Heart of Health Care Award

Upcoming Events

Noon Briefing: Modernized Scheduling for VA Community Care Appointments - July 8

Join us for a Noon Briefing on Tuesday, July 8, where KHA will explore how the Department of Veterans Affairs' new External Provider Scheduling program is transforming community care coordination.

Complimentary Health Care Preceptor Academy - July 10

This session supports current and future preceptors by providing valuable educational tools and strategies to strengthen the preceptor-orientee relationship. This interactive program offers practical guidance and resources to enhance your preceptor skills.

New Quality Director's Orientation - July 10-11

The core mission of Kansas hospitals is to deliver the proper care at the right time in the right setting. KHA is committed to helping our members improve the quality of care they provide daily. The KHA Board of Directors has identified patient care that meets the highest safety and quality standards as one of our strategic issues. For more information about this event, contact Karen Braman or Sally Othmer at (785) 233-7436.

HFMA Cost Report Workshop - July 17-18

The Healthcare Financial Management Association is a national organization for healthcare financial management professionals. Its members are employed by hospitals, integrated delivery systems, long-term and ambulatory care facilities, managed care organizations, medical group practices, public accounting and consulting firms, insurance companies, government agencies, and other healthcare organizations.

Complimentary Health Care Preceptor Academy - July 18

This session support current and future preceptors by providing valuable educational tools and strategies to strengthen the preceptor-orientee relationship. This interactive program offers practical guidance and resources to enhance your preceptor skills.

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Heart of Health Care Award

Purpose of the Award

The Heart of Health Care Award recognizes and honors excellence in health care employees statewide. All nominated employees (one from every hospital) will be recognized by KHA for making a significant contribution to the betterment of their hospital. Any type of employee can be nominated. They can be a tenured employee with years of service or a newer staff member. New this year, there will be additional recognition as a Rising Star if your nominee has been in health care (or employed in your hospital) for less than five years.

Criteria

Each hospital is asked to nominate ONE (1) individual. Health systems may make ONE (1) nomination on behalf of each of their hospitals, or select ONE (1) nominee to represent the entire system, but are encouraged to designate the hospitals in which the nominee primarily works.

Eligible individuals must be current employees of a Kansas Hospital Association member hospital. Nominees should demonstrate the following characteristics: leadership, teamwork, dedication and perseverance. The employee should be a role model for other staff and their work should reflect the values and mission of the hospital.

Best of Luck to the 2025
Heart of Health Care Nominees


Kristen Baker	Ashley Behymer	Brenda Blankenship	Michelle Bohannon


Stacia Brown	Jennifer Carney	Loree Cordova	Cassie Crocker


Brittney Engel	Tammy Field	Rebecca Finke	Amanda Gaines


Janelle Gasper	Dwight Hawkins	Susan Newell	Nathan Norman


Kevin Oehme	Alicia Oien	Jamie Phipps	Jose Renteria


Cheryl Rickers	Joilene Sandoval	Janie Schmidt	William Scott


Mike Stallbaumer	Robin Stapleton	Angela Taylor	Jolene Wessel


Christi Zimmerman

Key Dates

April – Call for nominations
June 1 – Nominations are due
June – Nominations reviewed by the committee
July – Recommendation presented to the Executive Committee for approval.
September – Awardee(s) honored at KHA Annual Convention.

Materials to Be Submitted:

All Nominations Must Be Submitted Electronically

Questions on the online nomination form:

1. How the nominee goes beyond the call of duty, is a great leader and/or a role model for other staff. (250 words or less)
2. How does the nominee show compassion, empathy and respect to patients, visitors and staff. How does the nominee promote an environment of cooperation and collaboration? (250 words or less)
3. Significant contribution(s) the nominee has made that benefited or improved the hospital. Other activities or reasons why this nominee should be considered, such as how the nominee gives back to the community and/or has overcome odds to succeed. (250 words or less)
We would suggest filling out answers to these questions in advance and then pasting them into the online form. If you have any difficulty with the online form, contact Jan Fenwick at jfenwick@kha-net.org.

Award Presentation and Recognition

Selected nominees awarded the Heart of Health Care Award will be honored with the Heart of Health Care Award and $500 in cash. Award recipients will be recognized during the KHA Awards Luncheon, Sept. 4-5, Hyatt Regency Wichita/Century II Convention Center in Wichita, KHA's website and in a KHA press release.

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