ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading organization for health care executives, has bestowed the Colorado Career Service Award on Joseph R. Swedish, president and CEO of Centura Health.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040916/LATH065)
ACHE is an international professional society of 30,000 executives who are leaders in hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations. Swedish received the honor based on his leadership, innovative management style, executive capability, promotion of health care in the community, as well as his ACHE participation.
The award was presented during a recent ACHE event in Vail, Colo. by Rulon Stacey, the Colorado ACHE regent, and president and CEO of Poudre Valley Health System in Fort Collins. Air Force Maj. James (Jay) Burks also was honored at the event as ACHE’s Colorado Young Healthcare Executive of the Year.
“Health care is one of the most important dimensions of life,” Swedish said in accepting the award. “That’s why I’ve committed to it as a career choice.”
“There are increasing pressures on health care,” Swedish continued. “The health care industry must make a commitment to creating a stable health environment for patients as well as employees. The key is leadership that inspires people and guides organizations through changes that meet the health needs of people in Colorado.” Among the health care challenges that Swedish noted were growth in the number of uninsured individuals, an increase in the state’s population, affordability of health care, a need to keep up with medical technology, a nursing shortage and an aging population that requires more medical resources.
Swedish, who has more than 30 years of experience in investor-owned and not-for-profit health care organizations, joined Centura Health in 1999 and led a successful effort to restore Centura’s financial health, positioning the organization to continue to invest in its communities.
With a master’s degree in health administration from Duke University, Swedish is a Fellow to the American College of Healthcare Executives. He serves on the Colorado Forum and the Regional Policy Board of the American Hospital Association. He is on the board of several organizations including the Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Colorado Concern and the Public Education & Business Coalition. Swedish is chair of the Colorado Health & Hospital Association. In 2003, the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado awarded Swedish a University Medal and he also was honored in 2003 with a Rocky Mountain Region Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for distinguished service.
Centura Health is Colorado’s largest health care system, operating 12 hospitals, eight senior living residences, medical clinics and home care and hospice services. Centura provides care and comfort to more than half a million people each year and employs more than 11,000 people, making it the fourth largest private employer in Colorado.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040916/LATH065AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comCentura Health
CONTACT: Laura Wegscheid, Corporate Communications of Centura Health,+1-303-804-8133
