Give now to help recruit new physicians to South Central Kansas Medical Center!

Donate today to help meet the challenge!

Give now to help recruit new physicians to South Central Kansas Medical Center! image

2

Supporters

0

Days Left

Share:

Donate today to help meet the challenge!

Why Robert Warrender Trust is granting $50,000 in support of this fund...

High quality, local health care is dependent on an adequate supply of physicians; therefore, recruiting and retaining hi-caliber physicians is vital to our community. Local physicians not only drive economic development and job creation, they are also critical for the financial viability of our hospital.

The competition in recruiting outstanding physicians to rural areas has never been greater. It demands innovative solutions and the money to make it happen. SCKMC and local community members are working strategically to build a fund for physician recruitment. No other resource will give us a greater return on investment than physicians that we can recruit and retain.

A significant donation is being used as the springboard for South Central Kansas Medical Center's physician recruitment efforts. The SCKMC Board of Trustees approved an agreement by the Robert Warrender Trust, granting the hospital up to $50,000 for the purpose of physician recruitment.

Warrender, a long-time teacher and resident of the area, passed away in 2007. Wayne Hamilton was named trustee of the Warrender estate, establishing the challenge grant fund through the Legacy Regional Community Foundation on behalf of the Trust. For every two dollars donated to the fund, the Warrender Trust will contribute one dollar. SCKMC has a long established relationship with the Legacy Foundation. The Warrender Trust fund donations will only be able to be used for physician recruitment purposes. The matching grant funds are only eligible for contributions received within 2019.

"We are using Legacy as the 501c3 so that we ensure added accountability and give a tax write-off to the people who donate to our endeavor. The challenge to us is to create a fund that has $300,000 in order to attract new physicians to come to Ark City to practice," said Jeff Bowman, SCKMC's CEO.

First year expenses for establishing a single physician within the community are estimated to cost upwards of $300,000. Estimated expenses include relocation costs, recruiter expenses, sign-on bonuses, and income guarantees. While such expenses would likely require all the funds raised through the challenge grant, the purpose is not to bring a single physician but to develop a strategic recruitment program for the community. This is not just a 'one and done.' After meeting the challenge of the matching grant this will be an ongoing campaign for continued recruitment. A successful campaign last year helped bring potential candidates to our community, including one surgeon who is reportedly planning to move to Ark City. This is a great start but we must increase our efforts to bring more physicians into the community.

Individuals interested in contributing to Arkansas City's Physician Recruitment Fund may contact Jeff Bowman, SCKMC CEO at 620-441-5900 or Legacy Regional Community Foundation at (620) 221-7224 with additional questions.

Legacy Regional Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit philanthropic organization. This means gifts to any fund held with Legacy are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.