The Top 3 Better. Together. Finalists have been selected! Read their stories below and be sure to cast your vote onsite at Connect!

A nationally recognized healthcare provider, Henry County Hospital is proud to be known as a place where family and friends care for family and friends. Based in Napoleon, Ohio, Henry County Hospital’s vision is to partner with the community to promote health – in body, mind, and spirit – by exploring new and innovative services. The healthcare provider gives back to its community in a variety of ways using time, talent and treasure.

The staff at Henry County Hospital is heavily involved in children’s events, charities and programs. Annually, the hospital sponsors Kidz Fest, a free event designed to promote fun, activity, and wellness for children in the county.  This year, more than 20 hospital volunteers contributed over 140 hours of service, and over 3,000 community members attended the event. Additional organizations supported by Henry County Hospital include the Symphony of Trees and literacy programs like Imagination Library and Born Learning. The Symphony of Trees raises money for children's services throughout the county in a four-day event that averages $55,000 in net proceeds. For Imagination Library, the hospital supports and pays the enrollment fees for any child born at Henry County Hospital. With this program, children receive a free book each month to promote learning. Another literacy program, Born Learning, provides strategies to increase the early reading of children and teach parents the value of interacting with their child through learning opportunities and play.

As a member of Henry County, this Better. Together. finalist is a leader in promoting the United Way. While the employees help the hospital to be one of the highest donating companies in the county (raising over $17,000 last year), the staff also works with the United Way to promote various other programs that encourage wellness. 

Within the hospital, the healthcare staff is dedicated to care and service and has been awarded numerous accolades including: Fire Starter Award, Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work, Professional Research Consultant’s Crystal Award in Inpatient, 5 – Star Award in Birthing Care Services, Inpatient, and Excellence in Patient Care for Promptness in Responding to Calls.

Dr. John Warner Hospital lives and breathes its core values of compassion, professionalism, collaboration, confidentiality and efficiency each and every day.  Based in Clinton, Illinois, Dr. John Warner Hospital provides services throughout DeWitt County. This critical access hospital not only delivers quality healthcare to its patients, but serves the entire community through an impressive program that includes: special healthcare screening and testing events, educational opportunities, and family-oriented activities focused on community wellness.  

Within the hospital, this year’s Better. Together. finalist is working on two initiatives to improve patient care: the Stroke Ready Hospital Certification and a new Falls Prevention Program.  The Stroke Ready Certification will allow patients to receive clot-busting medication prior to their transfer to a neighboring Stroke Center.  Clot-busting medicine that is administered early has been shown to significantly increase positive outcomes.  Secondly, the hospital is working on a new Falls Prevention Program for inpatients.  Better assessment tools and patient identification have been put into place for patients at risk of falling during their hospital stay.

Dr. John Warner Hospital is also committed to promoting annual mammograms to screen for breast cancer. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the healthcare provider offers patients discounts on mammograms using its new digital mammography equipment, as well as educational materials and free gifts. This successful program doubles the hospital’s mammography volume for the month.

For the community, the hospital hosts an annual Cruise into Good Health night.  This outdoor health fair provides a relaxed atmosphere that features dozens of booths centered on improving community health including free glucose and cholesterol testing, blood pressure reading, risk of stroke assessment, and prostate cancer screening.  The goal of the staff at Dr. John Warner Hospital is to provide free education and health screens to the community so more of their family, friends and neighbors will commit to a healthier lifestyle.  For the children, Dr. John Warner Hospital makes healthcare education both informative and fun with special holiday events. This way the children become familiar with the hospital in a non-threatening environment, while at the same time learning about healthy lifestyle choices. 

Box Butte General Hospital’s mission is to lead and innovate in healthcare delivery and community wellness. To accomplish this, education is key – both inside the hospital and out. Based in Alliance, Nebraska, this 25-bed critical access hospital prides itself on the numerous programs it uses to improve community wellness and to educate and influence the next generation of healthcare professionals.  

Box Butte General currently works with dozens of college and high school students to help them explore health careers through a Health Professions Club, Cadet Program, and several internship programs in professional disciplines such as medical, PT, OT, pharmacy and radiology.  The Better. Together. finalist also provides thousands of dollars in scholarships for local students and professionals every year, and conducts events for younger children, allowing them to explore their interests in healthcare.

With its award-winning wellness program, the administration at Box Butte General  encourages and empowers its staff and community to enjoy healthier, more balanced lifestyles. The healthcare provider does this through community education such as breast cancer awareness and diabetes support, but also through its internal services that have enabled many of its patients to receive treatment locally, increasing their comfort and  saving  time and costs. The hospital’s impressive staff makes this all possible with such nationally certified positions as Oncology Certified Nurse, Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse,  Trauma Fellow General Surgeon and Certified Emergency Nurses.  As one of only three Joint Commission Accredited Critical Access Hopitals in Nebraska, Box Butte General also has a recognized dialysis unit, enhanced general and trauma surgery, and orthopedic options. This commitment to quality enables Box Butte General to provide improved patient care and safety and continually results in local, state, and national accolades for the hospital.

As a Box Butte County business, the healthcare provider takes an active role to support community services projects and contributes thousands of dollars for these projects each year.  Through its community involvement, educational programs, services and support, it is clear that Box Butte General Hospital is living up to its mission to lead and innovate in healthcare delivery and community wellness.