Coffey Health System’s marketing department received the state’s top hospital marketing award from the Kansas Association of Health Care Communicators.

The 25^th Annual Women’s Health Conference earned an Emerald Award, as did the Coffey County Community Health Needs Assessment. After awarding 25 Emeralds to Kansas hospitals, KAHCC presented the “Best in Show” award to CHS Marketing Director Tracy Campbell for the Coffey County Health Needs Assessment. The project, a partnership with Coffey County Health Department Administrator Lindsay Payer, earned the highest scores from a three-judge panel of healthcare marketing professionals in other states.

One judge wrote: “I’m not even from Kansas, and I got caught up in studying the details on your easy-to-read, color graphics. This project was time intensive and creative. So often these assessments turn out to be just reports, but if your changes come to fruition then this community needs assessment will be used as intended.” 

Payer and Campbell both had experience with previous health needs assessments for their respective organizations. Armed with the lessons learned, they started off with strategic research and analysis—but quickly broke the mold of traditional assessment. Rather than compiling a book of raw statistics, they used their individual strengths to put a new twist on the process. Payer dove into research and began sorting information into basic groupings: births, children, chronic disease, men, women, aging, access to care, and socioeconomics. Campbell began pouring over CHS data and developing easy-to-follow “infographics” for each category. A series of community meetings and focus groups led to a deeper study of children’s health, chronic disease, and aging in Coffey County. Click here to download the Community Health Needs Assessment report.

“I was not at all surprised to see the state’s top marketing award go to this Community Health Needs Assessment,” said CHS Chief Executive Officer Leonard Hernandez. “I’ve seen a lot of assessments over the years, but the work that Tracy and Lindsay put into this truly demonstrates the needs in our community unlike anything I have ever seen before.”

"Silver Anniversary Celebration" Earns Award

The Emerald Award for “Special Events” was presented to Campbell and Marketing Assistant Virginia DuBuke. 305 area women attended the 25^th Annual Women’s Health Conference on October 11, 2017, at Burlington High School. A catered social hour kicked off the evening, with many local businesses and organizations hosting information booths and games. Presentations started with a light-hearted video featuring CHS staff dancing to the tune “I’ll Be There For You.” The keynote presentation was a discussion between Coffey County Hospital Mammography Technologist and four area breast cancer survivors. Each bravely told her own unique story and shared suggestions for other women who are faced with breast cancer or supporting a loved one.

The evening ended with the traditional appearance by “Earline,” a character created and portrayed by local artist Jim Stukey. While hilariously funny, Earline’s skits also carry deep meaning.  

“As healthcare professionals, we can present statistics and advice all day, but Earline taps into something that our best efforts can’t reach,” Campbell said. “Through her conversations, women hear their own fears, doubts, and anxiety. We can all relate to her because she can—and certainly does—say things that most of us think about but would never be brave enough to say aloud.”

The Emerald Award judges agreed, crediting several aspects of the event, but specifically addressing the Earline skit.

“Earline is inspired. It is hard to do humor in healthcare, and Earline is perfect,” wrote one judge. “Cancer is a difficult subject to discuss, but Earline’s silliness brings home a serious topic. Congratulations.”

The staff video also earned kudos from the judges. One wrote, “I loved the employee video—really funny in places and it looked like lots of fun for those involved.”

To qualify for an Emerald Award, hospital marketers must prove excellence in planning/research, implementation, cost effectiveness, evaluation, and overall impression.

DuBuke began her marketing career in 2017 and this marks her first Emerald recognition. Campbell has earned twelve Emeralds and six Certificates of Merit in her ten years at CHS.