CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Premier Inc. (NASDAQ: PINC) recognized approximately 150 health systems and suppliers this week with a 2016 Breakthroughs Award for transforming healthcare.

“Recipients of Premier’s 2016 Breakthroughs Awards are industry leaders that are truly making a difference in healthcare,” said Susan DeVore, president and CEO, Premier. “We congratulate and thank them for their tireless efforts to improve care delivery operations, outcomes, costs and the health of communities across the nation.”

Winners were announced during awards ceremonies held at the 2016Premier Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition, where more than 4,000 industry leaders from health systems, academic institutions, non-acute care providers and supplier organizations were in attendance.

The 2016 Breakthroughs Award winners are listed below and available here.

American Excess Insurance Exchange (AEIX) Risk Management Award

Premier Insurance Management Services Inc. presented the AEIX Risk Management Award to the following hospitals and health systems for creating practices to promote patient safety and enhance the quality of care.

• Baptist Health Corbin of Baptist Health, Kentucky
• Johnson City Medical Center of Mountain States Health Alliance, Tennessee
• Summa Akron City Hospital of Summa Health, Ohio
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance of Texas Health Resources, Texas
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Southwest Fort Worth of Texas Health Resources, Texas

Continuum of Care Award

Premier recognized the following organizations for their growth and support of continuum of care alliance members, which include physician practices, ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health organizations, imaging centers and labs, as well as education, hospitality, recreation, community, and industry organizations.

• Merck & Co, Inc.
• National Office Furniture
• Network Services Company
• PC Connection, Inc.
• Ricoh Company

Culinary Cup Award

Premier presented the Culinary Cup Award to Chef Maureen Brooker at Adrian Dominican Sisters of Dignity Health to celebrate her culinary talent. Chef Brooker won the award for creating the best entrée recipe, as judged by Premier members.

Finalists for the award include:

• Michael Parksdubose, Sous Chef, North Shore University Hospital of Northwell Health
• Larry Bushner, Manager of Support Services, Aurora Zilber Family Hospice of Aurora Health Care
• Lyndon Espiritu, Executive Chef, North Shore University Hospital of Northwell Health

In addition, six other culinary experts were among the top ten.

• Jodi Greenwood-Webb, Culinary Cook, Indu & Raj Soin Medical Center of Kettering Health Network
• Kayla Halverson, System Cbord Coordinator, Aurora Sinai Medical Center of Aurora Health Care
• Libbie Marziano, Business Support Coordinator, Banner Behavioral Health Center of Banner Health
• Raul Pastrana, Executive Chef, Texoma Medical Center of UHS of Delaware
• Ried Snyder, Executive Sous Chef, The Park Danforth of Innovatix
• Michael Zuelly, Foodservices Director, The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Independent Healthcare Properties

Diversity Award

The following organizations received the Diversity Award for important contributions in developing and nurturing diversity programs in their organizations and communities.

• Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
• Johnson & Johnson

In addition, Dignity Health and Nestlé received an honorable mention for the Diversity Award.

Illuminating Excellence Award

Premier presented the Illuminating Excellence Award to four individuals for being outstanding foodservice professionals. Winners are selected based on improvements in operations, participation in Premier activities, professional/community activities and personal achievements.

• James Bain, Dining Services Director, The Watermark at East Hill of CHAMPS
• Susan Lessar, Director, Nutrition Therapy, Valley Health of Valley Health System
• Jeff Proulx, Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services, Washington County Public Schools, US Communities
• Lisa Schairer, Vice President, Food and Nutrition Services and Environmental Services, Aurora Health Care

In addition, Premier recognized ten finalists.

• Joshua Fels, Director of Culinary and Nutrition Services, Banner University Medical Center, Arizona
• John Mastacciuola, Executive Chef, Stony Brook University Hospital, New York
• Kendra V. Stoen, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, WVUH Ruby Memorial, West Virginia
• Amanda Viau, Food Service Director, Avera McKennan Hospital, South Dakota
• Gary Holzem, Director of Dining Services, Lutheran Senior Services - Laclede Groves, Missouri
• Nick Hunter, Executive Chef/Director Food and Beverage, Franke Home at Seaside, South Carolina
• Shirley Smith, Director of Food and Nutrition, Tabitha Health Care, Nebraska
• Lynne Kurz, Manager, Clinical Nutrition System Food and Nutrition Services, Aurora Health Care, Wisconsin
• Genie Gunn, Food and Nutrition Manager, Verner Center for Early Learning, North Carolina
• Andre Mallie, Assistant Vice President of Auxillary Service, University of San Diego, California

QUEST® Award for High-value Healthcare

The following hospitals were recognized with the QUEST Award for High-value Healthcare for achieving top performance in all six of the areas measured in Premier’s QUEST collaborative: cost and efficiency, inpatient and outpatient evidence-based care, mortality, safety, patient experience and appropriate hospital use.

• Banner Ironwood Medical Center, Arizona of Banner Health
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County, Mississippi of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
• Memorial Hospital Miramar, Florida of Memorial Healthcare System
• PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center, Oregon of PeaceHealth
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle, Texas of Texas Health Resources

The following hospitals were recognized as finalists for achieving top performance in five of the six areas measured in the collaborative.

• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City, Tennessee of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
• Catawba Valley Medical Center, North Carolina
• Grandview and Southview Medical Centers, Ohio of Kettering Health Network
• Metroplex Adventist Hospital, Texas of Adventist Health System
• North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka, Mississippi of North Mississippi Health Services
• Park Ridge Health, North Carolina of Adventist Health System
• Randolph Hospital, North Carolina
• Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg, Virginia of Riverside Health System
• St. Clare Hospital, Wisconsin of SSM Health
• St. Luke’s Anderson Campus, Pennsylvania of St. Luke’s University Health Network
• St. Luke’s Quakertown Campus, Pennsylvania of St. Luke’s University Health Network
• Sycamore Medical Center, Ohio of Kettering Health Network
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, Texas of Texas Health Resources
• Texas Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall, Texas of Texas Health Resources

In addition, the following hospitals received a citation of merit for achieving top performance in four of the six areas measured in the collaborative.

• AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center, Illinois of Adventist Health System
• Aurora Medical Center of Oshkosh, Wisconsin of Aurora Health Care
• Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington, Wisconsin of Aurora Health Care
• Aurora West Allis Medical Center, Wisconsin of Aurora Health Care
• Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, South Dakota of Avera Health
• Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, South Dakota of Avera Health
• Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, South Dakota of Avera Health
• Banner Estrella Medical Center, Arizona of Banner Health
• Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Florida of Baptist Health
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville, Mississippi of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville, Tennessee of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Huntingdon, Tennessee of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton, Tennessee of Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation
• Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, Florida of Adventist Health System
• Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Florida of Adventist Health System
• Fort Hamilton Hospital, Ohio of Kettering Health Network
• Frederick Memorial Hospital, Maryland of Frederick Memorial Healthcare System
• Kettering Medical Center, Ohio of Kettering Health Network
• Maury Regional Medical Center, Tennessee of Memorial Regional Healthcare System
• Memorial Hospital Pembroke, Florida of Memorial Healthcare System
• Methodist Texsan Hospital, Texas of Methodist Healthcare System
• Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, Texas of Methodist Healthcare System
• North Mississippi Medical Center-Hamilton, Alabama of North Mississippi Health Services
• PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center, Oregon of PeaceHealth
• PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, Washington of PeaceHealth
• Riverside Tappahannock Hospital, Virginia of Riverside Health System
• Saint Francis Hospital South, Oklahoma of Saint Francis Health System
• Shawnee Mission Health, Kansas of Adventist Health System
• Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, Virginia of Valley Health System
• SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Centralia, Illinois of SSM Health
• St. Luke’s Allentown Campus, Pennsylvania of St. Luke’s University Health Network
• St. Luke’s Hospital, Missouri
• St. Luke’s Miners Campus, Pennsylvania of St. Luke’s University Health Network
• Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South, Texas of Adventist Health System
• Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman, Texas of Texas Health Resources
• University Hospitals Conneaut Medical Center, Ohio of University Hospitals
• University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center, Ohio of University Hospitals
• Warren Memorial Hospital, Virginia of Valley Health System

Supply Chain Innovation Award

The following organizations received the Supply Chain Innovation Award for introducing innovative, high-impact supply chain improvement ideas to the healthcare industry.

• Banner Health, Arizona
• Mercy Health, Ohio

Supply Chain Excellence Award

The following hospitals and health systems received the Supply Chain Excellence Award for superior supply expense performance.

• Banner Estrella Medical Center, Arizona of Banner Health
• Carilion Giles Community Hospital, Virginia of Carilion Clinic
• Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Virginia of Carilion Clinic
• Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Virginia of Carilion Clinic
• Carolinas HealthCare System Union, North Carolina of Carolinas HealthCare System
• Central Maine Healthcare, Maine
• Einstein Healthcare Network, Pennsylvania
• Florida Hospital Apopka, Florida of Adventist Health System
• Fort Hamilton Hospital, Ohio of Kettering Health Network
• Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt, Iowa of Genesis Health System
• Henry Ford Health System, Michigan
• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Maryland of Johns Hopkins Medicine
• McLaren Flint, Michigan of McLaren Health Care
• McLaren Health Care, Michigan
• McLaren Macomb, Michigan of McLaren Health Care
• Med Center Health, Kentucky
• Mercy Health, Ohio
• Mercy Health - St. Charles Hospital, Ohio of Mercy Health
• Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Texas of Methodist Health System
• Page Hospital, Arizona of Banner Health
• PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center, Oregon of PeaceHealth
• Riverside Health System, Virginia
• Samaritan Medical Center, New York of the Greater New York Hospital Association
• St. Clare Hospital, Wisconsin of SSM Health
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle, Texas of Texas Health Resources
• TriHealth, Inc., Ohio
• University Hospitals Bedford Medical Center, Ohio of University Hospitals
• University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Ohio of University Hospitals
• University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center, Ohio of University Hospitals
• White River Medical Center, Arkansas of White River Health System

Supplier Legacy Award

The following suppliers received the Legacy Award for their longstanding work to support Premier members through exceptional local customer service and engagement, value creation through clinical excellence and commitment to lower costs.

• Advance Medical Designs, Inc.
• BVK Direct
• CDW Healthcare
• Compression Therapy Concepts
• Dart Container Corporation
• Edwards Lifesciences
• FFF Enterprises
• Hologic, Inc.
• McKesson Medical-Surgical
• Network Services Company
• Omnicell, Inc.
• Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
• Owens & Minor, Inc.
• Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics
• Sizewise
• X-GEN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Supplier Horizon Award

The following suppliers received the Horizon Award for displaying the same qualities as Legacy Award recipients, but with less tenure.

• American Solutions for Business
• Coloplast
• Exela Pharma Sciences
• Guerbet
• Hettich Instruments
• Koch Foods
• LifeNet Health
• LINET Americas, Inc.
• NDC, Inc.
• National Office Furniture
• Penumbra, Inc.
• Randstad Technologies

About Premier Inc.

Premier Inc. (NASDAQ: PINC) is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting an alliance of approximately 3,600 U.S. hospitals and 120,000 other providers to transform healthcare. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, and advisory and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost. Premier, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient, plays a critical role in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, collaborating with members to co-develop long-term innovations that reinvent and improve the way care is delivered to patients nationwide. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier is passionate about transforming American healthcare. Please visit Premier’s news and investor sites on www.premierinc.com; as well as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube,Instagram and Premier’s blog for more information about the company.