Great Plains Health Board Chair Honored as Nebraska Hospital Association Trustee of the Year

Lindsay Pedersen

Lindsay Pedersen, Board Chair at Great  Plains Health, has been selected as the Nebraska Hospital Association's (NHA) Trustee  of the Year. Pedersen received the award at the NHA annual banquet on Wednesday,  October 22. 

This annual award celebrates board members who go above and beyond in their  leadership roles. Winners like Pedersen stand out for their dedication to health care  excellence and their ability to bring community leaders together to strengthen local  health care services.  

Under Pedersen's leadership, Great Plains Health has achieved noteworthy milestones,  including top quartile employee engagement scores and the highest patient experience  ratings in the organization's history. The hospital has also grown to become the largest  independent hospital in the region (based on Medicare's Prospective Payment System  revenue), while maintaining strong financial performance compared to peers. 

"Lindsay's leadership sets the standard for health care governance," said Ivan Mitchell,  CEO of Great Plains Health. "Her strategic vision and genuine care for our communities  have driven growth and quality improvements that benefit our entire region." 

Pedersen, an attorney who also owns Title Service of the Plains with locations  throughout Nebraska, demonstrated particular courage in leading the board through a  nationally-watched decision to no longer accept Medicare Advantage plans. Before  making this difficult choice, Pedersen first asked how the decision would impact  surrounding Critical Access Hospitals, showing her commitment to health care access  throughout the region. 

This bold decision resulted in over 80% of county residents switching out of Medicare  Advantage plans, and has since led to increased volumes across almost all service 

lines, higher admission rates, and improved length-of-stay metrics at Great Plains  Health. 

"What distinguishes Lindsay is her ability to make tough decisions while keeping the  wellbeing of patients and health care access at the forefront," Mitchell added. "She  remained steadfast throughout a challenging transition that ultimately strengthened  health care delivery in our community." 

The Trustee of the Year award recognizes Pedersen's significant contributions to both  Great Plains Health and to Nebraska hospitals statewide.