Paula F. Baker Honored as Grassroots Champion

Joplin, Mo. – The American Hospital Association (AHA), in partnership with Missouri Hospital Association (MHA), announced Paula F. Baker, Freeman Health System President and Chief Executive Officer, will receive the Grassroots Champions Award.

One hospital leader from each state is honored for his or her work during the previous year in effectively educating elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community. It also recognizes those who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for hospitals and advocated tirelessly on behalf of hospitals and their patients.

 “I’m honored to be named Missouri’s Grassroots Champion,” said Baker. “Healing the sick and injured is only part of the job. Helping people stay healthy is key. So is informing and engaging legislators, community leaders and the public on important issues in healthcare.”

In 2015, Baker was appointed to serve on the Task Force for Examining Statewide Medicaid Delivery Models. The 13-member group, comprised of several state representatives and healthcare executives, was created to study the fiscal implications of expanding Medicaid managed care statewide.

Also in 2015, Baker was elected by the Board of Trustees of the AHA as an at-large delegate and member of Regional Policy Board 6. The AHA’s nine Regional Policy Boards provide the AHA Board of Trustees with grassroots perspective and insights on public policy requiring AHA advocacy.

Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for healthcare leaders and is a source of information on healthcare issues and trends. The AHA is a national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals healthcare networks and their patients and communities. Nearly 5,000 hospitals, healthcare systems, networks and other healthcare providers and 43,000 individuals come together to form AHA.

Baker will be presented with the Grassroots Champion Award at an MHA event this fall.

About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. For 2016, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman one of the top Hospitals in Southwest Missouri more than four years in a row. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 60 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem or follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo.