Wayne Brackin, COO and EVP of Baptist Health South Florida, Named Grassroots Champion

WASHINGTON - May 8, 2014 - PRLog -- The American Hospital Association (AHA), in partnership with the Florida Hospital Association (FHA), announced Wayne Brackin, COO and executive vice president of Baptist Health South Florida, as the AHA Grassroots Champion for Florida. Brackin is being recognized for his exceptional leadership in generating grassroots and community activity in support of hospitals in Florida.

"We are proud to honor Wayne for his commitment to Florida's patients and communities," said FHA President Bruce Rueben. "From testifying in front of the Legislature, to growing grassroots support for key issues, Wayne has been a leading advocate this year."

Brackin currently serves on the FHA Advocacy Committee and served on the FHA Board of Trustees from 2012-2013. He’s also involved in the FHA Political Committee, which helps to ensure patient and hospital voices are heard in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

Baptist Health’s grassroots and community activities run a wide gamut of direct involvement and support of community and industry causes and healthcare initiatives. Its doctors and nurses routinely testify before policy-making bodies on patient care and cost-saving developments such as telehealth and expanding the use of Advance Registered Nurse Practitioners.

It sponsors community and industry initiatives, including Day of Prayer, Dade Days, Broward Days, Keys Days and Nurses Days, during the legislative session in Tallahassee. And it keeps the community and employees informed through widely distributed videos and emailed updates. Locally, Baptist Health sponsors Farm Share, Habitat for Humanity and Camillus House, among numerous causes.

Baptist Health has also embraced community outreach for wellness programs and preventive medicine.

"We are a health care institution. Healing the sick is only a part of our task," Brackin said. "Helping people stay healthy is a key element of our faith-based mission. So is informing and engaging legislators, community leaders and the public on important issues in health care."

The AHA Grassroots Champion Award was created to recognize hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital, and are advocates for the hospital and its patients.

“We depend upon strong voices like Wayne’s to help tell the story of hospitals as cornerstones of the communities they serve,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA president and CEO. “This award is a small token of our appreciation for his hard work and dedication to improving health and health care in America.”

The award is presented annually to one individual from each state with winners being chosen by the state association. The 2014 honorees were recognized at a special Breakfast of Grassroots Champions at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Brackin is one of 51 individuals honored this year.

About the Florida Hospital Association

The Florida Hospital Association is comprised of 239 hospitals and health systems from across the state. Through representation and advocacy, education, and informational services, we support the mission of our members to provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve. For more information, visit http://fha.org/.

About the American Hospital Association

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA Web site at www.aha.org.