Michelle Mills Appointed Colorado Rural Health Center Chief Executive Officer

DENVER, Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle Mills to serve as the organization's chief executive officer (CEO).

"Michelle brings substantial experience and working knowledge of rural health issues to the CEO position," stated Robert Omer, president of the CRHC Board. "Michelle has worked closely with rural communities and providers to make a positive impact on rural health delivery," Omer added. This appointment is effective immediately, following a recent leadership transition in which Michelle served as interim CEO.

"I am looking forward to building on the relationships that the Center has established with other organizations, funders, and rural health care leaders," stated Michelle Mills. "Supporting our diverse membership in these times of health care reform will be a great challenge, and the Center is positioned to collaborate with others in improving access to care for all Coloradans," Mills added.

Mills has a proven record of dedication to health care in Colorado in concurrence with over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector dedicated to quality improvement and patient safety.  In 2009, she received the Patient Safety Leader of the Year Award and in 2011 graduated from NOSORH's Leadership Institute. Under her leadership, CRHC started a quality improvement project called Improving Communications and Readmissions (iCARE) and brought a structured approach to measurement, evaluation, and outcomes to both hospital and clinic work.  She is dedicated to the mission of the Triple Aim (improving quality, increasing access, and reducing cost) and to helping synergize efforts for rural communities.

Mills also serves as board member to four organizations, including National Rural Health Association's Policy Congress, DASH Foundation, Think About it Colorado, and Association of Rural Health Clinics of Colorado.

About The Colorado Rural Health Center

The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC's serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health with the mission of assisting rural communities in addressing healthcare issues; and as the State Rural Health Association, advocating for policy change to ensure that rural Coloradoans have access to comprehensive, affordable healthcare services of the highest quality. The Colorado Rural Health Center has a diverse and inclusive statewide constituency of over 3,500 people and organizations. CRHC collaborates with a variety of partner organizations, such as public and private sector corporations, government agencies, foundations, hospitals, and other health facilities. For more information visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493, or call toll free 800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.

SOURCE Colorado Rural Health Center