ARLINGTON, Texas, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Dallas-Fort Worth health care executives are included among the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare, a list compiled by Modern Healthcare magazine and released in this week's edition of the national publication.
Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, president and CEO of Arlington-based Texas Health Resources, ranks No. 18 on the list. Joel Allison, president and CEO of Baylor Health Care System is No. 38. James D. Shelton, chairman and CEO of Plano-based Triad Hospitals, appears at No. 47 on this year's list. And, Dr. Ron Anderson, FACHE, president and CEO of Dallas-based Parkland Health & Hospital System, ranks No. 58.
Heading this year's list is Health and Human Services' National Health Information Technology Coordinator David Brailer. Eight of the list's Top 10 are elected or appointed federal officials, including Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist (No. 2), New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (No. 3) and President George W. Bush (No. 4).
All four Metroplex leaders have long and distinguished careers in health care. Hawthorne, a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, ranked No. 30 in last year's list. He has more than 33 years of health care experience, 31 of which have been spent with Presbyterian Health Care System in Dallas and its 7-year-old parent company, Texas Health Resources.
Allison's career includes more than three decades in health care management. He joined Baylor Health Care System in 1993, serving as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer before being named president and CEO in 2000. Allison currently is president-elect of the Greater Dallas Chamber and is past chairman of the 2003 United Way of Metropolitan Dallas campaign.
Shelton, who ranked No. 79 last year, led the formation in 1999 of Triad Hospitals, Inc., a Fortune 500 company. He has held executive management positions with other investor-owned hospital companies and was recently elected to the board of trustees of the American Hospital Association. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and the University of Missouri.
Dr. Anderson, No. 41 last year, has served as president and CEO of Parkland since 1982. Prior to his appointment, he served as Parkland's medical director for Ambulatory Care and Emergency Services. He currently is a faculty member of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as a professor of internal medicine.
"To be included on this list is truly humbling," Hawthorne said, "and with four Dallas-Fort Worth hospital systems represented, it illustrates the strength of health care in North Texas. If you look beyond the individuals, though, you realize that health care is a caring and collaborative business. Each day it requires countless numbers of people working together. This list includes 100 dedicated leaders, but health care is made up of millions more who wield considerable power in commitment and compassion in the work they do to improve people's health in their communities."
"It is an honor to be named among the most influential health care leaders in our country. Leading Baylor Health Care System, where our priority is providing quality, safe patient care to the community, is a privilege," said Allison. "As health care leaders, we serve a larger community -- in size, scope and need -- than ever before. Together, we can achieve meaningful innovation in access, delivery and funding for care to benefit the patients we serve." "Health care is about people first and foremost," said James. D. Shelton, chairman and CEO of Triad Hospitals, Inc. "For patients, the most influential people in health care are the physicians and the nurses at the bedside. I believe that one of the most important roles of a health care industry leader is to ensure that physicians and nurses are heard and given a voice in the future of the industry. I am honored to be included in this distinguished group."
"It is an honor to be considered among these distinguished individuals as one of the country's influential figures in health care," said Dr. Anderson. "I am sure Joel, Doug and Denny would agree that a lot of this honor is related to our mentors and employees. We are where we are because of those who have taught us and those whom we've taught."
Each year, Modern Healthcare magazine asks readers to nominate candidates they believe have the power to influence the health care delivery system. Readers were asked to visit the magazine's Web site to nominate individuals for the ballot. Readers submitted 9,611 nominations, with the 300 who received the most nominations appearing on the final ballot. Readers were asked to again visit the Web site to vote for 10 people thought to be the most powerful. Almost 180,000 votes were cast, and the 100 individuals who received the most votes made the final list.
About Texas Health Resources
Arlington-based Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health care delivery systems in the United States. The 13-hospital system includes the Harris Methodist, Presbyterian and Arlington Memorial Hospitals of North Texas.
About Baylor Health Care System
Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Health Care System exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service. Baylor Health Care System, a not-for-profit health care provider, is a growing network of 11 hospitals, 74 primary care physician centers and practices, eight rehabilitation clinics, nine senior health centers, 19 affiliated ambulatory surgery centers and the Baylor Research Institute. In 2003, Baylor Health Care System reported more than $190 million in charity care to the Texas Department of Health.
About Triad Hospitals
Triad Hospitals, Inc., through its affiliates, owns and manages hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers in small cities and selected high-growth urban markets. The Company has 49 hospitals (including one under construction) and 14 ambulatory surgery centers in 17 states with approximately 8,700 licensed beds. In addition, through its QHR subsidiary, the Company provides hospital management, consulting and advisory services to more than 200 independent community hospitals and health systems throughout the United States.
About Parkland Health & Hospital System
Parkland Health & Hospital System includes Parkland Memorial Hospital, Community Oriented Primary Care, Parkland Community Health Plan, Inc. and the Parkland Foundation. Parkland Memorial Hospital is the primary teaching institution of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and is often rated among the best hospitals in the United States. Because of Parkland's affiliation with the medical school, paying and non-paying patients alike have access to top quality medical care. As Dallas County's only public hospital, Parkland ensures that health care is available to all area residents.
Texas Health ResourcesCONTACT: Kent Best of Texas Health Resources, +1-817-462-6385; or WendyWalker of Baylor Health Care System, +1-214-820-4581; or Pat Ball of TriadHospitals, Inc., +1-214-473-3762; or Eric Wesley of Parkland Health & HospitalSystem, +1-214-590-1428
