BCH striving to provide care for the community

CEO Rick Haraldson has been in leadership for seven years. He talked about the hospital being named in the top 100 of critical access hospitals across the nation and later recognized in the top 20, also.

“It’s a beautiful facility from the outside, but the people inside taking care of the community …,” he said. “This was a very earned. They look at 50 different indicators and average those in consideration. For me the top 100 was a nice recognition of what we already knew was happening. Then when we heard we were in the top 20 among the 1,371 hospitals — that is just amazing.”

“Since I have been on board with the hospital, the journey to go from always a good hospital to being recognized as a good hospital and knowing we have those things in place is awesome,” said Diane Vicars, senior executive in marketing communications. “We believe we have good services, but this is an award that tells the community. It’s not just us bragging but the numbers tell the story.”

Haraldson said one of the strengths of the community is the ability to come together.

“We can’t do everything, but everyone has a part and how do we make everything better just by contributing?” he said.

He used the example of helping the schools with supplies and space so nurses could provide care for students in the buildings.

There are around 560 employees working at the hospital. There are 11 community members on the board of directors.

“I’m just proud of the people and their commitment, not only to caring for people, but for being involved in the community,” he said.

Vicars said the hospital has engaged in a new strategic planning process. Haraldson explained that they had done a three- to five-year plan when he became the CEO, and after COVID-19, they needed a new plan.

“The biggest take away from it was we heard, 'You are doing a lot of things really well. There aren’t any major strategies that need improvement. You just need to continue to get better at what you are doing.' That’s the challenge for our board to make sure we are always looking at what we are comparing against,” Haraldson said.

The plan focuses on the five pillars: service, quality, people, finance and growth.

The BCH Foundation works with the hospital on the strategies. The foundation completes a community needs assessment that draws information from several different sources, as well as assisting with raising funds.

“The big part of the foundation is their help in replacing capital or putting capital into the hospital so we can focus on health care. They are another vehicle to reach out into the community, also. They hear things from a different perspective,” Haraldson said.

Vicars added that BCH is a community partner, and the foundation provides community grants for health-related projects.

Haraldson said he is also very proud of the behavioral health services the hospital provides.

“We have seven providers, and there is still so much need in mental health,” he said.

While several family medicine providers are retiring, new providers have committed to joining BCH.

“It’s been a smooth transition, and we are looking forward to providers that continue the same level of care and involvement in the community,” he said.

Vicars noted that BCH continues to work on technology.

“Technology is expensive and we’re lucky to be in a healthy situation that we can provide service closer to home. A constant challenge is to look at the cost and what we can do to make that happen,” she said.

Haraldson said there is a balance.

“As providers there are things that we can do once a year and be good at, but there are other things we need to do twice a day to be good at. That’s the balance. Our doctors want to be sure that if they don’t do it very often, we’re still getting the good outcomes,” he said.

Vicars talked about the 3-D mammogram, updates to the MRI, robotic surgery collaborations, artificial intelligence and software images.

“We need to have the community to trust us that we can provide those good outcomes,” she said.

Haraldson said technology can help close gaps in providing care.

In 2024, the BCH Labor and Delivery department delivered 248 babies.

“The most babies delivered in recent years. It’s another sign that we’re meeting the need in the area,” Vicars said.

Haraldson noted there are constant challenges in health care.

“For us, it is the challenge of being better for the community. We want to be a resource and a partner. How do we continue to break down barriers for the patient? We are trying to focus on our patients and meeting their needs. That can be difficult,” he said.

BCH has been listed in 2025 top 100 of critical access hospitals in the nation.

Wymore Medical Clinic

During the BCH Foundation Centurian Donor Dinner, a capital campaign was announced with the goal of building a new Wymore Medical Clinic.

The clinic was built in 1963, making more than 60 years old. It was acquired by BCH in 1992 and updated in 2010.

Retired physician assistant Don Harmon spoke at the event regarding the clinic.

“I worked with Dr. J.C. Nelson and Dr. Samuelson for about 10 years, he said. “I heard J.C. would take a long lunch and drive down to Oketo, Kansas, and make house calls. Sam would walk across the street to check on a patient. They just took care of people.”

Harmon spoke of other staff he worked with over his 24 years at the clinic, as well as current medical providers.

He showed photos of the current facility, noting that it was designed for a dentist and two doctors.

“You cannot pass someone in the hallway shoulder to shoulder,” Harmon stated as he was noting other challenges and deficiencies in the outdated building.

“We can do better,” Harmon said.

During the past four years, the clinic has experienced a 35% increase in patient visits. They have also experienced a need for additional services, including behavioral health and pediatric care.

During an interview in February, Haraldson said the Wymore Clinic continues to grow.

“As a board, we are committed to maintaining a presence in Wymore. The clinic serves a population and a need,” Haraldson said.

BCH Foundation Director Shelby Watson said she has seen over the previous weeks that Harmon is a man that puts his heart and soul into what he does.

“I hope what he portrayed to you is that this matters to him and it means something,” she said.

“The BCH Foundation is in full support of this capital campaign. I’m a rural girl, and so when you talk about a rural clinic, I’m fully on board. The expansion of the Wymore Medical Clinic is not just a construction project; it is an opportunity to enhance the health and well-being of an entire rural community,” she said.

The foundation completed a feasibility study in Wymore last year. Watson noted that the majority of the community views the construction of a new clinic as a high priority.

“The feedback strongly indicates the Wymore community is invested in the success of the project and understands its importance. Health care is important no matter where you live,” she said.

To address the challenges and ensure continued high-quality care, BCH has proposed the construction of a new, 7,200-square-foot medical facility designed to meet current and future health care needs, improving patient care and accessibility, and for long-term growth.

Promotional materials indicate the BCH Foundation is dedicated to enhancing patient- and family-centered health care services provided in the Wymore and Blue Springs community and surrounding areas.

Some highlights of the new clinic include:

* Retail pharmacy space with a drive through window.

* Additional patient exam rooms.

* Suitable office space.

* Larger waiting area.

* Meeting area for staff.

* More parking spaces.

* A procedure room.

* Convenient access off the main highway.

* Space for growth.

Several levels of support are available through the foundation for the project. Learn more at www.thebchfoundation.org or call 402-223-3078.