The American Hospital Association has awarded Kevin Poorten, president and CEO of DeKalb, Ill.-based KishHealth System, its Grassroots Champions Award.
As a 2015 Grassroots Champion, Poorten is being recognized for "his exceptional leadership in generating grassroots activity in support of the hospital community." The American Hospital Association Grassroots Champions Award, which is presented each year to one person from each state, was created "to recognize those hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital, and who are tireless advocates for the hospital and its patients," according to a news release.
"Kevin has been a tireless advocate for hospitals and the communities they serve in both Washington and Springfield," Illinois Hospital Association President and CEO Maryjane A. Wurth said in the release. "He is a strong and effective communicator who is able to explain the great work hospitals in Illinois are doing to transform the health delivery system despite the many fiscal and regulatory challenges they face at the federal and state level."
Since 2005, Mr. Poorten has been an active IHA member, including serving as IHA Board of Trustees chairman in 2014. He has chaired IHA's Task Force on Transforming Illinois Health Care, IHA's Workforce Task Force and IHA's Finance and Audit Committee. He also has served on IHA's Strategic Planning Committee, and the Medicaid Reform and Certificate of Need task forces. Mr. Poorten has also served on IHA's executive committee since 2012.
Mr. Poorten has been president and CEO of KishHealth System, a community-owned health system, since 2002.
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