Danvers, Mass. – Kim Hollon, President & CEO of Signature Healthcare, was awarded the prestigious 2018 William L. Lane Hospital Advocate Award from the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA). Each year at the association’s annual meeting, MHA publicly acknowledges one senior hospital or health system executive for outstanding efforts on behalf of their organization, innovative and positive leadership, and extraordinary advocacy to achieve healthcare access and high-quality, safe care for all.
Hollon joined Signature Healthcare in July of 2010, and has led the organization through many healthcare delivery changes; a benefit to the patients and community in Southeastern Mass. He built local access to pediatric, oncology and orthopedic services, and championed implementation of programs in three key areas of Quality and Safety, Wellness, and Lean.
“Kim has been enthusiastic and creative about engaging the community and his own workforce, especially in terms of promoting wellness and improving care quality,” said Kate Walsh, outgoing MHA Board Chair and president and CEO of Boston Medical Center, who presented Hollon with the award. “His focus on a team approach and continuous improvement exemplify the positive leadership and advocacy that the Lane Award is all about. On behalf of MHA, we congratulate Kim on this significant recognition.”
Hollon brought a number of tools to Signature Healthcare from the Lean continuous improvement management concept, including problem solving, a suggestion system, and daily huddles to communicate directly with employees. Employees are rewarded for making suggestions to improve their areas and feel valued when they are empowered to find solutions. In addition, he encouraged innovation and collaboration among staff with benchmarking and care coordination programs.
He set patient and employee safety as the top priority, providing all staff with training for building and sustaining a culture of safety at the organization. Every new employee now goes through the same training, and the initiative has expanded to include patients in “speaking up for safety.” Since the launch, Signature Healthcare has reduced its serious safety event rate by 81%.
Outside the organization’s walls, Hollon volunteers his time locally. He recently chaired a United Way of Greater Plymouth County campaign, and did something previous chairs had not ‐ visiting over a dozen agencies the United Way serves in his area to get a better picture for the work they do, he then shared those experiences in his blog, demonstrating how integral each is to the lives of Signature Healthcare patients and staff.
In the nomination submission for Hollon, his team said, “As President and CEO, Kim Hollon carries the weight of Signature Healthcare and its 2600 employees on his shoulders. He understands success doesn’t happen through the efforts of one man, but rather through a team approach to problem solving and culture change. Under his guidance and commitment to this team approach, Signature has improved quality and maintained its low‐cost commitment to the community it serves.”
About the William L. Lane Award
The William L. Lane Hospital Advocate Award was created to embody the spirit of William Lane, who led Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, MA, for many years. The award recognizes professional excellence, outstanding achievements, innovative accomplishments, extraordinary compassion in caring for patients, success in overcoming barriers, and exemplary contributions to effective advocacy on behalf of hospitals, patients, and the healthcare system passionate commitment to its mission and outstanding work in the broader healthcare community.
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Pictured above, left to right: Karen E. Murphy, R.N., JD, MBA; V.P., Legal Services, Signature Healthcare; David A. Drinkwater, M.D.; President, Signature Medical Group; Ellen Hollon, spouse of Kim Hollon; Kim Hollon, FACHE, President & CEO, Signature Healthcare; Jeff Miller, CFRE; V.P., Foundation, Signature Healthcare; Lorraine McGrath; Director, Marketing, Signature Healthcare; David Fisher; V.P., Corporate Services, Signature Healthcare; Rachel Labas; PR & Media Supervisor, Signature Healthcare.