Process Improvement is Focus of AHF Confab

Beginning with pre-con sessions in which dozens of AHF members earned Lean Six Sigma white belts, the group’s annual meeting in June focused on building more efficient organizations, understanding the view from hospital C-suites and adapting operations to the demanding future of Accountable Care.  

The event brought together over 550 attendees including 258 operators from 185 facilities.

Basic American’s Cindi Parker accepts the “Making a Difference” Award from Patti Oliver.

General sessions highlighted AHF’s plans to strengthen its benchmarking program and a C-suite look at top industry trends (see story at right). An in-depth panel discussion that included presentations by Mickey Smith, CEO of HCA Oak Hill Hospital, and Michelle Ridge, Director of Nursing Operations at Indiana Health, explored the implications those trends would have for foodservice.

Topical sessions looked at disaster preparedeness, food safety audit standards, catering and retail food best practices and leadership improvement strategies.

In its awards programs, AHF recognized Denisa Cate of Henry County Medical Center with its highest honor, a Lifetime Achievement Award. The John Cabot “Making a Difference” award, AHF’s top industry award, was presented to Cindi Parker of Basic American Foods.

Spotlight Awards went to Dan Henroid of UC-SF Medical Center and Angelo Mojica of UNC Hospitals. Don Marsh Exemplary Leadership Awards went to Swedish Medical Center’s Eric Eisenberg and NYU Medical Center’s Betty Perez.

The Partnership in Leadership award went to Julie Jones of OSU’s Wexner Medical Center; and the New Horizon Award went to Atul Jain of St. Clare’s Health System, Denville, NJ.