The Kansas Hospital Association has six award opportunities for KHA members. We know many individuals are instrumental in making a difference for hospitals in Kansas and the communities they serve. We ask for your assistance in helping us identify those individuals deserving of our recognition.
Charles S. Billings Award
Purpose of the Award
The Billings Award is the top honor given by KHA. Individuals are recognized as hospital leaders who have dedicated their working lives to hospitals and health care. The award recognizes a hospital leader for his or her lifetime of service and continuing contribution to the health care of Kansas.
Criteria
Nominees should demonstrate the following characteristics: Commitment and excellence in service to Kansas hospitals, Leadership on a local, state and national level, and Service to Kansas hospitals through the KHA Board, council and/or committee participation.
Distinguished Health Care Advocate Award
Purpose of the Award
The Distinguished Health Care Advocate Award honors individuals, organizations or groups that have demonstrated their commitment through participation in the public domain. This award provides members of KHA the opportunity to recognize those who work on our behalf from outside our ranks.
Criteria
The award will be given based on the nominee's work in the following areas: leadership, commitment, partnership, breadth and depth of efforts, and impact.
Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award
Purpose of the Award
The Donald A. Wilson Visionary Award recognizes hospital-related individuals who have made an outstanding, innovative contribution to health care delivery, health care financing or initiatives that improve the health and clinical outcomes of their community. The award recognizes a hospital-related individual who has been a change agent in the hospital industry.
Criteria
The award will be given based on the nominee's work in the following areas: relevance, leadership, innovation, partnership and impact.
Trustee of the Year Award
Purpose of the Award
The Trustee of the Year Award recognizes and honors hospital board members who are leaders, give back to the community and routinely go beyond the call of duty. KHA members are encouraged to recognize those trustees who have served with distinction and made significant contributions to the betterment of their hospital and community. The award recognizes hospital trustees who provide an exemplary contribution through their leadership and governance.
Criteria
The nominee must be an active member of a hospital board that holds current membership in the Kansas Hospital Association. The nominee must have completed their self-evaluation in the KHA Trustee Recognition and Accountability Program. Nominees should demonstrate the following characteristics: Leadership: demonstrates leadership or involvement in the field of hospital governance. Commitment: contributes both time and talent to bettering the hospital and other health care services in the community. Advocacy: increases public attention to the health care needs of the community and has created public concern for meeting those needs. Impact: analyzes issues, defines problems and brings issues to a successful conclusion.
Heart of Health Care Award (Health Care Worker of the Year)
Purpose of the Award
The Heart of Health Care Award (previously the Health Care Worker of the Year) 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 by 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.
Workforce Strategies Award
Purpose of the Award
The Workforce Strategies Award recognizes a team of employees, providers or volunteers who have worked collaboratively to make a significant contribution to the well-being, retention or recruitment of health care workers at their facility(s) or in Kansas. Ensuring a robust and resilient health care workforce and increasing workforce supply through a pipeline of talent is essential to providing optimal health in Kansas.
Criteria
KHA members can nominate one (1) team of employees, providers or volunteers from one or multiple facilities. Eligible team members must be current employees, providers or volunteers of a Kansas Hospital Association member. Teams should demonstrate the following characteristics: the ability to work productively to define and resolve problems; engage in shared decision-making and collaboration; and foster cooperation and open communication.
This award recognizes a team that tackled a workforce-related program, project, strategy or initiative that involves the well-being, retention or recruitment of health care workers. The nomination should define how the team innovatively addressed an issue or challenge, and highlight results that demonstrate significant improvement of well-being, retention or recruitment of health care workers. Excellent teamwork on a workforce-related program, project, strategy or initiative must have occurred in the last two years.