Strategies that address workforce recruitment and retention are essential to providing optimal health in Kansas. The Workforce Strategies Award recognizes a team of employees, providers or volunteers who have significantly contributed to the well-being, retention or recruitment of health care workers at their facility.
The Vituity team, a national group of emergency medicine specialists serving Ascension Via Christi’s Wichita hospitals, consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, teamwork, and compassion. They go beyond the call of duty by fostering genuine relationships with Emergency Department associates, valuing and respecting staff at every level, and creating a culture of camaraderie through team-building events such as karaoke nights and holiday parties. These efforts strengthen teamwork and morale, enabling ED teams to better support one another and provide exceptional patient care.
Vituity physicians model empathy, respect and open communication with patients, visitors, and colleagues. They maintain an open-door policy for suggestions and feedback, creating an environment where collaboration is highly valued. Monthly meetings with medical directors, nursing directors and frontline staff drive solutions to operational challenges, enhancing the hospital experience for patients, families and staff alike.
One of their most notable achievements is the launch of the Emergency Psychiatric Intervention program at St. Joseph, which expedites assessments, streamlines care for low-risk patients, and uses advanced antipsychotics to improve patient comfort. In just six months, EPI has significantly improved outcomes for behavioral health patients. The team has also led initiatives to improve throughput, reducing patient wait times and creating a better overall experience. Their influence extends beyond the hospital—Dr. Joshua Davis, for example, served in Ukraine with Doctors Without Borders, while the group advocates for health care improvements at the state capitol.
By cultivating respect, teamwork, and camaraderie, Vituity fosters a positive work environment that helps retain staff and attract new talent. Physicians often participate in presentations to nursing students at local colleges, strengthening recruitment efforts. Nationally recognized as Vituity’s Practice of the Year, the Wichita team’s collaborative process improvements have been adopted by hospitals across the country.
Through joint problem-solving and shared decision-making, the team achieved a remarkable reduction in door-to-provider time at St. Joseph to just five minutes—well ahead of the 12-minute national benchmark. This achievement boosts patient satisfaction and reduces the number of patients leaving without being seen. Their combination of clinical excellence, operational innovation, and genuine human connection sets a gold standard in emergency medicine.
--Shelby Stacy