Keller honored with excellence award

Jefferson County Health Center Board of Directors? vice chairman Bob Keller was honored with the Excellence in Governance Award during the Iowa Hospital Association?s annual meeting last week in Des Moines.

?I was quite honored and quite humbled,? said Keller.

Even though he knew he was receiving the award ? Jefferson County Health Center CEO Deb Cardin tried to keep it a secret, but had to tell him to get him to the meeting? Keller said it was still ?pretty shocking? when he got up to accept the award.

?There are 118 hospitals in Iowa; I don?t know how many nominations were submitted, but it would be a challenge to pick from them,? he said.

Keller, a resident and business owner in Fairfield, has served on the Jefferson County Health Center board since 1992. He served as chairman from 2005 until January 2013, and now serves as vice chairman.

?It doesn?t seem possible it?s been that long,? said Keller. ?I enjoy doing what I do on the board. I truly feel everyone in the community should give something back, and I?m doing my part by doing this. There are a lot of good board members, and a high-quality team at the health center, and I enjoy being a part of it.?

According to the IHA, Keller?s focus has always been on the future to ensure the long-term capacity of the local hospital to be a leader in quality health care delivery. He has been involved with the hiring of three hospital administrators, and he?s helped guide the hospital through challenging times and major changes, including the planning, construction and opening of a replacement health care center, medical office building for the Fairfield Clinic PC and the Medical Arts Clinic and the Doug Johnson Memorial Dialysis Center. He also oversaw the sale of the former hospital facility.

Now, rising up from the economic downturn, the Jefferson County Health Center has seen increases in admissions and outpatient visits and has just completed an expansion to accommodate additional service providers, including Southeast Iowa Neurological Associates, American Eyecare Clinic, River Cities Ophthalmology PC and NuCara Pharmacy.

Looking into the future, Keller said his biggest concern is the new health care legislation.

?There?s talk of pulling back critical access hospital status, and that?s what made us profitable so that we didn?t have to ask for as many tax dollars,? he said. ?If it occurs, we have to get serious with our budget and make major changes.?

Cardin said Keller?s hard work and dedication have provided immeasurable support to the hospital?s mission, vision and values. His strong sense of commitment is evidenced by the countless hours he spends working on behalf of the hospital, its staff and the community.

?But, above everything, Keller is a man of character and personal integrity who exemplifies the qualities of leadership, diplomacy and strategic thinking that we all desire among our board members,? she said.

?I want to thank Deb for nominating me,? said Keller. ?If she hadn?t done it, I never would have gotten the award.?

The IHA is the organization that represents Iowa hospitals and supports them in achieving their missions and goals. Its Excellence in Governance Award was established as a memorial to Ernie Hayes, a 40-year trustee for Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant, whose selfless dedication to service continues to benefit people, hospitals and communities throughout Iowa.

The nomination criteria states the traits of a strong trustee are: strategic thinker, diplomat and leader. However, an individual who displays all three characteristics for his or her organization is truly ?excellent.?

Awards were presented to five outstanding members of Iowa?s hospital leadership community and were announced at the Chair?s Celebration Wednesday.