HealthEast Care System Chief Operating Officer Recipient of Two Awards

ST. PAUL, MN–(Marketwire – July 14, 2010) –  HealthEast Care System is pleased to announce that Ann Schrader, Chief Operating Officer, has received two awards in the past two months for her significant contributions to Minnesota healthcare.

Schrader was named a 2010 Health Care Hero in Administrative Excellence by Twin Cities Business magazine and Medica. She was deemed one of eight of Minnesota’s outstanding contributors to the quality of health care in the state, selected from dozens of nominees for her time, focus, compassion, commitment, efforts, and imagination in delivering significant improvements in health care. Her drive to create a patient-centered experience, gold standard employee engagement, exceptional clinical outcomes, and dependable financial performance led to this honor.

Schrader, whose roots are as an RN caring for patients at the bedside, has spent the last 30 years as a senior leader at HealthEast. In 1986, she was instrumental in the merger of several St. Paul hospitals to create HealthEast Care System, the first successful unification of hospitals representing three Christian faiths in America. Schrader became HealthEast’s Chief Operating Officer in 1994. 

As operations leader, she was part of a team that brought about many firsts for HealthEast including:

• St. Joseph’s, St. John’s and Woodwinds were the first hospitals in Minnesota to perform surgeries live on the Internet.
• Bethesda Hospital became one of only two long-term acute care hospitals in the state.
• HealthEast launched an online prenatal education program, the first of its kind in the United States.
• HealthEast implemented a care navigation strategy that was the first of its kind in the Twin Cities.
• Woodwinds Health Campus officially opened in Woodbury; it was the first hospital of its kind to offer a unique environment blending integrative medicine, technology, customer service, and a healing nature for patients and their families.

Tim Hanson, HealthEast Care System Chief Executive Officer, credits Schrader for being an essential driver of best practices at all levels of the organization. “Her sense of integrity, honesty, innovation, and accountability have been at the foundation of HealthEast’s success,” said Hanson. “Her vision and strategic planning acumen have helped us respond effectively to a constantly changing industry.”

Schrader has also been selected by the Women’s Healthcare Leadership Trust to receive its Jean Harris Award. The Trust is a 30-year-old organization whose primary purpose is to support, educate, and promote women leaders in healthcare. Established in 2001, this award reflects the vision, integrity, and public leadership of Jean Harris, a physician and former mayor of Eden Prairie, who was known for making a difference in the health care of our communities.

Over the years, Schrader has given her time and talent as a board member to many organizations reflecting a broad spectrum of interests (ranging from business leadership to social services). In addition, she has served as a coach and mentor for many aspiring leaders at HealthEast as well as MHA and MBA students from the University of Minnesota, University of St. Thomas, St. Catherine University, and Mentiumm 100.

These awards celebrate Schrader’s innovative service and program contributions to HealthEast as well as her lifetime commitment to helping young healthcare professionals grow and develop their talents and competencies.

HealthEast Care System is a community-focused, non-profit health care organization that provides innovative technology, compassionate care and a full spectrum of family health services. HealthEast includes Bethesda Hospital, St. John’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Woodwinds Health Campus as well as outpatient services, clinics, home care, and medical transportation services. Practicing financial responsibility, HealthEast is the largest, locally-owned health care organization in the Twin Cities’ East Metro with 7,300 employees, 1,200 volunteers and 1,400 physicians on staff.