At Olathe Health, our top priorities are providing quality, compassionate patient care with the financial stability to invest in the best technology and people, while never losing sight of our not-for-profit responsibility to provide care to all individuals in the areas we serve. We are proud of the ability we’ve shown to balance these ever-increasing challenges each year as we live our mission to health people through healing, health and happiness.
This year more than ever we have had to be innovative and strategic in how we handle a national health crisis, which challenges the safety of our patients and associates, and presents unique financial security concerns. Our caregivers and all the healthcare workers who support them have been on the front lines every day of the COVID-19 pandemic. These dedicated individuals are working tirelessly to ensure Olathe Health is ready and able to care for our community in this unprecedented time. Their efforts have allowed us to provide exceptional care while also preparing the hospitals and clinics for a possible influx of COVID-19 positive patients. In support of their efforts, Olathe Health has taken important steps to ensure their health and safety both at work and in their personal lives. This includes offering our associates free childcare at the Olathe YMCA, adding new pay practice policy enhancements around PTO and sick time usage, allowing work schedule flexibility with remote working capabilities and providing ways to get essential household needs and groceries.
Since our beginnings in 1953, Olathe Health has been focused on providing the best care possible for our community, and being the place where people want to work. This was our commitment when we started as the 30-bed Olathe Community Hospital. And remains our commitment now as a nationally-recognized, integrated, regional health network it is today serving five counties through two hospitals, 39 clinics and service locations, and a roster of nearly 350 physicians and more than 2,600 associates.
Olathe Health is among the largest not-for-profit, private employers in Johnson and Miami counties. Remaining independent and locally owned in today’s prevailing trend toward healthcare conglomerates requires deeply rooted sensibilities and an unwavering commitment. Our goal is to provide cutting-edge care, with a personal touch. This is the promise that shapes every decision, every day.
Our associates are highly qualified, dedicated and caring professionals who are often recognized by patients through our KUDOS program for their excellent customer service. At Olathe Health, we foster an environment where everyone has a chance to make a difference in people’s lives and where everyone’s input is important. We value teamwork, mutual respect and community pride.
We are passionate about our people and offer competitive pay and comprehensive benefit packages for all eligible associates and their dependents, including a matching 403(b) program; an annual discretionary incentive program at all levels based on organizational and individual achievements; low cost, high quality health plan options; a recently enhanced paid time off plan; tuition reimbursement program and much more. Along with standard core benefits (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, etc.), we offer a robust list of voluntary benefits as well, including legal services and pet insurance. We also partner with local and national businesses to provide our associates with discounted pricing on a number of services and products. Our wellness program encourages and rewards participation through health insurance premium discounts of up to $600 per person, per year for associate and covered spouse. It also includes onsite and online programs for stress management, healthy eating, weight loss and management, tobacco cessation and general wellbeing.
Olathe Health continues to maintain financial stability allowing reinvestment into facilities, equipment, services and top quality physicians and staff. The most telling evidence of the financial strength is our consistent A+ bond rating by Standard and Poor’s. Fewer than two percent of hospitals in the country achieve this level of bond rating.
Our efforts to provide access to care goes well beyond the work we do within our clinics, hospitals and other facilities. Each year, Olathe Health staff members invest thousands of hours participating in community events. Annually we provide more than $12 million in charity and uncompensated care. We also dedicate a considerable part of our operating budget toward cash and other resources to support other non-profit organizations that work to make our region a healthier place to live. We are committed to our communities.
When asked why they enjoy working at Olathe Health, the most common answer from associates at all levels of the organization is ‘the people’ – patients, visitors, volunteers, physicians and co-workers. Our associates are making a difference in the lives of others every day.
