May 10, 2017
NORTON, Kan. – Hospitals in Kansas and across the U.S. are celebrating National Hospital Week, May 7-13. This annual observance celebrates the men and women who, day in and day out, support the health and well-being of their communities through dedication and compassionate care. Celebrated since 1921, National Hospital Week emphasizes the valuable contributions hospitals make in our communities, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
Norton County Hospital is among the 127 Kansas community hospitals that provide vital health care services throughout the state. The Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) states that annually, Kansas hospitals staff nearly 10,000 beds; serve more than 312,000 inpatient visits; assist in more than 34,000 births; care for more than 7.2 million outpatient visits; and treat more than 1.2 million patients in Kansas emergency departments.
Statewide, Kansas hospitals serve thousands of individuals; keep communities healthy, strong and vibrant; and also benefit the financial health of the state, according to KHA. In Kansas, hospitals employ more than 84,000 people – 4.3 percent of all job holders – and generate $5.7 billion in direct total income. Kansas hospitals support the creation of additional jobs in other business and industry, and have a total employment impact of nearly 160,000 jobs. For every $1 of income generated in the hospital sector, another 56 cents is generated in other businesses and industries in the state’s economy. This has an estimated total impact on income throughout all business and industry of more than $9 billion.
Norton County Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital and Level IV trauma center; has two clinics, Norton Medical Clinic and Logan Clinic; and has a newly created foundation, the Norton Regional Health Foundation. The hospital and its clinics currently staff about 130 employees and seven medical providers. The hospital offers many levels of inpatient care, a wide range of outpatient services and several visiting physician specialty clinics.
Averages from the last five years show that Norton County Hospital will annually witness 3,250 days of patient hospital stays; deliver more than 60 babies; see 18,700 patients for outpatient visits; and care for 2,200 patients in the emergency department. The hospital also annually provides about 15,000 meals for the Norton County Jail and Meals on Wheels program; the hospital spends $117,800 of its own funds on Meals on Wheels, and the amount of these hospital funds continues to grow over time as more people in the community have joined the program.
National Hospital Week reinforces the essential role hospitals play in their community’s overall health. Take this year’s National Hospital Week as an opportunity to thank all of the dedicated individuals – physicians, nurses, therapists, engineers, food service workers, volunteers, administrators and so many more – for their contributions.
KHA information contributed to this report. KHA is a voluntary nonprofit organization existing to be the leading advocate and resource for members. KHA membership includes 219 member facilities, of which 127 are full-service, community hospitals. Founded in 1910, KHA’s vision is Optimal Health for Kansas.
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