Jacksonville, FL - Baptist Health President and CEO Hugh Greene has been installed as the Florida Hospital Association's 2011-2012 chair.

The primary role of the Tallahassee-based Florida Hospital Association is to advocate proactively on behalf of hospitals at the state and federal levels on issues that will assist its members in their mission of community service and care to patients. Comprised of 205 hospitals and health systems and 1,300 professional members from across the state, FHA also provides education and information services to its membership.

Greene, who has long served on the FHA Board and Executive Committee and its Legislative Advocacy Committee, was named "Grassroots Champion" for Florida by the American Hospital Association (AHA) in 2009 for his political involvement on behalf of hospitals. He is also on the Long Range Planning Committee for AHA and serves as chair of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce

As chair of FHA, Greene will lead the organization during a critical time, as healthcare reform brings changes to reimbursement and regulation that will impact all hospitals and health systems nationwide. "In this new role for FHA, I am committed to representing the interests of Florida patients and their families with legislators," says Greene. "Like Baptist Health, most hospitals and health systems have a mission to serve the community and enhance access to care, so I will continue to advocate for sensible, fiscally responsible legislation that protects our ability to provide quality, comprehensive and accessible health care."

Bruce Rueben, president of the Florida Hospital Association, said Hugh Greene is the right volunteer leader for the organization at the right time in the healthcare industry. "Hugh is a true champion for his patients and community," says Reuben. "From his involvement in our quality and patient safety initiatives to his work in securing funding for our most vulnerable citizens, Hugh continues to provide strong leadership as we face some of our biggest challenges at both the state and national levels."

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About Baptist Health
Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system comprised of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville and Baptist Heart Hospital; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; and Wolfson Children's Hospital - Jacksonville's only children's hospital. All Baptist Health hospitals, along with Baptist Home Health Care, have achieved Magnet™ status, an international quality designation that recognizes excellence in patient care. Baptist Health also includes cardiology and cardiovascular surgery services; a comprehensive cancer center; orthopaedic institute; women's resource center; neurosciences, including neurosurgery and two Joint Commission-certified stroke centers; a full range of psychology and psychiatry services; outpatient facilities; urgent care services and a network of primary care physicians' offices throughout Northeast Florida. Baptist Health is the official healthcare provider for the Jacksonville Jaguars. For more information, visit www.e-baptisthealth.com. For information on Wolfson Children's Hospital, visit www.wolfsonchildrens.org.

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