(Nov. 26, 2025) – The Workforce Strategies Award honors a team of employees, providers or volunteers who have made significant contributions to the well-being, retention or recruitment of health care workers at their facility. This week, we are featuring the McPherson Center for Health's Pulse Team.
At McPherson Center for Health, appreciation isn't just for an annual event. It's part of the organization's everyday flow. This spirit is driven by the hospital's Pulse Team, a cross-departmental group committed to honoring employees, their families and the community they serve.
"Our Pulse Team was created more than 20 years ago by hospital employees who wanted to celebrate the culture we have here," said Kayla Moritz, director of marketing. "We pride ourselves on having a family atmosphere, one that welcomes families into our walls and makes everyone feel connected. My kids are often at work with me, and that's part of what makes this place special."
What started as a small staff group has grown into a formal committee of 10 to 12 members from different parts of the organization, including administration, nursing, human resources and dietary services. The team meets regularly to organize events, from small in-house raffles to large family gatherings like the recent pumpkin patch day, where employees and their families toasted s'mores, enjoyed a campfire and continued the evening with dinner at a local restaurant.
"It's about more than appreciation. It's about connection," Moritz explained. "You'll see people from different departments getting to know one another, families laughing together and relationships forming that make our workplace feel like home."
The Pulse Team's creativity and dedication have also helped ensure every shift feels valued. Night-shift employees are treated to special events like s'mores campouts and evening massages. Food trucks and treat deliveries are scheduled around shift changes so that both day and night teams can participate. "We're really intentional about making sure everyone gets the same opportunities," Moritz said. "We work closely with our house supervisors to make that happen."
The team recently secured a dedicated budget, a milestone that enables them to plan events strategically and align them with employee feedback. Surveys and open communication have shaped new traditions, such as movie nights with Santa, Easter egg hunts for children and community-based gatherings that extend beyond the hospital's walls.
"Our employees told us they love the bigger events that bring families together," said Moritz. "So that's where we're focusing our energy, on things that make people feel appreciated not just as employees, but as people."
The impact is clear. Moritz said the Pulse Team has strengthened relationships across departments and fostered an atmosphere where colleagues truly enjoy spending time together, even outside of work. "It gives everyone something to look forward to," she said. "When people feel seen and valued, it shows in the way they care for our patients and for each other."
At McPherson, appreciation isn't just an initiative, it's a tradition that keeps the organization's heart beating strong.
--Shelby Stacy