A Journey of Resilience: A Year of Growth and Transformation at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center

For many rural hospitals, the idea of expanding services or launching new initiatives feels like a distant dream. Staffing challenges, resource constraints, and declining patient volumes often force these facilities to scale back, rather than move forward. Yet, 2024 has been a year of remarkable growth and transformation for Hutchinson Regional Medical Center (HRMC).

Against the odds, we have not only maintained our commitment to exceptional care, but have expanded our services and invested in the future of our community and staff.

This year, Hutch Regional took bold steps, in many departments, to enhance the healthcare services available to our community. With the launch of a comprehensive OBGYN offering, HRMC now provides essential women’s health services, including prenatal care, fertility solutions, and personalized gynecological wellness. As our new President and CEO, Benjamin Anderson says, “Moms and babies hold the keys to the kingdom,” so once we had mom’s taken care of we switched the focus to our youngest patients, pediatrics. After a few years of being closed, HRMC is reopening its Inpatient Pediatric Unit, ensuring that families have access to specialized care for their children close to home.

Next, we made it a focus that the providers patients saw during their visit or stay were our providers, and no longer contracted labor. We brought on an in-house radiologist to provide faster, more accurate imaging interpretations, enhancing the quality and efficiency of patient care. Then we fully employed our hospitalists and emergency department network of providers. By doing so we have affirmed our commitment to continuity and quality, creating a seamless experience for patients and providers alike. These providers are now fully integrated members of our team, committed to our mission and values.

HRMC recognizes that investing in our workforce is key to sustaining our growth and providing exceptional care. This year has been about creating a healthcare ecosystem that meets the evolving needs of our community while preparing for the challenges of the future. To address the national nursing shortage, HRMC expanded its Nursing Scholarship Program. This initiative fosters relationships with nursing students while they’re still in school, creating a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to join our team upon graduation. In addition to scholarships, Hutch Regional made a significant investment in its staff this year. Employees received well-deserved raises and new benefits, including a paid maternity and paternity leave policy. These changes reflect our commitment to valuing and supporting our team.

Another major milestone and a strong effort to improve community perception of our Emergency Department, we ramped up staff and doubled down on the focus of decreasing a visitor’s wait time in the lobby area. This resulted in a “Left Without Being Seen Rate” of less than 1% for the entire last half of the year.

These efforts reflect a hospital leadership team that listens, responds, and adapts to the needs of its community and staff. Hutch Regional’s progress this year has not only improved immediate healthcare access, but also strengthened our foundation for sustained excellence. This vision for growth—grounded in compassion, innovation, and collaboration—has transformed 2024 into a defining year for Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

As we close the chapter on 2024, HRMC is proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited for the road ahead. These milestones are not just about meeting today’s needs but laying the foundation for a healthier, stronger tomorrow. Thank you to our team, patients, and community for being part of this journey. Together, we are making the remarkable possible.

Stay connected to learn more about how HRMC continues to grow and serve. For updates, visit hutchregional.com