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2012 Men of the Year Honoree: Donald Babb

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As CEO of Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Donald Babb has led construction – from the ground up – for the multifaceted Bolivar-based health care organization since 1981.

His leadership and vision have led to the establishment of the Citizens Memorial Foundation and the development of a wide array of specialized services that prevent people from having to leave their communities to access health care.

“CMH has experienced phenomenal growth for an organization in a small community and has expanded to provide health care services in surrounding communities,” Babb says. “We have grown from an initial employment of about 79 full-time equivalents to 1,700 FTEs and from a first-year budget of about $6 million to $330 million this fiscal year.”

CMH operates 31 primary and specialty care clinics, five long-term skilled care facilities, five independent living communities and a residential care facility in southwest Missouri.

In 2010, the system received a Missouri Quality Award for excellence in services and leadership, recognizing achievement of quality goals. Babb and the CMH team are now involved in the application process for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

“Our success in attaining the Missouri Quality Award of Excellence made not only me –but all of those involved in the organization from the board, medical staff, employees and leaders – very proud,” he says. “CMH is an organization that truly has a vision of where we want to go as a health care provider and steps to achieving that vision and our goals.”

Babb says he has had the opportunity through the years to hire well-qualified individuals to fill positions with CMH. He provides oversight for them as they fulfill their roles and mentors them according to the organization’s goals and objectives.

Babb has received numerous honors during his career, including the Missourian Award and the Missouri Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service and Visionary Leadership awards. Involvement with American and Missouri hospital associations has led to a proactive role in the policy side of health care.

“Often, state and federal representatives need to be educated on the potential effects of legislation and policy changes,” Babb says. “I have been pleased to have the opportunity to be involved with working with (legislators) on bills that have a direct effect on the CMH organization and on health care in general.”

Click here for full coverage of the 2012 Men of the Year.


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