KAHCC Emerald Awards 2025
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The Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators is proud to offer the Emerald Awards! These awards are given annually to Kansas hospitals and health systems that excel in internal and external communications, special events, advertising and other categories.

Awardees will be recognized at the KAHCC Emerald Awards Luncheon during the KAHCC Spring Conference in Newton on April 25, 2025. Finalists will be notified prior to the Emerald Awards. If you would like your CEO, supervisor or another person notified that you are a finalist, please provide their names and email addresses on your entry. In addition to Emerald Awards, one entry will be awarded Best of Show. In addition, KAHCC will send a news release to newspapers across the state of Kansas announcing the winners of the Emerald Awards competition, and an article will highlight the winners in the KHA Current Report.

KAHCC will offer a webinar for those interested in learning more about the awards, including tips for successful entries and time for questions.

CATEGORIES ____________________________

  • Communications: Newsletter (Internal or External) - Submit three consecutive issues.
  • Communications: Annual Report (Internal or External) - Submit one issue.
  • Communications: Other Publication (Internal or External) - (brochure, flyer, poster, etc.)  Submit materials.
  • Communications: Total Campaign (Internal or External) - Submit materials and/or links developed as part of a multi-media campaign to achieve specific objectives.
  • Special Events: Includes special promotional, advocacy or fundraising event activities, such as health fairs, runs, golf events or open houses. Submit materials and/or links.
  • Digital Media Projects: Includes internal or external projects using interactive social media channels, blogs, podcasts or other interactive media channels excluding websites. Submit project or include link.
  • Video: Includes internal or external videos. Submit video or include link. 
  • Website: Submit a PDF with screenshot(s) and/or include a link to the website.
  • Advertising: Print, Direct Mail or Billboard - Submit PDF.
  • Advertising: Streaming Media, Television or Radio - Submit link.
  • Advertising: Digital/Social - Provide PDFs, photos and/or links of all elements.
  • Advertising: Total Campaign - Must include use of more than one medium. Provide PDFs, photos and/or links of all elements.
  • Writing: Newsletter article, media release, script, brochure, special report, etc. Provide a PDF.
  • Media Relations/Crisis Communication: Any media story proactively placed or the results of any crisis communications originated by the entrant.
  • Small Budget, Big Results: Includes projects, created on a minimal budget, that achieved great results or had a large impact. Be very specific about dollars/time spent and/or the project’s cost in terms of a percentage of the department budget.
  • Wildcard: Includes anything not mentioned in the above categories, such as public service announcements or campaigns, advertising specialty items, displays, bulletin boards, photography, logos, graphic design, etc. Please provide in a PDF, JPEG or link.

AT A GLANCE | HOW TO ENTER ____________________________

  • KAHCC members (current and new) are encouraged to enter.
  • Work entered should be produced between Jan. 1, 2024 - Dec. 31, 2024.
  • Work entered can be created by an individual, team or vendor/agency-supported project.
  • Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025.
  • Members may submit more than one entry in a category and may submit the same entry in multiple categories.
  • Each entry is evaluated on its own merit, and the type and size of the organization are considered.
  • After each entry is scored, the entries with the top scores are awarded Emeralds. 
  • All work must be health or hospital-related and produced by KAHCC members (current or new).
  • All entries and supportive documents, photos and links must be submitted electronically.

A fee of $50 is required for each entry. Payment must be submitted via checks made payable to the Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators. Send payments to:

KAHCC Emerald Awards
c/o KHA
215 SE 8th Ave.
Topeka, KS 66603

Payments must arrive to KHA no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 28. If you are new to KAHCC or have yet to pay your 2025 membership, submit your $40 membership fee with your entry.

JUDGING ____________________________
Each entry is evaluated on its merit. The number of Emerald Awards and Certificates of Merit awarded is based on the total scores in the areas below. Entries will be grouped and awarded by entrant type and size in the following areas:

  • Planning and Research - Demonstrate the need for your project and clearly state measurable goals, as well as define your target audience. A maximum of 20 points will be awarded in this category.
  • Implementation - Demonstrate how your project supported and met your goals. A maximum of 20 points will be awarded in this category.
  • Cost Effectiveness - Define your budget, costs and highlight your effective use of resources. A maximum of 10 points will be awarded in this category.
  • Evaluation/Results - Provide measurable results for your project and how it achieved your stated goals. A maximum of 25 points will be awarded in this category.
  • Note – In addition to the areas above, judges will have a maximum of 25 points to award their overall impression … looking at format, design, style and uniqueness of approach.
  • Note – Entries in the Media Relations/Crisis Communication category will only be judged on the following three areas:
    • Implementation (max 30 pts)
    • Evaluation/Results (max 30 pts)
    • Overall Impression (max 40 pts)