OHA Advocacy Network

Advocacy Report • Monday, June 4, 2007

OHA Annual Meeting Features Advocacy Activities

OHA will hold its Annual Meeting June 18 – 20 at the Hilton Columbus Easton. Along with its educational programs, key note addresses and exhibits, this year’s Annual Meeting will feature speakers from Ohio government that you will not want to miss.

Monday’s Advocacy Luncheon will feature Governor Ted Strickland, who will outline his administration’s health care plan. OHA’s Advocacy Luncheon offers a health policy forum created to bring health care executives together with policy makers from state and national government.

OHA will be awarding its first Leadership Through Advocacy Award at Monday night’s Recognition Dinner. This award recognizes an individual, a hospital or a health system that demonstrates throughout the year the ability to effectively advocate in the legislative and regulatory arenas for the betterment of Ohio hospitals and the patients and communities they serve. Receiving the inaugural award is the University Hospitals Office of Government Relations, which has tremendous success in strategically advocating on behalf of issues that benefit patients in Northeast Ohio and throughout the state. Another award presented at OHA’s Recognition Dinner is the Meritorious Service Award which recognizes friends of hospitals or health systems whose support of the industry reflects the public interest. Receiving this award is Tony Gorant, Senior Vice President, Community Affairs, Akron General Health System. Tony has served as a tireless advocate for health care and hospitals across the state, specifically as a trustee for Good Samaritan Hospital (now Firelands Regional Medical Center) in Sandusky and Akron General Medical Center. Also receiving the Meritorious Service Award are Clifford and Lillie Johnson – a husband-wife team – who are supporters and mobilizers in Humility of Mary Health Partners (HMHP) and the Mahoning Valley community. Seating is limited for this dinner, so be sure to reserve your tickets early.

At Wednesday’s Leadership Luncheon, Ohio’s Director of Health, Alvin Jackson, MD, will speak and present the David Hendershot Rural Health Promotion Award. This is the inaugural Leadership Luncheon presented in concert with the Ohio Department of Health as part of the Ohio Department of Health Annual Flex Education Program.

To register for the OHA Annual Meeting and reserve your spot for these advocacy activities visit http://www.ohanet.org/annualmeeting/default.asp

Not a Member of the Advocacy Network?

Being a member of the OHA Advocacy Network provides you access to information on government activity and assists the hospital industry in sending unified messages to elected officials. If you are not a current member, you can easily join on-line. Join today to start reaping the benefits of being a member of the OHA Advocacy Network.

The OHA Advocacy Network is a service of the Ohio Hospital Association, 155 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215-3620, 614-221-7614, 614-221-4771 (fax)

Visit us on the Web at: www.ohanet.org

Direct questions on OHA’s advocacy agenda to:

Bridget Gargan, Vice President, State Policy & Advocacy (bridgetg@ohanet.org)

Jeff Klingler, Director, State Policy & Advocacy (jeffk@ohanet.org)

Jean Scholz, RN, Director, Health Policy (jeans@ohanet.org)

Rick Sites, General Counsel (ricks@ohanet.org)

Stacey Conrad, Specialist, State Policy & Advocacy (staceyc@ohanet.org)

Jonathan Archey, Manager, Federal Relations (jonathana@ohanet.org)

Laura Landis, Executive Assistant, State Policy & Advocacy (laural@ohanet.org)