the places Missourians live, work, learn and play. An important element of how hospitals create value for patients and communities is their work in identifying the drivers of poor health and working collaboratively to address barriers — both clinical and nonclinical.

June 8-12 is Community Health Improvement Week. In the newest episode of the Missouri Hospital Association’s PolicyHuddle podcast, listeners will learn about the strategies Mercy and Citizens Memorial Hospital have implemented to connect more fully with patients and communities to improve health. Listeners will hear from the following guests.

• Gavin Helton, M.D., president of Mercy Primary Care at Mercy in Chesterfield, Mo.
• Jenna Hicks, director of quality and population health, at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo.

This edition of PolicyHuddle is approximately 20 minutes in length and available online or on your favorite podcast platform.

Stephen L. Reintjes Sr., M.D., president and CEO of NKC Health in North Kansas City, Mo., began his one-year term as MHA board chair Jan. 1.

“We’re excited to have Dr. Reintjes leading the board in 2026,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “As a physician executive, he provides the board with insights that shape both operational and patient care elements of policy that support hospitals’ service in Missouri’s communities.”

As chair, Reintjes’ duties include overseeing and directing activities of the MHA Board of Trustees, acting as a day-to-day adviser to MHA, and testifying before committees of the Missouri General Assembly and Congress. He also will lead a Missouri delegation to Washington, D.C., during the year and will act as a state and national spokesperson for Missouri’s hospitals.

“It is an honor to serve as chair of an association that is making a meaningful impact across our state and nation,” said Dr. Reintjes. “I look forward to the progress we will achieve this year as we work to better serve our communities and advance our vision for health care.”

Dr. Reintjes has held numerous leadership positions in the community, including board member of BioNexus KC, president of the Kansas City Medical Society, and board member of both the Midwest Transplant Network and St. Luke’s Hospital Kansas City. He has served as a member of the MHA Board of Trustees since 2020.

Dr. Reintjes is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

Jeremy M. Fotheringham, J.D., MHSA, R.N., Academic, St. Louis & Southern Illinois regional president for SSM Health – St. Louis, will serve as the 2026 chair-elect.

“This award reflects a shared commitment to improving health care access and outcomes for rural Missourians. From the start, the state engaged primary care providers, behavioral health organizations and hospitals, among others, as key partners in shaping a plan that works for the communities we jointly serve. That collaboration is Missouri’s strength — and it’s why our state's ToRCH CARE proposal stood out nationally.”

The leaders said this funding will help stabilize rural hospitals, expand primary and behavioral health services, and build a workforce pipeline to meet local needs. It also invests in technology and data tools that connect care across settings — ensuring patients experience seamless, coordinated services.

In addition to Gov. Kehoe, they also commended the state's Department of Social Services, including Director Jess Bax, for Missouri's uniquely collaborative approach. Missouri’s Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) CARE model brings together a wide variety of stakeholders, including clinics, behavioral health providers, federally qualified health centers, EMS, hospitals, physicians, other providers, public health and social-service organizations through regional networks and community hubs. This structure fosters shared accountability and innovation, making care more accessible and sustainable.

The state is expected to finalize its cooperative agreement with CMS and launch implementation of the ToRCH CARE model features in early 2026.

“We congratulate Gov. Kehoe’s administration on a visionary and successful application that earned Missouri one of the nation’s top‑10 awards,” Jon Doolittle, MHA President and CEO, said. “We’re grateful the state included MHA and our member hospitals as key stakeholders throughout the process. This investment will help rural Missourians receive high‑quality care in strong, connected local systems — the kind of care that improves lives and sustains communities.”

What this means for rural Missourians
This cooperative agreement gives the robust network of providers in Missouri's health care system additional tools to extend care where people live — primary, maternal and behavioral health services; workforce pipelines; and the digital backbone that ties it all together.

How Missouri will put the funding to work
Missouri’s plan — built around Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH Care) — advances five practical priorities hospitals will recognize:

• Regional networks and community hubs. Seven coordinating networks and dozens of multi-county hubs will align local partners — hospitals, behavioral health providers, clinics, EMS, public health and social‑service organizations, physicians and other providers, among more — to close gaps and keep people healthier.
• Payment models that reward collaboration. Alternative payment approaches will support care coordination and prevention, not just volume, strengthening hospital sustainability.
• Digital backbone. Interoperable tech and data tools — including referral platforms — will simplify handoffs, track outcomes and reduce friction for patients and providers.
• Workforce pathways. Targeted rural workforce programs will recruit, train and retain clinicians and caregivers to meet local needs.
• Provider transformation support. Hospitals can receive financial and technical assistance to stabilize and modernize operations and care delivery — with measurable improvements in access, quality and cost.

What’s next
Missouri’s Department of Social Services will finalize cooperative agreement terms with CMS, then sequence funding for hub activation, workforce initiatives and tech procurement. The state will continue formal engagement with hospitals and partners with MHA actively facilitating hospital input so implementation reflects real‑world needs.

MHA will continue to issue updates and guidance to members on participating in hubs, data and referral workflows, workforce opportunities and hospital transformation resources.

Background
CMS announced awards on Dec. 29, 2025, to every state under the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, with first‑year awards averaging $200 million.

The December edition of MHA’s podcast, PolicyHuddle, brings together the best ideas from this year’s episodes, including issues related to the 2025 legislative session, workforce initiatives, H.R. 1 — the law also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — as to its influence on Medicaid and the health system, community health improvement, maternal health, and a 40-year look at the evolution of the Hospital Industry Data Institute.

This edition provides a short take on the long-form editions available on your platform of choice. We hope this edition will spur your interest in this year’s episodes that provide a more in-depth look at important issues facing the health care system.

PolicyHuddle is available online or on your favorite podcast platform.

William Mahoney, President of Cox Medical Center Branson and Senior Vice President of the Community Hospital Group at CoxHealth in Springfield, Mo., has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award. The award, established in 1975, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to hospitals, health systems, communities, health care and MHA. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“William understands the power of engagement,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “As a leader of people, he encourages team members to be their best and supports their growth. In addition, he provides leadership in the communities he serves — as a booster for local and regional health, and as a voice in policy that supports the state’s hospital community broadly.”  

Since arriving in Missouri in 2011, he has served in numerous governance- and policy-related roles at MHA and beyond. He served as an American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board Delegate from 2015-2017, and as a member of the MHA Board of Trustees from 2015-2022. His visionary leadership and strategic guidance have helped shape and advance the Hospital Industry Data Institute’s data analytics mission and impact. He has been a member of the Rural Hospital Council, MHA Behavioral Health Network and served on the Health Equity Committee and Nominating Committee. He has served as a continuous member of MHA’s Finance and Budget Committee since 2012.

“What has always stood out to me about Cox Branson is the culture, which flows directly from William’s leadership,” says Max Buetow, President and CEO of CoxHealth. “William’s true superpower is his heart for service. He loves people, and he gives the best of himself to improve the lives of our patients and our colleagues.”

In every community he serves, he focuses his energy on harnessing local leadership to build support for the hospital and invest in the systems and services that improve both care and health locally. From his work at rural hospitals in Kansas to his leadership in Branson and among the CoxHealth community hospitals in southwest Missouri, he understands and builds on the character of the communities to improve health. 

Mahoney’s values drive his leadership and service. Whether he is lifting up a member of his team or helping guide the future of health care in the state, his focus is always on advancing and improving.

A video honoring Mahoney is available here.

Photo caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair, (left) and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (right), present William Mahoney, President of Cox Medical Center Branson and Senior Vice President of the Community Hospital Group at CoxHealth in Springfield, Mo., MHA’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award.

Laura S. Kaiser, FACHE, President and CEO of SSM Health in St. Louis, has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Visionary Leadership Award. The award, established in 1999, recognizes hospital executives who have taken innovative approaches to improving health in Missouri. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“Laura’s vision for improving health in the communities SSM Health serves extends beyond providing the best care,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Her leadership is grounded in the health system’s mission and powered by a vision for improved health through clinical and nonclinical investments using the strength of the health system and its partners to support wellness and opportunity. We are honored that she has chosen MHA as a key partner to advance our mutual missions in so many ways.”  

To strengthen local economic opportunities and create value, Kaiser forged a partnership with BJC HealthCare to build a shared laundry facility for the health systems. The facility, located in downtown St. Louis, creates investment and jobs locally. Similarly, during her tenure, SSM Health has made significant investments in the city of St. Louis. It opened the new SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in 2020 and currently is constructing a new SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. 

Kaiser’s vision includes identifying gaps and filling them. She has invested in SSM Health’s behavioral health urgent care system and is committed to a strong referral system for patients to help them access ongoing care and wellness support. In addition, she’s joined other community partners to collaborate with the St. Louis Community Credit Union to expand access to capital for small businesses in underserved areas.

“Laura is an outstanding servant leader. But more than that, she is a shining example of somebody who cares,” said Samuel Ross, M.D., M.S., Board Chair of SSM Health. “And when someone cares, they go above and beyond to bring other like-minded people together to make a difference. Laura’s leadership is about the commitment to making a difference in the region and the nation for those we in health care are called to serve.”

Photo caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair, (left) and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (right), present Laura Kaiser, President and CEO of SSM Health in St. Louis, with a 2025 Visionary Leadership Award.

Jenna Hicks, R.N., MBA, Director of Quality and Population Health at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo., has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Visionary Leadership Award. The award, established in 1999, recognizes hospital executives who have taken innovative approaches to improving health in Missouri. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“Jenna understands that improving individual and community health requires great clinical care,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Her vision for mobile integrated health services supports care continuity in the home while connecting patients with the community support they need to heal and lead healthier lives. Together with her teammates throughout CMH, Jenna catalyzes excellent whole-person care.” 

Hicks helped establish CMH’s Mobile Integrated Health program in July 2023 to provide whole-person care to homebound residents who are not eligible for home health services in Polk and surrounding counties. The MIH extends a patient’s primary care team into the community — providing a range of health care services and bridging care and social gaps to address each patient’s needs and reduce the risk for rehospitalization. Since inception, the team has made more than 1,200 visits and grown from its initial staff of two community paramedics to include a certified lactation consultant and a behavioral health provider. 

Hicks also leads CMH’s participation in MO HealthNet’s Transformation of Rural Community Health program. As one of six Missouri hospitals engaging in the demonstration, CMH is using the program to strengthen and deliver resources to local partners to address disparities related to lack of transportation, food insecurity, financial insecurity, health literacy and more. 

“Jenna’s passion for serving others and her innovative approach to care are truly transforming how CMH supports our communities,” said Michael Calhoun, CEO and executive director of Citizens Memorial Hospital and Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation. “Through her leadership, we’re reaching more people, closing gaps in care and making a lasting difference in the health and well-being of our region.”

A video honoring Hicks is available here.

Photo caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair, (left) and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (right), present Jenna Hicks, R.N., MBA, Director of Quality and Population Health at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo., with a 2025 Visionary Leadership Award. 

MU Health Care’s Capital Region Medical Center, in Jefferson City, Mo., has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Aim for Excellence Award. Established in 2016, the Aim for Excellence Award recognizes hospital innovation that improves patient outcomes. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“A hospital’s emergency department is often the ‘front door’ of the hospital for patients,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “When the ED is crowded, and the environment is challenging for patients, families and front-line staff, it can be difficult to achieve healing.”

Capital Region Medical Center’s ED leaders identified that the hospital’s leave-without-being-seen rate was significantly higher than the national benchmark. This gap was inconsistent with quality goals and unacceptable to hospital leaders. To address the challenge, the Capital Region Medical Center ED Throughput Committee reviewed key metrics such as LWBS rates, door-to-doctor times, patient arrival heat maps and patient experience data. To reduce LWBS rates, stakeholders throughout the hospital worked to reorganize ED capacity — including additional beds and condition-specific space — and adjust the staffing matrix focusing on empowerment and multidisciplinary collaboration. The project resulted in a nearly 50% decrease in LWBS, with positive reverberations throughout the hospital and significant patient satisfaction score gains. 

“This award is truly a team accomplishment — a testament to what happens when nurses, physicians and leaders across our system come together with a shared purpose,” said MU Health Care CEO Ric Ransom.

Photo caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair, (left) and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (right), present Shanon Fucik, R.N., MBA, Chief Nurse Executive at MU Health Care Health System in Columbia, Mo., a 2025 Aim for Excellence Award.  

Two organizations, Bothwell Regional Health Center, in Sedalia, Mo., and SSM Health in St. Louis, were recognized with Aim For Excellence Award Honorable Mentions.  

Community Hospital – Fairfax has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Aim for Excellence Award. Established in 2016, the Aim for Excellence Award recognizes hospital innovation that improves patient outcomes. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“In the northwest Missouri communities around Fairfax, only 20% of Medicare beneficiaries were taking advantage of the program’s annual wellness visit,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “What started as a program to improve engagement and increase participation has grown into a window to understand and address the drivers of good health.” 

Using an evolving set of outreach tactics, Community Hospital – Fairfax built awareness of Medicare’s annual wellness screening. In addition, they reinvented the visit — allowing for additional clinician-patient time and expanding the discussion to include not only wellness and chronic disease management, but nonclinical drivers of poor health. Chronic care management and screening rates improved, resulting in better lives for community members. In addition, the hospital’s increased engagement with community partners has allowed it to connect patients with the nonclinical services and support they need to maintain their health. By 2024, two-thirds of the hospital’s Medicare beneficiaries participated in an annual wellness visit. 

“It has been a joy to see the work of this team unfold and the tremendous impact it has had on our patients,” said Ann Schlueter, CEO of Community Hospital – Fairfax. “We believe medicine was meant to be delivered neighbor to neighbor working together to improve health. This program has given us the opportunity to deliver on that passion and do our part to improve the lives of those we serve. We are grateful to MHA for recognizing these efforts and to our community whose support makes the work we do possible.”

Photo caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair (left), and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO (right), present a 2025 Aim For Excellence Award to Heather Olson, R.N., Director of Primary Care Services at Community Hospital – Fairfax. 

Two organizations, Bothwell Regional Health Center, in Sedalia, Mo., and SSM Health in St. Louis, were recognized with Aim For Excellence Award Honorable Mentions.  

NKC Health, in North Kansas City, Mo., has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Aim for Excellence Award. Established in 2016, the Aim for Excellence Award recognizes hospital innovation that improves patient outcomes. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“Every patient deserves the highest quality of care,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Data helps hospitals pinpoint where improvement is possible and helps teams — at the front line of care and those who support them — build systems to meet and exceed quality benchmarks. The NKC Health team built stronger systems that are improving cardiac care and patient outcomes.” 

NKC Health identified that only 28% of patients experiencing a cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia were receiving American Heart Association recommended care within AHA’s two-minute clinical guidance. The hospital’s Code Blue Committee, recognizing the critical value of reducing delays in defibrillation, identified and implemented several evidence-based interventions aimed at optimizing time-to-shock performance. Among the core elements were efforts to streamline workflow efficiencies for bedside staff, enhance team-based training for nurses, standardize protocols and implement real-time performance monitoring. 

“This award showcases the power of our collective drive to optimize clinical performance,” said Stephen Reintjes Sr., M.D., president and CEO of NKC Health. “The tremendous growth and success our team has achieved in improving patient outcomes speaks to our unwavering commitment and teamwork.”

Between January 2023, when the project was launched, and December 2024, adherence to the AHA-recommended care increased by approximately 43%. The interventions led to decreased length of stay and, most importantly, measurable increases in post-cardiac arrest survival to discharge.

Photo caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair, (left) and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (right), present a 2025 Aim For Excellence Award to (left to right) Morgan Swearingin, R.N., MSN-Ed, Critical Care Clinical Education Specialist, Abby Burstert, R.N., BSN, Nursing Manager, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, and Jennah Irsik, R.N., Performance Improvement Specialist, at NKC Health in North Kansas City, Mo. 

Two organizations, Bothwell Regional Health Center, in Sedalia, Mo., and SSM Health in St. Louis, were recognized with Aim For Excellence Award Honorable Mentions.  

Renee Fordyce, Board Treasurer at Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo., has been honored by the Missouri Hospital Association as a 2025 Trustee of the Year. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“Renee’s energy, coupled with her understanding of the clinical and operational aspects of health care, make her an extraordinary board leader,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “She is a frequent contributor to MHA events who is deeply committed to improving health in Harrison County and, indeed, throughout the state.” 

Fordyce was elected to the Harrison County Community Hospital Board of Directors in 2011 and has served as board treasurer since 2018. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse, which informs her thinking as a board member. Fordyce has been deeply involved in progress toward the replacement hospital, which is currently under construction.

“Renee has a deep passion for our community and an unwavering commitment to our hospital,” said Tina Gillespie, CEO of Harrison County Community Hospital. “She has long been a strong advocate for growth and continuous improvement in patient care. As a respected member of our board, Renee not only provides thoughtful leadership but also stands side by side with our health care workers, understanding firsthand how meaningful — and at times challenging — their work can be. We are truly honored and proud to have Renee recognized as Trustee of the Year.” 

Photo caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair, (left) and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (right), present Renee Fordyce Board Treasurer at Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo., (center) a 2025 Trustee of the Year Award. 

Mike Hoffman, Board Chair of Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, has been honored by the Missouri Hospital Association as a 2025 Trustee of the Year. The award was presented Nov. 5 at MHA’s 103rd Annual Convention in St. Charles, Mo.

“Mike is committed to a strong hospital and health care system that serves Sullivan and the region,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “He connects his board service to his role as CEO of Sullivan Bank, and his leadership extends the reach of the hospital through engagement with local schools, and community health improvement and economic partners.” 

Hoffman joined the Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital board in 2007 and has served as board chair since 2015. During his tenure as board chair, the hospital has expanded significantly, adding important service lines, renewing the hospital facility and expanding increasing employment by 50%. As board chair, he provides a trusted voice for hospital leadership and his fellow board members. 

“Mike’s dedication to both Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital and the Sullivan community is truly inspiring,” said Lisa Lochner, president of Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. “His leadership reflects the heart of what it means to serve.” 

Photo caption: Caption: Craig Thompson, P.T., FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., and 2025 MHA Board Chair (left), and Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association (right), present Mike Hoffman, Board Chair at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital (center) a 2025 Trustee of the Year Award.

Helping you best connect to how the Missouri Hospital Association helps hospitals fulfill their missions and serve their communities drives the content, resources and design of the new MoHospitals.org. MHA introduced its redesigned website with a new web address on July 1.

“MoHospitals.org represents who we serve — Missouri’s hospitals,” said Farrah Fite, MHA’s senior vice president of strategic communications and marketing. "The new web address demonstrates a shift away from one that represented a business acronym and better reflects our association's focus of shaping an evolving environment that helps our members thrive and serve their communities.”

In addition to the approximate 150,000 health care leaders and hospital team members that MHA serves, the website is a resource for staff of MHA and its affiliates; Missouri lawmakers, policymakers and government officials; news media; health care industry partners, vendors and consultants; and community and public health organizations.

New features

Along with a more user-friendly design, MoHospitals.org includes several other new features to make finding the resources you need quick and easy. Some of the new website's features include the following.

✔ Simplified Navigation: Quickly find what you need — whether it’s information about MHA’s advocacy and policy work, how MHA helps hospitals, membership resources, or MHA’s calendar of events and educational opportunities.

✔ Enhanced Search Functionality: A new and improved search functionality ensures that you can find whatever you’re looking for, whenever you need it. 

✔ Introducing MHA Newsroom: Access newly available resources, stay informed about the news that impacts hospitals and read health care-related articles. 

“We looked at how visitors were using the site, asked questions and designed MoHospitals.org to get you to the information you need,” said Kendra Hanauer, MHA’s vice president of enterprise communications.

What you need to know

Here’s what’s changed: Instead of www.MHAnet.com, you can now find MHA’s new website at www.MoHospitals.org. The old web address is automatically redirecting to the new site, but we recommend updating your website bookmarks to reflect this change.

Along with a new web address, MHA staff email addresses have changed from name@mhanet.com to name@MoHospitals.org effective immediately. You’ll want to make sure you refresh your email contacts. To ensure delivery of all communications from MHA, we recommend asking your IT team to add @mohospitals.org to your organization’s safe senders list.

If you have any questions about the new website, or would like submit feedback, contact us here.

MHA's website: then and now

The Missouri Hospital Association’s first website launched at the 1995 Annual Convention as “your on-ramp to the information superhighway.” Since then, www.MHAnet.com underwent a variety of facelifts and content evolutions, with the most recent update in 2019.

Now, three decades later, MHA took another big step forward with its online presence — and we’re excited to bring you along for the ride.

The American Hospital Association, in partnership with the Missouri Hospital Association, has recognized Eric Ammons, regional president of Mercy Southeast Missouri Communities in Cape Girardeau, Mo., with the Partnership for Action Grassroots Champion Award. As a Grassroots Champion, Ammons was honored for his exceptional leadership in advocating for and supporting hospitals’ and health systems’ missions through grassroots activities. 

The Grassroots Champion Award recognizes one hospital or health system leader from each state. The award celebrates leaders who effectively educate elected officials on major issues affecting hospitals’ or health systems’ vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support and who stand as a tireless advocate for hospitals and patients.

In announcing the award, Rick Pollack, AHA president and CEO, said, “your leadership and dedication to advancing the mission of America’s hospitals and health systems has made a difference for the patients and communities we serve. This special recognition acknowledges the hard work you have demonstrated as an advocate for advancing health in America.”

Ammons has served as regional president for Mercy Southeast Missouri Communities since October 2023. He started his health care career as a physical therapist and went on to serve in leadership positions for more than 30 years at Mercy hospitals in Fort Scott and Independence, Kan., and Jefferson County, Mo. Ammons earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Mid-America Nazarene University and a graduate degree in physical therapy from the University of Kansas.

“Eric is committed to helping connect hospitals’ work to improve lives and health care locally to the policies that shape the health care system in southeast Missouri, statewide and nationally,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA president and CEO. “His engagement with law and policymakers builds their understanding of how their decisions influence care and health.” 

Ammons has attended MHA-sponsored advocacy trips to Washington, D.C., and is active in policy discussions at MHA’s district level. He has supported AHA and MHA political action committees that work to educate, elect and reelect leaders who support hospitals’ community-focused missions.  

“To say I am humbled and honored is a huge understatement, and truth be told, this award really belongs to a vast number of Mercy leaders, caregivers and board members across our communities throughout southeast Missouri who made this happen,” said Ammons. “Working with lawmakers has been an important part of my role with Mercy as it helps them make more informed decisions about health care. I always advocate they visit the hospitals, see the people who care for patients and how their choices at the state and federal level can impact patients’ and health care workers’ day-to-day lives.” 

Ammons leads Mercy hospitals from Jefferson County down into southeast Missouri including Mercy Jefferson in Crystal City, Mercy Perry in Perryville, Mercy Stoddard in Dexter and Mercy Southeast in Cape Girardeau, where he also serves as hospital president. He was instrumental in these hospitals' decisions to join Mercy to help bring high-quality care close to home for rural patients. 

Eric Ammons, regional president of Mercy Southeast Missouri Communities in Cape Girardeau, Mo., (left) receives the 2025 Partnership for Action Grassroots Champion Award from Jon D. Doolittle, Missouri Hospital Association president and CEO (right).

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA advocates on behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners – including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers – and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides insight and education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. 

Mercy Contact: Kate Shupert
kate.shupert@mercy.net
573-519-4908

“For hospital leaders and partners in workforce development, the report provides a signal for emerging issues and trends in the workforce,” said Doolittle. “The data help hospitals understand the local, regional and statewide talent environment, evaluate how to invest in workforce development individually and broadly, and shape their organization’s benefits and environment to remain employers of choice in highly competitive fields.”

MHA’s workforce data collection focuses primarily on the influence of two components — vacancy (unfilled positions) and turnover (workers who leave the organization). Doolittle said both challenges can influence hospital operations and organizational morale. Doolittle said that’s why Missouri’s hospitals and their partners continually recruit, train and retain workers. They also innovate within their organizations to ensure hospital careers remain a great choice for entering and incumbent team members.

“A strong hospital workforce is essential to Missourians’ health,” Doolittle said. “The data indicate hospitals continue to make progress toward long-term sustainability from the record-high levels of workforce disruption during the pandemic. Most importantly, it indicates that opportunities exist in health care for careers that provide personal and professional growth for individuals who want to be part of building healthier and stronger communities.”

Several other surveyed position categories support R.N.s in providing care. MHA surveys hospitals for vacancy and turnover of Licensed Practical Nurses and Nurse Assistants — the latter of which includes Patient Care Technicians, Certified Nurse Assistants and unlicensed assistive personnel. The vacancy rates for these workers are similar or slightly higher than R.N.s, but the turnover rate is significantly higher — nearly 41% for Nurse Assistants. Vacancy and turnover rates in these positions increase the pressure on the R.N. workforce. 

“Despite the generally improved results in this year’s data, turnover rates in some positions remain uncomfortably high,” Doolittle said. “To serve patients and provide high-quality care, hospitals require a team acting in concert. Turnover and vacancies in assistive positions, imaging, lab services or pharmacy, for example, influence a hospital’s ability to provide care.”

Geography can influence the pool of available workers of all kinds. For example, in 2024, regional variation was evident in Staff R.N. data. While Missouri’s South-Central region has the lowest vacancy rate in the state at 3.5% — approximately one-third the statewide average — it has the highest turnover at 25%. 

Regional data are available here.

In the St. Louis region, hospitals experienced a turnover rate of nearly 77% in environmental services. Conversely, the vacancy rate is 5.6%. This disparity suggests little difficulty in filling these positions after separations. However, efforts to train and onboard these workers are time-consuming and costly. 

“The hospital workforce is a top priority for hospital leaders,” Doolittle said. “MHA’s annual workforce report helps hospitals understand the workforce environment and build systems that help them deliver quality care.”

The report includes statewide and regional data from 127 hospitals and vacancy and turnover rates for 34 hospital- and clinic-based positions. A comprehensive collection of workforce data, trends and color-coded vacancy and turnover maps are available at MoHospitals.org.

“H.R. 1, as amended by the U.S. Senate, would harm those covered by Medicaid, all Missourians’ access to health care, the ability of hospitals to provide care and our state’s budget — especially when compared to the carefully constructed compromise crafted and adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives,” Jon D. Doolittle, president and CEO of the Missouri Hospital Association, said. “MHA advocacy continues with Missouri’s representatives as H.R. 1 returns to the House for further consideration.”

Doolittle said significant cuts in the Senate language include:

• Phased- in cuts to provider taxes to 3.5% - a rate that would result in a nearly $1.2 billion annual loss to Missouri’s health care funding when fully implemented. Missouri's 10-year average rate for the provider tax has been 5.47%. 
• Capped state-directed payments, an important funding system for hospitals, at 100% of Medicare reimbursement rates.

“Missouri’s hospitals are committed to working with state and federal leaders to mitigate impacts of these cuts and ensure all Missourians who are eligible for Medicaid coverage remain covered and enrolled,” Doolittle said.

Doolittle said Missouri’s Gov. Mike Kehoe and Sen. Josh Hawley were instrumental in curtailing more significant cuts, such as an amendment offered by Sen. Rick Scott, of Florida, which would have reduced the federal match for Missouri’s Medicaid expansion population from 90% to 65% and impacted Missouri’s annual budget by more than $800 million. Doolittle also credited Sen. Hawley’s influence in delaying the start of provider tax cuts by one year. 

Doolittle added that MHA welcomes the Senate’s nationwide, five-year $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program set to begin next year that would aid rural hospitals that are already financially strained. However, this more immediate relief would be outweighed by the provider tax and state-directed payment cuts by the end of the decade. In addition, those cuts would directly impact hospitals, while the program funding could flow to other providers in the health care system.

“We will continue to help Missouri’s citizens and hospitals navigate this fluid situation,” Doolittle said. “MHA is proud to advocate for the people of Missouri by projecting impacts of legislative changes and protecting Missouri’s hospitals’ abilities to serve their communities.”

Missourians benefited from more than $2.25 billion in unpaid care in 2023 thanks to the charitable service commitments of Missouri’s hospitals and health systems. New data released by the Missouri Hospital Association underscores these hospitals’ commitment to individual and community health improvement and demonstrates their foundational service as a health care safety net for all Missourians. The data, which aggregates community benefit totals statewide and includes individual hospitals’ contributions to their communities, is available on MHA’s consumer-focused website, FocusOnHospitals.com.

In 2023, the 128 reporting  hospitals provided $677 million in care to individuals who could not afford their care and $389 million in billed services that were never paid. These costs, known as uncompensated care, represented $1.06 billion in unpaid care costs provided to Missourians.

In addition, 82 reporting hospitals absorbed more than $1.2 billion in unreimbursed costs for care provided to enrollees in Medicare and Medicaid — more than $811 million in Medicaid and $440 million in Medicare. That’s because Medicare and Medicaid represent a significant share of patient coverage in Missouri. Medicare beneficiaries account for half of all care provided in hospitals, and an additional 18% of care is provided to those covered by Medicaid. Medicaid covers approximately 40% of births and children in Missouri. However, both programs reimburse hospitals for services at less than the actual cost of providing care. According to the federal Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, for each dollar of cost incurred to care for a Medicare beneficiary, Medicare pays 87 cents while Medicaid pays even less.

These data demonstrate hospitals’ commitment to providing a health care safety net for Missourians. Missourians are served every day through hospitals’ delivery of no- and low-cost care. Ongoing federal policy discussions related to the nation’s health care system — specifically funding cuts to Medicare and Medicaid — could result in shifting even greater cost portions for care under the programs to hospitals. Cuts to these programs could harm all Missourians’ access to care and influence the number of hospitals and providers available to serve them.

“The state’s hospitals are mission focused,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA president and CEO. “Providing care for individuals who don’t have insurance, or the ability to pay for their care, is a significant component of how hospitals serve their communities.”

Hospitals benefit their patients and communities beyond care costs. In 2023, hospitals contributed more than $413 million to the education and training of the health care workforce and donated $32 million to local causes. 

When combined with uncompensated care and absorbed costs above reimbursement rates in the Medicaid and Medicare programs, hospitals’ investments are known as community benefit. In 2023, hospitals provided more than $2.7 billion in total community benefit.

According to Doolittle, the numbers only demonstrate a part of the value of hospitals’ work. Hospitals engage in significant community-specific health improvement efforts that don’t fit neatly into an IRS reporting category.

“Health improvement activities are upstream of hospital care,” Doolittle said. “That means Missouri’s hospitals invest in prevention and chronic disease management to reduce the need for care. In addition, they assess community health to identify systems and projects that support wellness communitywide. This work reduces poor health and its associated costs, while — most importantly — improving lives.”

Hospitals Add Economic Value

The value of hospitals extends beyond their role in care delivery. From the state’s largest cities to its small towns, hospitals and health systems often are the largest employers. Locally and statewide, hospitals and hospital employees provide a ripple of economic activity that contributes to economic stability, and both supports and attracts jobs and businesses.

Doolittle noted our state’s hospitals provide a measurable economic boost in the communities they serve — through payroll and benefits, capital investments and community leadership.

In 2023, Missouri hospitals employed more than 152,000 workers and invested nearly $1.7 billion in various capital improvement projects in their communities. These community investments help strengthen the health care system. They also create household income, opportunities to support and build businesses, and revenue for state and local governments.

“Hospitals are essential, community-focused organizations. Again this year, hospitals improved the physical and economic health of the people and communities they served,” Doolittle said. “Producing these numbers are 150,000-plus hospital team members committed to delivering lifesaving care, improving health and making their communities better. We all should celebrate and thank them for their work.”

Stephanie Meyer, R.N., MS-FNP, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Children’s Mercy Kansas City, was confirmed Jan. 24 to serve in the newly created nurse-trustee role on the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. She will serve on the board in 2025.

MHA’s board provides governance for the association and assists in policy development on behalf of the state’s 137 member hospitals.

“We’re excited to welcome Stephanie to the MHA board,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Her vast experience and firsthand perspective as a nurse leader will help ensure that the decisions our board makes reflect the needs of caregivers and patients across the state.”

Meyer brings more than two decades of experience in clinical practice and nursing leadership to her new position on the board. In addition, her service as an adjunct nursing faculty member at both the undergraduate and graduate levels allows her to see nursing from both an operational as well as workforce development perspective.

She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Kansas, leading to her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Meyer also holds certifications in health care administration, LEAN methodologies and patient safety.

Kevin McRoberts, FACHE, CEO of Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, Mo., will serve as the 2025 president of MHA’s Central District Council. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

As District Council President, McRoberts’ responsibilities include presiding over council meetings and guiding discussions on association policies and activities. One of six MHA district council presidents, he will direct input from council members on national, state and regional health care policies to the MHA Board of Trustees.

“We are excited to have Kevin’s leadership as president of the Central District Council,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “He is a respected executive with a track record of strategic leadership. His insights will help shape policy that improves the lives and health of central Missourians and statewide.”

McRoberts has more than 30 years of health care experience, including 24 years at Lake Regional. He was named Lake Regional CEO in 2022 and previously served as executive vice president and COO. Before joining Lake Regional in 2000, McRoberts served as CEO for Missouri Advantage in Jefferson City, Mo., a provider-sponsored HMO, and as executive director with Conemaugh Health Systems in Johnstown, Pa. McRoberts has served as a member of the Central District Council since 2022 and served as president-elect in 2024.

McRoberts has a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., and a bachelor’s degree in management from Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Michael Calhoun, CEO of Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Mo., will serve as the 2025 president of MHA’s Southwest District Council. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

As District Council President, Calhoun’s responsibilities include presiding over council meetings and guiding discussions on association policies and activities. One of six MHA district council presidents, he will direct input from council members on national, state and regional health care policies to the MHA Board of Trustees.

“We are excited to have Michael as District Council President,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “His leadership in Bolivar and throughout southwest Missouri has strengthened hospitals statewide, and his service as president of the Southwest District Council will extend his commitment to innovation and excellence in serving all Missouri communities.”

Calhoun has served as CEO of Citizens Memorial Hospital since January 2022. He has been a member of the CMH team for more than 25 years, in a variety of leadership roles.

Calhoun earned bachelor’s and master’s in business administration from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.

Jason Schrumpf, P.T., MBA, FACHE, CEO of Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo., will serve as the 2025 president of MHA’s Southeast District Council. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

As District Council President, Schrumpf’s responsibilities include presiding over council meetings and guiding discussions on association policies and activities. One of six MHA district council presidents, he will direct input from council members on national, state and regional health care policies to the MHA Board of Trustees.

“We are excited to have Jason connected at the district level as well as serving on the MHA Board of Trustees,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “His work regionally and statewide will help hospitals continue to improve care and health, and support stronger communities.”

Schrumpf has served as CEO of Missouri Delta Medical Center since October 2010. He joined Missouri Delta Medical Center in May 2006 as director of rehabilitation services and served in several leadership roles until he was selected to lead the medical center.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., in 1999 and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia College in 2004.

David Argueta, FACHE, regional president of Mercy East and Southwest communities, was elected to serve as the 2025 president of the St. Louis Metropolitan Hospital Council. His term began Jan. 1.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Hospital Council was established in January 1995 as a regional office of the Missouri Hospital Association to serve member hospitals in the bistate metropolitan area of St. Louis. Guided by member input, SLMHC’s primary goals are local representation and advocacy for member hospitals, increased public relations and media communication, and networking for joint community projects.

“David is passionate about the work hospitals do to make every health care experience a good one,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA president and CEO. “As a member of the MHA Board of Trustees, through his executive leadership at Mercy in St. Louis and with nearly 20 years of service in hospital administration, he will provide important insights into making the St. Louis community — and all of Missouri — healthier while strengthening the health care system.”

Prior to his current roles as regional president in Mercy’s East and Southwest communities, Argueta served as the chief administrative officer for five years at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. Before joining Mercy, he served as president of the North Houston, Texas, region of Catholic Health Initiatives — St. Luke’s Health for five years. Before joining CHI, he served in several leadership roles, including as chief operating officer at Baylor Scott and White — Hillcrest Region in Waco, Texas.

Argueta is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of business administration and health care administration at Baylor University, in Waco, Texas.

Jason Shenefield, President and CEO of Phelps Health, in Rolla, Mo., was elected to serve on the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

MHA’s board provides governance for the association and assists in policy development on behalf of the state’s 137 member hospitals.

“We are pleased to have Jason join the MHA board,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “His proven leadership and deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in health care will strengthen the board’s ability to address critical issues facing hospitals and health systems today.”

Shenefield joined Phelps Health in 2016 as COO and was selected to serve as president and CEO in 2021. Prior to joining Phelps Health, Shenefield served in leadership roles at health care organizations in Illinois and Wyoming.

Shenefield earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree in health care management from Capella University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Darin L. Haug, D.O., FACOI, FACOP, Chief Medical Officer and Emergency Department Physician at Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall, Mo., was elected to serve as the physician representative on the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. His one-year term began Jan. 1.

MHA’s board provides governance for the association and assists in policy development on behalf of the state’s 137 member hospitals.

“We are pleased to have Darin’s physician perspective available to the MHA board,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “As a physician executive and chief medical officer, Darin’s insights will be essential to understanding how policy decisions influence care and the caregiver workforce.”

Dr. Haug serves as CMO and as an emergency department physician at Fitzgibbon Hospital. He served as president and CEO of the hospital from 2015-2020 and previously served as executive vice president of academic and medical affairs and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience.

Dr. Haug is a graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience and completed his dual residency program in internal medicine and pediatrics at the UMKC School of Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians.

Craig A. Thompson, P.T., MSA, FACHE, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., was elected to serve as the 2025 chair of the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees. His one-year term as chair began Jan. 1.

As chair, Thompson’s duties include overseeing and directing activities of the MHA Board of Trustees, acting as a day-to-day adviser to MHA, and testifying before committees of the Missouri General Assembly and Congress. He also will lead a Missouri delegation to Washington, D.C., during the year and will act as a state and national spokesperson for Missouri’s hospitals.

“Craig is passionate about hospital teams’ abilities to deliver great care locally and to partner well with others on behalf those we are privileged to serve,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Craig’s leadership and clarity of purpose will serve all our state’s hospitals, supporting an environment that helps them provide care and health to their patients and communities.”

Thompson has served as CEO of GVMH since 2017. He joined GVMH in 2002 and served in positions of increasing responsibility including director of rehabilitation and wellness services, assistant administrator, chief compliance officer and COO before being selected as the health system’s CEO.

Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Missouri in Columbia and a master’s degree in health services management from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Progress West Hospital in O’Fallon, Mo., has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Aim for Excellence Award for efforts to improve care for expecting mothers through their Maternal Hypertension Collaborative. Established in 2016, the Aim for Excellence Award recognizes hospital innovation that improves patient outcomes. Progress West Hospital received the award on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

“Maternal health improvement is a priority for hospitals and other stakeholders, as Missouri’s rate of maternal mortality and long-term harm, are in the bottom fifth of states,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Identifying systems to better address and mitigate problems like high blood pressure during pregnancy are important to delivering better health outcomes.”

Despite maternal hypertension’s leading role in significant maternal mortality and morbidity, only about half of pregnant women in Missouri presenting with sustained high blood pressure levels receive care within the recommended 60 minutes.

Progress West Hospital built on BJC HealthCare’s Maternal Hypertension Collaborative to establish a hospital-specific collaborative designed around visual process improvement reminders, provider engagement and medical record notations.

“Ultimately, the success of the project is attributed to creating a culture of multidisciplinary collaboration and teamwork,” said Heather Decker, Program Manager of Women and Infants at Progress West Hospital. “Keeping the patient at the center of everything we do ensures that we give care that is not only  safe, but extraordinary.”

The hospital’s goal for severe hypertension care was to achieve 90% compliance with best practices. After implementing the six-step process — including K-card visualization of process and progress — the team achieved nearly 100% compliance with treatment goals.

SSM Health’s Women and Infant Substance Help Center, or WISH Center, at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital — St. Louis has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Aim for Excellence Award. Established in 2016, the Aim for Excellence Award recognizes hospital innovation that improves patient outcomes. The WISH Center received the award on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

SSM Health’s WISH Center provides comprehensive, high-risk maternity care for pregnant individuals affected by substance use disorders. Between 2014 and 2023, the center served more than 3,000 women.

“Improving maternal health outcomes can be challenging for individuals with substance use disorders,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Through the WISH Center, expecting mothers are navigated through substance use harm mitigation services, as well as provided wrap-around clinical and social services to improve outcomes for the mother and child.”

Using medication-assisted therapy as part of a broad risk-based approach to care, the WISH Center meets patients where they are — providing them with connections to outside organizations for job skills, housing, life skills, parenting skills and more. Engagement is end-to-end, with social and clinical services during pregnancy and birthing services through the hospital. In addition, the WISH Center provides patients with an AfterCare program for two years after childbirth to continue essential support.

“Our patients receive a comprehensive and holistic experience that prioritizes their needs in a non-judgmental environment,” said Niraj Chavan, M.D., medical director of the WISH Center at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis. “Mothers impacted by substance use and perinatal addiction often encounter numerous challenges, and we focus on addressing their overall well-being. This includes tackling unmet needs such as barriers to care, food and housing insecurity, psychosocial support, and the lack of family support. Our multilayered approach connects patients with the appropriate medical team members and support services, enhancing their chances of success.”

The program minimizes pregnancy-related complications and reduces the length of hospital stays for newborns. During that time, the average neonatal intensive care unit admission for children of WISH Center pregnancies dropped from 17.4 days to 6.9 days

Dennis Carter, Board Chair of Liberty Hospital, has been honored by the Missouri Hospital Association as a 2024 Trustee of the Year. Carter was presented the award on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

“As a life-long resident of Liberty, Dennis understands this importance of Liberty Hospital as an essential community institution,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “During his tenure on the board, he has provided a businessman’s eye to board decisions, while remaining focused on how the hospital supports health and care in the community.”

Carter was initially elected to the Liberty Hospital Board in 2013 and served as secretary and vice chair before being selected as chair. During his tenure, he has led the board through several important milestones, including system affiliation and a major cybersecurity incident.

“Dennis truly cares about Liberty Hospital, our employees, patients and community,” said Raghu Adiga, M.D., President and CEO of Liberty Hospital. “He makes a point to be visible and accessible to people, asking valuable questions and identifying barriers he can address as a trustee. His dedication makes this prestigious award a well-deserved one.”

In his regular support of the hospital’s core mission and values, he remains laser focused on the people who make that mission a reality. His mantra is, “a hospital is more about people than bricks and mortar.”

Serena Naylor, member of the Mosaic Life Care Board of Trustees, has been honored by the Missouri Hospital Association as Trustee of the Year for her service to both Mosaic Life Care and Mosaic Medical Center-Albany. Naylor was presented the award on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

“Serena Naylor is a tireless supporter of Mosaic Life Care and her community of Albany, Mo.,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “She understands the importance of the hospital to Albany, and as a board leader in both Albany and Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, translates her passion into building value and access to care in communities throughout northwest Missouri.”

Naylor served as a board member of the hospital in Albany since 2003 and as chair since 2013. When the hospital, formerly Northwest Medical Center, affiliated with Mosaic Life Care — which she championed — she transitioned to chairing the hospital’s foundation board. In 2014, she joined the board of Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Mo.

During her tenure on the board, she has been influential in supporting and strengthening Mosaic Life Care under her banner of “keep local care, local.”

“In her 21 years of service to Mosaic Medical Center-Albany, its clinics, and Foundation Board, Serena supported and led change that resulted in the sustainability of our critical access hospital during a time of insecurity for health care organizations our size,” said Katie Dias, D.O., President, Mosaic Medical Center-Albany. “She has championed significant capital investments at our hospital and truly understands the need for quality care in our rural setting. Her work throughout Mosaic and in Albany shows her dedication and passion to care in our area.”

Craig Thompson, CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Visionary Leadership Award. The award, established in 1999, recognizes hospital executives who have taken innovative approaches improving health in Missouri. The award was presented on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

“Craig is a true champion for patient care in Missouri.,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “His leadership, and dedication to improving health in the region Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare serves — and statewide — provide a powerful example on how to make a difference.”

Thompson has worked to sustain and grow opportunities for patients to access the care they need. His advocacy serves patients who count on care at Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, but also has benefited Missourians’ access to care in communities throughout the state.

One example of his work to help break down barriers of care was his support for maintaining the stability of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare leverages 340B to serve the community, including maintaining access to ambulance services in the region and growing access to cancer, diabetes and obstetric care that is not often available in communities of comparable size. Local access to care supports access — encouraging patients who might not otherwise, to seek treatment.

Thompson’s advocacy in both Jefferson City, Mo., and Washington, D.C., has been at the center of efforts to help hospitals innovate and deliver on their community-supporting missions. As a hospital leader, his efforts to educate lawmakers and give voice to how policy influences care at the frontlines, have been essential to supporting change.

“Craig is an exemplary leader that has driven growth and innovation for patient care not only at Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, but for healthcare organizations and communities across the state,” said Tim Glasscock, Board Chair, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare. “He works relentlessly to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care and inspires others to do the same.”

Charlie Shields, President and CEO of University Health in Kansas City, Mo., has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award. The award, established in 1975, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to hospitals, health systems, communities, health care and MHA. Shields was presented the award on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

“Charlie’s deep understanding of the complexities of health care policy, combined with his passion for community health, has helped improve health outcomes for countless Missourians,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “His insights and consensus building have significantly influenced health care throughout the state.”

Shields’ service to hospitals and health care systems has spanned more than 25 years and been coupled with decades of public service.

As a leader in the Missouri General Assembly, Shields’ influence on health policy was significant. He was deeply involved in the evolution of Medicaid into MO HealthNet and instrumental in developing and adopting the state’s Time Critical Diagnosis system for trauma, stroke and STEMI heart attack care to expand access to lifesaving care in medical emergencies.

As the leader of a safety-net hospital, Shields understands health happens in communities that hospitals serve. In addition to supporting community-based health improvement programs in Kansas City, Mo., his influence has been felt statewide through his service as a lawmaker and on the Missouri State Board of Education, where he championed the connections between policy and lifelong health improvement for Missourians.

Tracey Lewis, University Health Board Chairman, said, “I wish I could say I was surprised about Charlie receiving this recognition, but truly, I’m not sure who could deserve it more. Charlie has always made it crystal clear to the community and University Health staff that the UH mission, both the academic focus and commitment to serving those with the best insurance, and those with no insurance at all will never change. The energy he puts behind ensuring that mission continues for UH and other safety net hospitals around the nation is awe inspiring.”

Shields is a founding board member of the UMKC Health Sciences District, a collaborative health care hub located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., focused on health innovation. He also worked to strengthen the hospital community nationally as the 2023-2024 board chair of America’s Essential Hospitals.

Jennifer Watts, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, Chief Patient Progression Medical Officer and Chief Emergency Management Medical Officer at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, has been honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Visionary Leadership Award. The award, established in 1999, recognizes hospital executives who have taken innovative approaches to managing the health of the communities they serve. The award was presented on Nov. 14 at MHA’s 102nd Annual Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

“As a physician and leader, Dr. Jennifer Watts runs toward challenges,” said Jon D. Doolittle, MHA President and CEO. “Her commitment to integrating pediatric emergency preparedness into overall preparedness, and her vision for managing the overall pediatric care capacity regionally have benefited not only Children’s Mercy Kansas City, but the broader community of hospitals and pediatric care stakeholders that serve children.”

As an emergency physician at Children’s Mercy, challenging situations are an important part of Dr. Watts’ job. However, her lifesaving work extends well beyond the emergency department — she leads teams that manage pediatric emergency preparedness locally and statewide, and coordinates overall pediatric care capacity regionally.

Dr. Watts leads the Patient Progression Hub that identifies and manages pediatric care capacity throughout a multistate region. The hub is a hospital operations center that uses predictive analytics and real-time information to optimize care progression and coordination from preadmission to discharge. Deferrals decreased 94% in the first seven months after the hub opened — from 198 to 11 — while delays decreased 86% and ED boarding by 99%. The system also reduces canceled surgeries and pediatric intensive care unit transfer times. These improvements mean better access for pediatric patients.

In her role as an emergency response leader for pediatric care in the Kansas City region, and in coordination with the State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Watts has prioritized integration of pediatrics into planning and response. Her efforts to build a stronger system were apparent on Feb. 14, where she was on site and delivered pediatric lifesaving care after the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory parade.

“Dr. Watts and her team meticulously plan and train for mass-casualty events. While the hope is to never implement these plans, their preparation was instrumental in saving lives,” said Stephanie Meyer, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Children’s Mercy. “Her exceptional leadership in a chaotic situation enabled the team to respond efficiently, providing critical emergency medical care to everyone that day, including several children.”

“Every hospital aspires to deliver the best possible care while creating an environment that supports healing,” said MHA President and CEO Jon D. Doolittle. “The science of care delivery advances constantly. However, to learn about the environment of care, hospitals rely heavily on input from patients, families and communities.”  

Hospitals establish Patient and Family Advisory Councils to understand how patients experience their care. These PFACs help hospitals identify opportunities for improvements in environment, where systems and processes complicate the health care experience, and how to foster better communication and engagement with patients.   

Harrison County Community Hospital received the Compass Honor for a hospital with fewer than 100 beds.  

Since the hospital PFAC’s initial meeting in January 2024, members have offered input on many initiatives such as renovating a waiting room, streamlining discharge paperwork, expanding community health fair offerings and improving accessibility options during registration. 

“Our Patient and Family Advisory Council is pivotal in transforming our acute appointment scheduling and waiting room experiences,” said Tara Sherer, CNA, PFAC Chair and Director of In-Home Services and Registration at Harrison County Community Hospital. “By prioritizing innovations like negative air systems, enhanced registration options for those who are hard of hearing and thoughtful accessibility measures, we’re not just improving logistics — we’re fostering an environment where every patient feels safe, heard and valued. Together, we’re redefining care for a healthier tomorrow.” 

Additionally, the council supported a telehealth grant, served as “secret shoppers” for infection control, assisted with tracking outpatient clinic wait times, offered autism resources, provided feedback for a new stroke support group and collaborated with the patient experience team to drive patient-centered improvements at HCCH. 

BJC HealthCare earned the Compass Honor as an organization with more than 100 beds. The health system’s Sickle Cell Patient, Family, Community Advisory Council has helped guide improved care coordination systems for BJC’s sickle cell disease patients. The council offered feedback on proposed workflows, accessibility of space and design of the Sickle Cell Treatment Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital — the first comprehensive adult treatment center for sickle cell disease in the St. Louis region.  

“The Sickle Cell Patient, Family, Community Advisory Council has served as an integral part of the development of improved care coordination for sickle cell patients throughout BJC,” said Winston Wright, Program Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at BJC HealthCare. “Six of the seven members of the council volunteered their time over the course of a year to meet with hospital executives, physicians and other staff to share their experiences. As solutions began to be identified, we formed the council so that the members could have a formal role in strategic planning and operationalization.” 

The council’s work has helped to normalize the needs of sickle cell patients at BJC, and the input that members offered have helped to begin closing gaps in care to this patient population.  

Two hospitals were named runners-up in the Compass Honor. Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Clinton, Mo., was named a runner-up for an organization with fewer than 100 beds, while North Kansas City Hospital was honored as an organization with more than 100 beds.  

In 2022, MHA introduced the Compass Honor, which is sponsored by the Statewide PFAC. To learn more about this annual recognition and read about previous Compass Honor recipients, visit MHA’s PFAC webpage.

The Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees has selected Jon D. Doolittle as its next President and CEO, after an extensive national search. Doolittle comes to the association after 11 years at Mosaic Medical Center – Albany, in northwest Missouri. He succeeds Herb B. Kuhn, who will begin his retirement after leading the association as MHA’s President and CEO since September 2009. Doolittle will join MHA in late October.

In announcing Doolittle’s selection, Charlie Shields, President and CEO of Truman Medical Centers, Inc. and Chair of the MHA Search Committee said, “The opportunity to bring someone who has such wide-ranging health care experiences, combined with a true passion for the mission and people in Missouri’s hospitals, made Jon the obvious choice for this role. We couldn’t be more pleased and are confident that he will take this outstanding and respected association to new levels of accomplishment.”

Doolittle will be MHA’s sixth president since the association was founded in 1922. He currently serves as President of Mosaic Medical Center – Albany and Chair of the MHA Board of Trustees. His previous experience includes several roles at Cerner Corporation, including management of Cerner’s $1 billion bid to serve as supplier of electronic health records for the English National Health Service in the South of England.

Doolittle has been actively involved as a board and committee member with MHA and the Hospital Industry Data Institute. He also serves on the Healthcare Services Group – Missouri Hospital Plan board, as well as the Board of Regents of Conception Seminary College.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University where he concentrated in government, and he recently completed a master’s degree in healthcare leadership and management from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Doolittle and his wife, Jeni, spend much of their time with family and friends, including their six children. They are active in their church, schools and scouting, and are involved in a wide variety of athletic and outdoor pursuits.