Members in the News
Hospital association honors Baylor Health Care System president
12:00 AM CST on Monday, January 26, 2009
Robert Miller, The Dallas Morning News
Joel T. Allison, president and chief executive of Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, was named the 2008 recipient of the Texas Hospital Association's Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Health Care Administration.
The Collier Award, created in 1965, is the highest honor bestowed by the Texas Hospital Association. It was presented to Allison at the association's annual Leadership Conference in Austin last week.
"Joel Allison exemplifies the leadership qualities that this award recognizes," said Dr. Dan Stultz, president and chief executive of the hospital association.
"He is an approachable, hands-on leader whose commitment to patient care is an example for all," Stultz said.
Allison has been an agent of change throughout his career, which included leading in a turnaround, at a faith-based facility, a public sector facility and a children's hospital before joining Baylor in 1993.
He spent seven years as senior executive vice president and chief executive at Baylor before becoming president and chief executive in 2000.
As chief executive, Allison instituted a systemwide quality initiative that includes a quality institute, an office of patient centeredness and a chief safety officer.
The initiative is designed to influence every aspect of care at every Baylor facility.
"I am so honored to receive this award, especially since I was fortunate to know Mr. Collier," said Allison.
Early in his career, Allison served as an administrative resident at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, where Collier built his reputation as the dean of hospital administration in Texas.
"Although [Collier] had retired as CEO, he was still very much involved with the hospital, visiting patients and staff every day," Allison said. "Mr. Collier believed in making patients the center of all that you do, and that has influenced me throughout my career."
"When you are around Joel, you know that quality and patients come first," said Dr. Irving Prengler, vice president of medical staff affairs at Baylor University Medical Center.
"Whether you are with him one-on-one or in a crowd of thousands, you're always aware of what the Baylor vision is. When he tells you about our vision, it's not rote recitation; it's got energy and enthusiasm and it makes you believe you can attain that vision."
In addition to his active involvement with the Texas Hospital Association, Allison is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He serves on the Healthcare Leadership Council and the National Quality Forum, and he's also a member of the United Surgical Partners International board.
Allison is on numerous state and local boards, including VHA Texas, Dallas Citizens Council, Dallas Education Foundation and the Dallas Regional Chamber. He is consistently ranked by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 most powerful people in health care.
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