Kester Freeman

Kester Freeman is retired CEO of Palmetto Health, the largest integrated healthcare delivery system in South Carolina. Palmetto Health includes a regional teaching hospital and tertiary center as well as two acute care hospitals. The system also manages two rural hospitals and various other entities.

In 2004, Freeman spearheaded the creation of Health Sciences South Carolina, a healthcare research collaborative to improve the health and economic wellbeing of the state’s residents through a coordinated effort to advance health sciences research and education. The collaborative includes the Greenville Hospital System, the Medical University of South Carolina, Palmetto Health, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.

Freeman remains actively involved in healthcare as a consultant, serving as member of the American Hospital Assocation’s Mental Health Task Force and as founding chairman of the South Carolina Hospital Association’s Universal Coverage Work Group.

This information appears at the Action for Better Healthcare blog.

Hospital drug shortages lead to price gouging and possible safety issues
By Kester Freeman | 10:13 am | August 18, 2011
Drug shortages across the U.S. are hitting record rates and are causing a variety of issues when it comes to patient care. Among the concerns, some “gray market” vendors may be charging unfair prices and in some cases, may be selling drugs that are ineffective, unsafe or both.
Medicare rule on readmissions will hurt some hospitals
By Kester Freeman | 10:12 am | August 03, 2011
While many of the causes for readmission are out of a hospital's control, hospitals will be obligated to get involved in the whole spectrum of care for a patient and will be held accountable if patients are readmitted to a hospital within a certain time period.
Accountable care is not just for Medicare
By Kester Freeman | 09:49 am | June 15, 2011
Applying the principles of coordinated and integrated care beyond the Medicare market is essential if this country is going to successfully manage healthcare costs.
Giffords shooting likely to happen again
By Kester Freeman | 10:49 am | January 20, 2011
The status of mental health in the U.S. in 2011 is one of the worst problems I have ever seen. So many people are affected by mental illness and the numbers just continue to grow. The suspect in the Tucson shooting slipped through the cracks.
Hospitals shift business strategy to keep people healthy
By Kester Freeman | 10:49 am | October 19, 2010
One of the key elements of the Affordable Care Act that many people do not dispute is the need to reform the way that healthcare is delivered in the U.S. That is where accountable care organizations enter the picture.
GAO report finds GPOs keep costs down
By Kester Freeman | 10:46 am | October 05, 2010
An important report has been released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) pertaining to GPOs. It reaffirms what many of us have been saying for years now - that GPOs help unite a fragmented healthcare system.
Who will care for the mentally ill?
By Kester Freeman | 03:00 pm | August 18, 2010
There is a problem in this country that few are willing to talk about and it centers around caring for the mentally ill. This is a major public health issue and it cannot be ignored as we move forward with healthcare reform.
Setting a standard in transparency and ethics
By Kester Freeman | 09:35 am | July 20, 2010
When it comes to healthcare and changing an industry in ways that will benefit this country, it is important to look at organizations that are setting standards and raising the bar.
Is the medical device industry willing to follow the rules?
By Kester Freeman | 09:17 am | July 02, 2010
The Sunshine Act finally became law when Congress passed healthcare reform legislation just a few months ago. The Sunshine Act is a mandate that, in theory, is supposed to require corporations to make the consulting contracts and gifts they disburse public.
Doctor shortage could hit 125,000
By Kester Freeman | 11:03 am | June 09, 2010
One thing many people in healthcare seem to agree on is that there will be a physician shortage. In fact, some would argue it is already underway. New healthcare laws are expected to make the problem worse.