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Kansas Hospital Association
September 12, 2016 Contact: Cindy Samuelson

The Kansas Hospital Association is pleased to announce that the 2016 winner of the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award is John Jeter, MD, President and CEO, Hays Medical Center, Hays. KHA established this award to recognize outstanding, innovative contribution to health care delivery, health care financing or other initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes in a community. The Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award provides members of KHA the opportunity to recognize individuals who have been a change agent in the hospital industry.

“Dr. Jeter has a keen interest in forming and improving the lives of Kansans as a whole. He has made numerous contributions to HaysMed, the region and the state. He is a true visionary when it comes to identifying and implementing health care needs, it is hard to think of anyone who has transformed Kansas health care more,” said Tom Bell, president and CEO of the Kansas Hospital Association.

Dr. Jeter joined Hays Medical Center in 1996 as the Vice President of Medical Services. He successfully led a joint venture project between Hays Medical Center and the Kansas Medical Society in physician practice management and physician network development.

In 1997, he became the president and CEO of Hays Medical Center. And over the next 20 years has made numerous innovative contributions to health care delivery, financing and clinical outcomes than can be listed.

Dr. Jeter’s vision led HaysMed to be the first hospital to change from JCAHO accreditation to DNV and ISO 9001 accreditation. He was instrumental in creating one of the largest Critical Access Networks in the country, and in developing the largest rural information systems network in the United States – the High Plains Medical Information Network.

His leadership in changing culture was implemented with physicians and staff. He led a cultural change with approximately 100 active physicians many of whom transitioned to employed physicians under the creation of Hays Medical Group. He also led a change in associate culture at HaysMed through the creation of a Culture Committee. This lead to HaysMed being named to Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

He was instrumental in the development and opening of The Center for Health Improvement, a hospital-based fitness center. The facility also houses a sleep lab, cardiac and outpatient rehab, occupational health, complementary medicine, orthopedic, plastic and general surgery clinics, and a for-profit orthotics business. The facility can serve up to 3500 members in general fitness activities including cardio, strength and aquatics.

Dr. Jeter was instrumental in promoting “exercise as medicine” and overall making the community of Hays a healthier place through all the “healthy” initiatives combined. He led HaysMed in being the first hospital in the state to eliminate smoking on hospital property for staff and visitors. Influenza vaccine became a condition of employment in July 2005 and the drive through flu vaccine program has immunized over 25,000 citizens to date.

Members of the Kansas Hospital Association awarded Dr. Jeter with the Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award at the KHA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Overland Park on Sept. 8. The Kansas Hospital Association is a voluntary, non-profit organization existing to be the leading advocate and resource for members. KHA membership includes 210 member facilities, of which 126 are full-service, community hospitals. Founded in 1910, KHA’s vision is: “Optimal Health for Kansans.” For more information, visit the KHA website at www.kha-net.org.se who work on our behalf from outside our ranks.

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