Piedmont Healthcare CEO R. Timothy Stack has been recognized as the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Grassroots Champion for Georgia.

Stack received the AHA honor for his exceptional leadership in generating grassroots and community activity in support of Piedmont Healthcare’s mission. His role in educating Georgia’s elected state and federal officials on the most important legislative actions affecting hospitals and patients was particularly critical over the past year. Through his community involvement, Stack has sought support to increase advocacy for legislative action to empower hospitals and their patients in hopes of not only improving the health of, but also overall healthcare for, Georgia residents.

“We depend upon strong local voices to help tell the story of hospitals as cornerstones of the communities they serve,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA president and CEO.  “This award is a small token of our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of these individuals to improving health and healthcare in America.”

As a leading not-for-profit organization, Piedmont Healthcare is often recognized for outstanding work in the community and providing high quality care to patients. Most recently, Piedmont Fayette Hospital was recognized for the fifth time by Thompson Reuters as one of the 100 Top Hospitals in the nation, and Piedmont Hospital was named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care, Cardiac Surgery and Coronary Intervention (2010) by HealthGrades®. Piedmont Newnan Hospital was recognized by the Georgia Hospital Association for its successful program to reduce its mortality rate that was already lower than the national average. And, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital was named 2006 Hospital of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. The caliber of work being done throughout Piedmont Healthcare shows the strong voice that Stack has embodied in the organization and the belief that hospitals are the foundation of the communities they serve.

“The dedication Mr. Stack has shown to the communities of Georgia is outstanding,” said Joseph A. Parker, president of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA). “As chairman of the GHA board, Mr. Stack has helped lead Georgia’s hospital community through a tumultuous year with budget cuts and health care reform. He is very deserving of this award.”

Stack’s involvement extends into the community as well. He has served as the chairman of the Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (2009), the Metro Atlanta United Way Campaign Cabinet (2007, 2006, 2004) and Kidney Walk for the National Kidney Foundation of Georgia (2006).

For more information about Piedmont Healthcare and its community involvement, visit piedmont.org.