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Allina CEO Dick Pettingill receives ACHE Regent's Award

MINNEAPOLIS 09/19/2008--Dick Pettingill, CEO of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, received the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Regent's Award last night at the Minnesota Hospital Association meeting in Brainerd, Minnesota.

The award was bestowed on Pettingill by Lori Wightman, ACHE's regent for Minnesota and president of New Ulm Medical Center. The Regent's Award recognizes ACHE affiliates who are experienced in the field and have significantly contributed toward the advancement of healthcare management excellence and the achievement of the goals of ACHE.

Affiliates are evaluated on leadership ability, innovative and creative management, executive capability in developing their own organization and promoting its growth and stature in the community, contributions to the development of others in the health care profession, leadership in local, state, or provincial hospital and health association activities, participation in civic/community activities and projects, and participation in ACHE activities and interest in assisting ACHE in achieving its objectives.

Pettingill joined Allina as president and chief executive officer (CEO) in 2002, coming from Kaiser Permanente in California. Under his leadership, Allina has become a stronger organization, achieved substantial growth and made critical investments in its future.

Among Pettingill's key accomplishments at Allina are:

• Investing $300 million in a comprehensive clinical information system to link together all of Allina's hospitals and clinics. Last year, Allina's electronic medical record won the prestigious Davies Award from the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society and is arguably one of the most comprehensive and advanced systems in the nation.
• Unifying operations while making an historic community investment by moving Allina's system offices into Allina Commons, a renovated Sears warehouse in Minneapolis.
• Rallying philanthropic support around Allina's patient care mission. He launched new foundations in Cambridge and Owatonna, Minnesota, and revitalized philanthropy efforts, with philanthropic support increasing from $4 million in 2004 to $30 million in 2007.
• Under Pettingill's leadership, this spring Allina's Board of Directors committed to creating a new The Center for Healthcare Innovation, dedicated to advancing clinical research and community health at Allina and in the communities it operates. With an annual investment from Allina and matching funds from the community, Allina hopes the Center will serve as a catalyst for innovation in health care.

Pettingill currently serves on the boards of directors of Allina Hospitals & Clinics and Texas-based Tenet Healthcare Corporation. Active in his community, he also serves on the board of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and is involved with the Guthrie Theater and Assistance League. He belongs to Rotary International, a global network of community volunteers.

In 2001, Pettingill completed the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program. He has a master's degree in health care administration from San Jose State University and a bachelor's in public administration from San Diego State University.

About Allina Hospitals & Clinics

Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, more than 90 clinics and health care services, including home care, hospice and palliative care, oxygen and medical equipment, pharmacies and emergency medical transportation. More about Allina and the latest health information can be found online at www.allina.com.

About the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)

The American College of Healthcare Executives is an international professional society of 30,000 healthcare executives who lead our nation's hospitals, healthcare systems, and other healthcare organizations. ACHE is known for its prestigious credentialing and educational programs and its annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership, which draws more than 4,000 participants each year.

ACHE is also known for its journal, the Journal of Healthcare Management, and magazine, Healthcare Executive, as well as ground-breaking research and career development and public policy programs. ACHE's publishing division, Health Administration Press, is one of the largest publishers of books and journals on all aspects of health services management in addition to textbooks for use in college and university courses. Through such efforts, ACHE works toward its goal of being the premier professional society for healthcare leaders by providing exceptional value to its affiliates. For more about the American College of Healthcare Executives, visit www.ache.org.

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