Hansford County Hospital District IT director honored

AUSTIN - Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals named Clint Walker, IT Director at Hansford County Hospital District as the recipient of the Rural Health IT Leadership Award at their 2014 Annual Rural Health IT Awards.

"There are great technical advances occurring daily at rural hospitals across Texas that help improve the patient care for their local communities and region," David Pearson, president of TORCH said. "TORCH is proud to have this opportunity to recognize their accomplishments and put the spotlight on Clint Walker, IT Director at Hansford County Hospital District,for his hard work and dedication to technology."

The Rural Health IT Leadership Award recognizes an individual who had demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to the advancement and adoption of health information technology.

Under Walker's guidance in the first few months of employment, he successfully converted the hospital to Windows 8 and then completed a conversion of the entire software system, including EHR. The massive nine-month undertaking took inordinate amounts of time for him and the HCHD staff.

In addition, HCHD had just finished building a new doctors clinic and remodeled a building for physical therapy and this required new technology infrastructure, which he built from the ground up, he also led the way for the hospital's attestation for Stage 2 meaningful use.

Walker has been a mentor, teacher and role model for others in his organization, who normally would not be afforded the opportunity to thrive and grow in a challenging IT environment.

Pearson added, "There has been considerable progress made by many rural hospitals and we're proud to recognize the effort, dedication and perseverance that our hospitals, their leadership teams and IT staff have demonstrated over the past year."

The award was presented during the 2014 TORCH Hospital Information Technology Conference awards luncheon held Oct. 9 in Fort Worth. The two awards presented include the Rural Hospital IT Award of Excellence and Rural Health IT Leadership Award.