Business Honors for Aug. 5, 2012

Fran Kirley, of Baton Rouge, was awarded the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award. The award recognizes members who have worked diligently to educate members of Congress about the needs of long-term care patients and residents and who have worked to advance quality care in long-term and post-acute care facilities. Kirley is the founder, president and CEO of Nexion Health Inc., based in Sykesville, Md., that operates skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in Louisiana, Texas and Colorado.

Grady Hazel, of Baton Rouge, has been presented with the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants’ Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes a member for outstanding, long-term commitment to the CPA profession. Hazel was honored for his 17 years of leadership as LCPA’s executive director and his professionalism representing CPAs in the state. In April, he became a liaison with the American Institute of CPAs.

Mike Spaulding, facilities management director for Ochsner-Baton Rouge, was named by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering among 10 recipients of the group’s Emerging Regional Leader award. Honorees are chosen for their leadership skills, exemplary commitment to their local chapter and their contributions to ASHE and the health-care profession.

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette has received three-year accreditation with commendation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Accreditation is based on an on-site evaluation for performance and compliance with organization standards.

Dr. Stephen B. Walker, of Baton Rouge, corporate chief medical officer for CNSI, has been awarded the Certified Healthcare Insurance Executive designation from the America’s Health Insurance Plans Foundation.