Ross Korkmas Receives Pioneer Award from Texas Hospital Association, lauded as “transformational” leader
MINERAL WELLS, Texas – April 12, 2022 – Ross Korkmas, chief executive officer of Palo Pinto General Hospital (PPGH) in Mineral Wells, has been awarded the Texas Hospital Association (THA) Pioneer Award for achievements in managing a rural hospital or health care system.
The statewide professional organization presents the Pioneer Award to an administrator of a rural hospital or health care system who “demonstrates creative and innovative management achievements and leadership within the organization and the community.”
Korkmas joined PPGH, a 74-bed hospital and health care network, in 2019 and has “proven to be a transformational leader in a short period of time,” the THA said.
In two years, Korkmas has added multiple new physicians and hospital services, THA said, listing an inpatient tele-pulmonary/critical care program, school-based telehealth program, infectious diseases specialist program, urology, pediatric clinic, and a pain management clinic. Last year, PPGH opened a new primary care clinic.
“To recruit and retain hospital staff, rural hospitals are especially in need of strong servant leaders who are committed to improving the culture of their organization,” John Hawkins, president and chief executive officer of the Texas Hospital Association, said. “Ross is an efficient and caring leader who embodies the attributes of a pioneer within his profession.”
Korkmas credited PPGH’s employees. “This award honors the hard work of our staff, and the trust and loyalty of our community,” he said. “PPGH is the sole provider of health care across the Palo Pinto County region, and we take our responsibilities seriously.”
THA cited how “Korkmas’ leadership extends beyond the walls of Palo Pinto General Hospital and into the community it serves. He took the reins at Palo Pinto General Hospital amid a particularly turbulent period and made a concerted effort to assuage the uncertainty that lingered by continually engaging with existing staff.”
Korkmas’ colleagues and staff describe him as “the guy who makes the big decisions, signs on the bottom line for major business dealings, but also sweeps the floor in the ER when staff are spread thin and texts team members on the weekends to check on their sick children,” THA said.
Richard Dennis, president of the PPGH Board of Directors, said “this award recognizes the remarkable advances that have occurred in a short time under the leadership of Ross and his many employees. Palo Pinto County is very fortunate to have its health care system under their stewardship.”
PPGH’s health care team provides high-quality, safe patient care that meets or exceeds national standards. PPGH, under the leadership of Korkmas and his staff, is aggressively recruiting new specialty and family care physicians and other providers and staff. U.S. rural hospitals, which operate outside large metropolitan areas, are under pressure from greater levels of poverty and chronic disease in their markets and difficulties in recruiting and retaining physicians and other employees.
Korkmas joined PPGH in August 2019. He was formerly chief executive officer of AllianceHealth Woodward in Woodward, OK., and chief operating officer at Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado, AR. Korkmas graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Administration from the University of North Texas in 2004. He also earned a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2010. Born in Midland, TX, Korkmas grew up in Richardson, TX. He lives at Possum Kingdom Lake near Mineral Wells with his wife Kelly and their two daughters.
About Palo Pinto General Hospital
Palo Pinto General Hospital, operated by the Palo Pinto County Hospital District, is dedicated to providing high-quality convenient health care throughout the region. The county’s leading health care provider operates centers in Mineral Wells, Gordon, Santo, and Possum Kingdom Lake, emphasizing prevention and wellness. PPGH’s growing network includes an acute care hospital and rehabilitation and skilled nursing unit; urgent and primary care clinics; specialty clinics in women’s services, heart, orthopedics and sports medicine, pain management, pediatrics, urology, and pulmonary; and a mobile healthcare unit. Learn more at ppgh.com.
About the Texas Hospital Association
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association (THA) is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, Texas, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality, and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 650 of the state’s non-federal general and specialty hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 400,000 health care professionals statewide.
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