AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES
ANNOUNCES HILL-ROM ESSAY
COMPETITION WINNERS

CHICAGO, March 12, 2005—R. Bramer Owens of Baylor University, Waco, TX, won first place in the graduate division of ACHE’s 2005 Hill-Rom Management Essay Competition for his essay, “The Plight of the Not-for-Profit: How Current Controversies Are a Reflection of the Historical, Regulatory, and Competitive Environment of the Tax-Exempt Hospital.” In the undergraduate division, Tanisha D. Woodard of James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, placed first with “Addressing Variation in Hospital Quality: Is Six Sigma the Answer?”

Owens and Woodard will each receive $3,000 and a plaque; their schools will each receive $1,000. In addition, the first-place essays will be published in the Journal of Healthcare Management, ACHE’s official journal.

In the graduate division, Emily K. Hyland of The George Washington University, Washington, DC, placed second for her essay, “Transparency in Healthcare: Improving Stakeholder Relationships through Disclosure.” In the undergraduate division, Lauren S. Blind of Clemson (SC) University won second place with “Hispanic Influx Creates Catalyst for Change: Healthcare Management’s Position of Action.” The second-place winner in each division will receive $2,000 and a plaque.

LeJon Poole of the University of Alabama at Birmingham won third place in the graduate division for his essay, “Assessing the Trend toward a Niche Strategy in the Healthcare Industry.” Jeremy J. Trescott of Ohio University, Athens, placed third in the undergraduate division with “A Review and Analysis of the Medical Malpractice Liability Crisis.” Third-place winners will each receive $1,000 and a plaque.

The six winners will accept their awards on Wednesday, March 16, at the Leon I. Gintzig Commemorative Lecture and Luncheon during ACHE’s 48th Congress on Healthcare Management at the Hilton Chicago.

The annual competition is sponsored by Hill-Rom Company, Inc. Hill-Rom helps today’s caregivers and healthcare facilities safely deliver effective and efficient care to their patients in acute care, long-term care, and home care environments. The company’s comprehensive solutions consist of high-quality care environment and clinical products, critical information assessments, equipment services, and new expert and clinical programs.

The essay competition was developed to stimulate student writing about important issues and developments in healthcare management. It is open to all ACHE Student Associates enrolled in either a graduate or an undergraduate U.S. or Canadian health administration program that sponsors an ACHE student chapter. For more information and submission guidelines, contact Reed L. Morton, Ph.D., FACHE, associate director of ACHE’s Division of Research and Development, at (312) 424-9444 or rmorton@ache.org.

CONTACT: Douglas A. Klegon, Ph.D., (312) 424-9420

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