(Nov. 21, 2025) – Strategies focused on workforce recruitment and retention are crucial for delivering optimal health in Kansas. 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.
At Rice Community Health, a grassroots workforce strategy is changing how employees view their workplace through small actions like walks, policies and conversations. What began as an internal wellness initiative during the pandemic has become a core part of the organization's culture and a key factor in recruiting and retaining staff.
"The Wellness Committee was originally started by Dr. Stacy Dashiell during COVID," explained Brittney Weis, marketing and public relations director, Rice Community Health. "It began as a way to support our people, like buying massage chairs for breakrooms, bringing in food, just small gestures to ease the stress. But over time, it evolved into something much bigger. It's a true recruitment and HR tool that's changed how we look at our employees."
Today, the Wellness Committee includes representatives from the hospital and its two rural health clinics in Lyons and Sterling. Members serve two-year terms and are nominated based on performance and engagement. The committee meets monthly to review initiatives and policies that support employees well-being, and it's work that has produced tangible results.
"One of our proudest moments was expanding maternity and paternity leave to six weeks," said Weis. "We also updated our bereavement policy to reflect modern families—recognizing stepfamilies and even close friends. Our goal is to look at the employee holistically and ensure they feel supported personally and professionally."
Wellness is visible throughout the campus,from reimagined cafeteria menus that prioritize fresh, low-sugar options to monthly "Walk with Wellness" events and a weight-loss challenge.
To maintain momentum, the team sends out a monthly wellness newsletter by email and print, showcasing success stories, healthy recipes and upcoming initiatives. The committee also established the RISE Award, a peer-nominated honor recognizing employees who embody the "Healthy Employees, Healthy Community" mission.
Those internal efforts are now extending beyond the hospital walls. "We hosted our first community health fair in over a decade," Weis said. "We had free screenings, a 5K and family walk and even local veterinarians offering pet services. It's about engaging the whole community in wellness."
The committee's work also shapes recruitment strategy. "We use these programs heavily when we talk to candidates," Weis noted. "We can honestly say we value your life outside of work. Our CEO even requires employees to use at least two weeks of PTO annually to recharge. It sends a powerful message: take care of yourself first so you can care for others."
For Weis, the Wellness Committee is more than just a program, it's a movement. "We're building a culture where wellness, family and community are at the center," she said. "It's changing how people see rural health care, and it's helping us keep great people right here in Rice County."
--Shelby Stacy