Nancy Schlichting Selected as 2015 Top 25 Women in Healthcare

DETROIT – Nancy Schlichting, CEO of Henry Ford Health System, has been named one of the “Top 25 Women in Healthcare.”

The selection, made by the editors of Modern Healthcare magazine, honors executives in all fields of health care who are “an influential and powerful group of women who have gone above and beyond in leading their organization and employees to great heights.”

This is the fourth time that Schlichting has received this recognition from the magazine and she is the only woman from Michigan.

“Nancy’s vision in healthcare for quality, innovation and diversity goes beyond Henry Ford Health System,” says Sandy Pierce, chair of Henry Ford Health System Board. “She is respected and recognized at the national, state and local levels for her executive acumen, leadership and community service.”

In the summary about Schlichting, Modern Healthcare wrote:

“Schlichting, CEO of the Henry Ford Health System, announced last September that she will retire next year from the organization she has led since 2003. She joined the system in 1998 as chief administrative officer. Henry Ford includes five hospitals, a medical group with 1,300 salaried physicians, more than 40 ambulatory sites, retail clinics and a health plan that covers 680,000 people. Admissions have declined at Henry Ford as readmissions have fallen and much care has been shifted from inpatient to outpatient.”

“We think it’s absolutely the right thing to do to reduce costs to healthcare,” said Schlichting, 60, adding that fewer admissions reflect increasing quality and value.”

Modern Healthcare accepted nominees from all sectors of the industry, including hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, insurers, government, vendors and suppliers, and trade and professional organizations. An editorial review board comprising the senior editors at Modern Healthcare reviewed this year's 200 nominations and judged the candidates on the following criteria. The nominees must have:

• Successfully served as a leader of or managed an organization or company
• Shown the ability or power to effect change in the healthcare industry
• Demonstrated a willingness to share expertise with others in the field
• Served as a role model or mentor to other female healthcare executives
• Assumed a leadership role in the industry outside of the candidate's own organization or company.

About Henry Ford Health System

Henry Ford Health System, one of the largest and most comprehensive integrated U.S. health care systems, is a national leader in clinical care, research and education. The system includes the 1,200-member Henry Ford Medical Group, five hospitals, Health Alliance Plan (a health insurance and wellness company), Henry Ford Physician Network, a 150-site ambulatory network and many other health-related entities throughout southeast Michigan, providing a full continuum of care. In 2014, Henry Ford provided $317 million in uncompensated care. The health system also is a major economic driver in Michigan and employs more than 23,000 employees. Henry Ford is a 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient. The health system is led by CEO Nancy Schlichting. To learn more, visit HenryFord.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dwight Angell
dwight.angell@hfhs.org
(313) 876-8709