(Aug. 4, 2023) – The Kansas Hospital Association's Health Care Worker of the Year Award highlights hospital employees who have made a significant contribution to the betterment of their hospital. These individuals are nominated for this award because they routinely go above and beyond the call of duty.
Clinical pharmacist Janine Ohler has great attention to detail and a remarkable work ethic. At Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Ohler excels at managing the pharmacy policies and procedures and completed a renovation of the hospital's sterile compounding area in a shorter time than expected and with full compliance.
Her work ethic is unmatched, and she is always looking for ways to better herself so she can help her patients. During her downtime, she obtained certification as a pharmacotherapy specialist from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. She also serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students. Students consistently give Ohler top marks in their post-rotation site evaluations, remarking how much they were able to grow during their time with her.
Other tasks Ohler takes on include teaching a medication safety class to all newly-hired nurses during their orientation period. She makes sure nurses are aware of the safety protocols the hospital has in place and explains how they keep patients safe. She also helps connect patients to affordable prescription drugs through various medication patient assistance programs even helping them navigate the confusing process.
Ohler does an exceptional job of bringing the community into the hospital. Outside of her work schedule, she teaches pharmacotherapy for the Physician Assistant program at Kansas State University. She also serves on a select committee to make sure all protocols are in place at the hospital to be prepared for the opening of the Level 4 National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan.
Ohler will be recognized, along with other Health Care Worker of the Year nominees, during the KHA Awards Luncheon at the 2023 KHA Annual Convention, Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Hyatt Regency Wichita/Century II Convention Center in Wichita.
--Shelby Stacy