Foundation Helps Strengthen Hospital Workforce
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 Wamego Hospital Foundation is helping Wamego Health Center strengthen its workforce by investing in the people who provide care close to home.
For more than 30 years, the foundation has served as a vital partner to the hospital, supporting projects that expand local access to care. In previous years, the foundation helped Wamego Health Center acquire 3D mammography and MRI equipment, as well as operating room enhancements. Those investments have allowed more patients to receive advanced services locally rather than traveling elsewhere for care.
As recruitment and retention challenges have grown, the foundation has expanded its focus to support the professional growth of Wamego Health Center associates. This past year, the foundation completed a campaign to create a $200,000 endowment to provide educational assistance for employees. The scholarship program is designed to help associates build new skills, pursue training and certifications, and grow in their careers while continuing to serve the Wamego community.
The effort reflects a collaborative approach between hospital leaders, staff, foundation board members, volunteers and community supporters. Wamego Health Center leadership and employees meet quarterly to identify critical needs, including equipment needs and gaps in services that could be addressed through additional staff training. The foundation then works to develop fundraising strategies and allocate resources to meet those needs.
The impact is already evident. The hospital reported more than 90 percent participation in its recent employee engagement survey and an annual retention rate of less than 13 percent. By investing in staff development, the Wamego Hospital Foundation is helping retain skilled professionals, expand local services and ensure high-quality care remains available in the community.