FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 22, 2011
Contact:
Mary Lourdes Burke Marketing Communications Department
978-466-2214
LEOMINSTER - Central New England HealthAlliance held its
annual Board of Trustees' Meeting on February 17 at the Four Points by Sheraton
to inaugurate new officers and discuss the vision for health care in North
Central Massachusetts. Central New England HealthAlliance is comprised of
HealthAlliance Hospital, HealthAlliance Home Health & Hospice,
HealthAlliance with Physicians, Inc. and the HealthAlliance Realty
Corporation.
Patrick Muldoon, FACHE, President and CEO of Central New England
HealthAlliance, began the meeting by recognizing Gail Allen, Esq., for her
commitment to the past, present and future health of HealthAlliance and our
community. "Gail not only manages her own law firm and recruiting service but
she is very involved in many boards and committees throughout the region,"
stated Muldoon. "From the 1,500 employees at HealthAlliance we thank Gail for
her unflappable support and leadership," affirmed Muldoon. "This is not a going
away party but a transition party."
Ms. Allen summed up her leadership role by sharing, "I have held this
position for five years and it has been quite the adventure! The Board of
Trustees is a terrific group of individuals dedicated to the hospital and the
community. They are inspiring and engaged and it has been my privilege to chair
this Board."
The annual meeting included a presentation by John O'Brien, President and CEO
of UMass Memorial Health Care, which focused on the vision for Creating an
Integrated Health Care Delivery System in Central, Western and North Central
Massachusetts. Patrick Muldoon introduced John O'Brien by stating, "I have been
a benefactor of John's incredible leadership. He has won numerous national,
state and local awards, held chair positions for many associations and
organization such as being elected to the Board of the American Hospital
Association where a select few ever have the honor of reaching that level of
success."
Mr. O'Brien's presentation focused on working as an efficient, effective,
strategic system to achieve success as we create an integrated delivery system
for providing health care services to the patients and communities we serve
during these very challenging times. "I predict we will see tumultuous change
over the next five years," said O'Brien.
Last year the entire UMass Memorial Health Care system lost more than $134
million dollars in bad debt and this seems to be the trend in 2011. To succeed
in the emerging health care environment greater effectiveness and efficiencies
must be the top priority. "Hospitals and physicians must come together to
provide high quality, value based care in a much more efficient way than in the
past," stated O'Brien.
"I believe the future of UMass Memorial Health Care and HealthAlliance
Hospital is very bright," affirmed O'Brien. "The vision for the UMass Memorial
Health Care system is clear. We're working as a system to ensure we provide the
right care, at the right place at the right time."
The evening concluded with incoming Board of Trustees' Chair, Paul D'Onfro,
Esq., closing the meeting. Patrick Muldoon confirmed that, "We are very
fortunate to have Paul as our new Chair and we applaud him for standing up and
taking over this important leadership role."