The American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA)presented Bristol Hospital President and CEO Kurt A. Barwis, FAHCE with the 2017 Connecticut Grassroots Champion award during the AHA’s 99th annual meeting in Washington, D.C. This award honors outstanding leaders who help educate elected officials on major industry issues, expand community support for hospitals, and become patient and hospital advocates.
Barwis, who has held his position at the hospital since 2006, was recognized as the state's Grassroots Champion for his exceptional leadership as a hospital advocate, which led to the elimination of the hospital tax and raising Medicaid rates. Barwis has also spent time educating and working with lawmakers on major hospital issues.
“Connecticut hospitals are fortunate to have an advocate like Kurt Barwis,” said Jennifer Jackson, CEO of CHA, in a press release. “Kurt communicates effectively with legislators, bringing both facts and conviction to bear. Anyone who talks with Kurt will know how deeply he cares about protecting patients, hospitals, and communities.”
Barwis joined the CHA Board of Trustees in 2007 and has been the Chairman of the CHA CEO Forum since 2010. He is also a member of the Governor’s Healthcare Cabinet, the Board of Directors for Qualidigm, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization contractor for the state of Connecticut, and co-chairman of the legislative committee of the Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
“Kurt demonstrates not only a commitment to the Bristol community, but an unwavering commitment to the broader hospital community,” said Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the AHA, in a video on Bristol Hospital’s YouTube page where he congratulates the Connecticut Grassroots Champion award winner.
Barwis also spoke on “Leveraging technology to drive up quality and drive down costs” at the third-annual Private Healthcare Summit at The King’s Fund in London on June 20, with over 170 of the country’s thought leaders in attendance.
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