2021 ANNUAL REPORT
HOPE IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
Hope is closer than you think.
epoH resolc si uoy naht .kniht
Contents
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
CLINICAL EXCELLENCE Cancer center renovation expands options for world-class care close to home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Collaboration with The University of Kansas Health System underscores commitment to patient care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE Providing patient-first care in the midst of a pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sharing your stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2021: A YEAR IN REVIEW Hope is right here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Income statement comparison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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We have entered 2022 with a hope-filled future given the resilience with which the LMH Health team served through an unprecedented second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trustees hope that our community recognizes the effective and collaborative leadership provided throughout a year that presented significant challenges. Despite difficulties related to the ongoing pandemic, the LMH Health team met the 2021 objectives set to assure our promise as a partner for lifelong health, expanding access to healthcare through inclusion, diversity and equity integration, negotiating payer contracts to ensure affordable, high-quality care, planning for a strategic clinical partnership that is already bringing more clinical specialties to our community and strengthening relationships with our community of physicians and advanced practice providers — all while meeting the hospital’s budget targets to ensure financial sustainability.
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We must acknowledge the pressures faced by the workforce in 2021 in a period of industry-wide staff shortages, workplace stress caused by an unrelenting COVID-19 patient demand, and the impact of contract and traveler staffing. Leadership has evaluated and adjusted policies to support flexibility and adaptability of the workplace. Our current and future financial health will support values-based workplace innovation and fairness. There is a popular business saying — “Hope is not a strategy” — but that presumes that hopefulness is passive. I would argue that hope fuels passion and that passion is at the heart of the LMH Health promise to our community, our staff, our physicians and advanced practice providers. Our hope is active, engaged and committed to being your partner for lifelong health.
Beth Llewellyn Board Chair, LMH Health
As leaders, it is important to cast our vision on the distant horizon so that we can anticipate the twists and turns in the road ahead, as well as the straightaways and any obstacles that might be in our path. While we cannot know for sure what the future holds, there are lessons to take away from the miles we have recently covered. In 2021, we traveled an often difficult, challenging and even heartbreaking path. Like all times in our journey, it is in these most difficult moments where the greatest learning occurs and where we test ourselves as individuals, leaders, organizations and communities. It is also in these times where the power of hope lends guidance and light to the road ahead. The road traveled last year taught us much. First, we learned that working closely with our colleagues across the community — in a unified effort with open dialogue and common purpose — matters so much. Despite inevitable differences when working through a difficult challenge, we remained collegial, open and committed to what was best for our community — testing, vaccination, information sharing, implementing health orders and ensuring we did all we could do for the health of the community. I am proud of the role LMH Health played over the last year in this vital effort. Second, we were reminded that what we do is, foremost, a human endeavor. The courage and dedication of people caring for one another and for complete strangers, despite personal risk and uncertainty, is being human at its best.
LMH Health is more than 1,800 human beings caring for others. Physicians, advanced practice professionals, nurses, skilled technologists, nursing aides and assistants, receptionists, housekeepers, food service workers, biomedical engineers, technology experts, business office professionals and hundreds of others give their all. They embody the strength and the hope of LMH Health. These people — our staff — are the ones who, every day, turn vision and strategy into reality for patients. When we make great programmatic strides and significant investments in robotic orthopedic surgery, a high-quality cardiac catheterization lab and imaging services that rival the best regional centers, our employees are the ones who bring the technologies to life. When we advance care initiatives around high-risk breast cancer screenings, achieve certification for our total hip and knee replacement program, and earn the prestigious Baby-Friendly designation and more “Patient First” services for our patients and community, our staff are the ones who combine the expertise and compassion to make a difference. And as our amazing foundation raises more than $4 million in funding to support our state-of-the-art cancer center expansion, we know our staff will be the ones to make it a place where patients feel hope for the future. 2022 will ensure that our vision of the road ahead is one that has tremendous hopes and dreams for excellent healthcare provided to all. And, as we do, we know it is our people who make this path real every day.
Russ Johnson President & CEO, LMH Health
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CLINICAL EXCELLENCE
Cancer center renovation expands options for world-class care close to home The LMH Health Cancer Center has grown to provide approximately 16,000 patient encounters per year. It serves as a regional destination for exceptional cancer care. We have added and enhanced a number of patient-centered services including genetic testing, survivorship resources, social work, financial counseling and more. Yet, we are operating in the same space we opened with in 2000.
The need for cancer care in our community continues to increase year over year. We take great pride in the compassionate care provided by our oncology team — and for the sake of our patients, their families, and our physicians and advanced practice providers, we must expand and update our facility. As you may have read, the LMH Cancer Center recently earned official accreditation from the Commission on Cancer. Of the 124 hospitals in the state of Kansas, only 11 have this prestigious level of accreditation, and it speaks to the high level of care we provide. The LMH Health Cancer Center is known for progressive, integrated hematology and oncology care. It is home to National Cancer Institute trained physicians, multidisciplinary care teams and strong regional partnerships. Cancer patients at LMH Health have access to a wide range of clinical trials, comprehensive support programs, lifelong survivorship resources, a cancer prevention program and much more. It truly represents the finest care, close to home.
Philanthropic support is critical.
regardless of ability to pay — philanthropic support will play a vital role in turning this vision into a reality. For that reason, and before we can settle on finalized design plans and cost estimates, we must begin the process by seeking philanthropic gifts and pledges. In other words, as a matter of both practicality and financial responsibility, we must test our fundraising response before defining the full scope of the project. That is why your gift or long-term pledge is so important and so meaningful for this pivotal initiative. We thank you for your consideration of support. It’s an honor to serve the people of Douglas County and beyond.
While much of our planning for this initiative is in the early stages, we are estimating the total cost will be in the range of $9–11 million. As a not-for-profit, safety-net community hospital that treats all who come in need —
Jodie Barr, DO
Luke Huerter, MD
Andrew Meyer, DO
Jodi Palmer, MD
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Sharon Soule, MD
If you’d like to support the LMH Health Cancer Center expansion and renovation project, please make a gift online at LMH.org/donate or mail a check to LMH Health Foundation at 316 Maine St, Lawrence, KS, 66044. For information about making a major gift or multi-year pledge in support of this initiative, contact Earl Reineman at 785-505-3317 or Earl.Reineman@LMH.org.
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Collaboration with The University of Kansas Health System underscores commitment to patient care LMH Health invited The University of Kansas Health System (UKHS) to discuss a potential strategic clinical relationship in late August 2021. These conversations aimed at increasing access and coordination of highly specialized care across the community hospital’s service area. LMH Health administrators and physicians led discussions with UKHS counterparts to determine if the systems could develop a committed relationship focused on clinical, strategic and operational improvements. The goal was to achieve this, while honoring each other’s “guardrails.” LMH Health’s guardrails — the most important of which is maintaining LMH Health’s independence — were set by the LMH Health Board of Trustees. “LMH Health is not for sale,” said Russ Johnson, LMH Health president and chief executive officer. “We have parameters in place that protect our independence and charitable care mission while allowing us to increase access to exceptional specialized care locally. Ultimately, our goal in collaborating with UKHS is to create a positive patient experience.” The discussions have been thoughtful and deliberate, keeping our guardrails in the forefront. Based on physician feedback and direction, we have initially focused discussions on three service lines (orthopedics, oncology and cardiology), as well as clinical opportunities for maternal fetal medicine and vascular surgery. At this time, the systems have worked in tandem to expand two healthcare services in Lawrence and Douglas County: orthopedic care and advanced maternal and fetal medicine.
Orthopedic care. As part of a collaboration between LMH Health/OrthoKansas and UKHS, Erik Henkelman, MD, began providing sports medicine care within the OrthoKansas suite at LMH Health West campus in 2021. Dr. Henkelman completed his sports medicine fellowship through The University of Kansas Medical Center, which included clinical rotations with Stephan Prô, MD, at LMH Health/OrthoKansas. Dr. Henkelman joined The University of Kansas Physicians on completion of his training and now provides care in two locations in Lawrence as part of the continued collaboration between both systems. Advanced maternal and fetal medicine. In early December 2021,
LMH Health welcomed The University of Kansas Health System’s Advanced Maternal and Fetal Care Clinic to the Women’s Center at the LMH Health West Campus. The advanced maternal and fetal care team offers leading-edge care for women and babies prior to, during and shortly after pregnancy. As the largest, most comprehensive team in Kansas and the region, their expertise, resources and outreach improve patient outcomes and comprehensive care.
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“We are excited to bring on increased services for our patients with this new relationship,” said Jared Abel, LMH Health vice president of strategy and clinic operations. “Offering these services to our community not only allows us to provide better care closer to home, but allows our patients time back in their day to avoid traveling into the KC-area for their care. We are grateful for this relationship with The University of Kansas Health System and being able to welcome expanded care options to Lawrence and Douglas County.”
Background. More than two years ago, LMH Health convened its board members, physicians, senior leaders and community stakeholders to discuss how a strategic clinical relationship with a larger health system could benefit the patients and communities that LMH Health serves. “In every decision we made, our patients were our most important stakeholders,” Johnson said. “Our goals in collaborating with UKHS are to increase patient access to exceptional specialty care locally, and develop a more coordinated, collaborative process for highly specialized care services not available at LMH. We look forward to exploring the feasibility of creating a formal agreement with UKHS in this realm.” Guardrails honoring patient choice are just part of the parameters that will guide conversations with UKHS. UKHS has accepted these must-have agreements in order to enter into discussions for a strategic clinical relationship:
Bob Page, president and CEO of The University of Kansas Health System, said the health system was looking forward to exploring a strategic clinical relationship with LMH Health. Beth Llewellyn, chair of the LMH Health board of trustees, said she feels fortunate to have such high quality care locally, and she affirmed the board will make decisions with patients at the forefront. “LMH Health is recognized today as an exceptional community hospital, and we’re building an extraordinary continuum of care system to manage any healthcare need,” said Llewellyn. “We look forward to exploring a collaboration that will allow us to continue to invest on the community’s behalf in leading edge services, ensuring the highest quality of care.” LMH Health and UKHS continue to meet regularly to discuss finalizing a potential arrangement and other service opportunities. Sheryle D’Amico, LMH Health senior vice president of strategic integration, the primary liaison between LMH Health and UKHS, shared, “Our conversations have been very good — thoughtful, inclusive of physician input and mindful to patient needs. This is a relationship that must serve our community well into the years ahead. It’s imperative that we are prudent in every decision to ensure the highest quality care for our patients.”
• LMH Health will maintain its independent ownership and governance. • LMH Health will be regarded as a valued, significant counterpart and as the final authority for decisions in our market. • Medical staff must be able to make clinical and referral choices in the best interests of our patients. A relationship cannot interfere with patient choice. • A relationship will uphold LMH Health’s purpose — A Partner for Lifelong Health — in alignment with our strategic plan, values and culture.
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THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Providing patient-first care in the midst of a pandemic While facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic head on, we embraced hope in 2021 with the phased distribution of vaccinations. Once the first COVID-19 vaccines arrived at LMH Health, we proudly took on the opportunity to help protect our community’s health. From mid-December 2020 and throughout 2021, LMH Health received, stored and distributed nearly 80,000 doses of vaccines. These vaccines have helped protect our employees and our community through two new, unpredicted COVID-19 variants.
“Whether it’s those on our direct patient care teams or all the staff members that support our organization in other ways, I am so appreciative of the strength, commitment and dedication of everyone at LMH Health. It is an honor to work with these people who combined expertise, experience and compassion even in the most difficult of circumstances,” said Russ Johnson, LMH Health president and chief executive officer. We thank our community partners — the City of Lawrence, Douglas County and Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health — for our unified efforts to control the virus and keep our community safe. As always,
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LMH Health continues to be full of gratitude for our physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, staff and administration for another full year of unpredictable, selfless work. “I’m not sure anything that I say will accurately convey the amount of gratitude I have for our staff here at LMH Health,” said Dr. Jennifer Schrimsher, infectious disease physician with LMH Health’s Internal Medicine Group and Douglas County health officer. “They are the pure embodiment of a life that’s dedicated to the health and safety of our patients and the community. Our employees are what makes a community hospital like LMH Health top-tier.”
Sharing your stories Cecilia Bryan had just moved to Lawrence with her family when she found out she was pregnant with her first baby. She had no idea where to start. Her new neighbors told her to take a look at LMH Health. “After they told me this I went through and watched all the doctors’ and midwives’ videos, and I stumbled upon Lara’s video,” Bryan said. Lara Rivera, APRN, CNM, DNP, is a midwife with Lawrence OB-GYN Specialists. “She was so sweet and seemed like she cared about all of her patients so much. Her background with the military drew me in, as well.” Bryan said after choosing Rivera and going to her first appointment she knew it was the best choice for her. She said Rivera was just as kind in person as in her video and that through every step of her pregnancy she was right there alongside them. Bryan said that she would advise all patients to look into the physician and advanced practice provider videos on the LMH Health website. “Because of the videos I found Lara and I am so grateful to have her as my care provider,” she said.
Cecilia Bryan, at right, with Lara Rivera, APRN, CNM, DNP
Steven Berger’s relationship with LMH Health started long ago. He has been in Lawrence since 1990 and his wife was born at LMH Health in 1957, so finding the hospital was easy. “I have been a patient of LMH Health’s for a while and know they provide great care,” Berger said. “After increased back pain I decided to seek medical attention and got in to see my regular clinician, Dr. David Goering of the Internal Medicine Group, who then recommended me to Dr. David Fritz’s group [Lawrence Spine Care]. After some scans and tests, I was scheduled for my spinal fusion surgery.” Berger said that every step of the way he was met with amazing care. Though he knows the clinicians are busy seeing many patients on top of battling COVID-19, he always felt cared for and heard. “At one point, I felt like I was the only patient the spine care group had,” he said. “I knew this wasn’t the case, but they were so attentive and took the time to assess my needs and concerns.” Berger said he would absolutely recommend Lawrence Spine Care and LMH Health to others. He has seen multiple physicians, advanced practice providers and clinics at LMH Health and has always been given a warm welcome.
Dr. David Racette, a retired general surgeon, spent the last 16 years living in a third-world country. After being pricked by a cactus, which led to four surgeries and partial amputation of his left foot, he came to Lawrence to recover with a friend. “While staying with my friend, I began to have heart problems and went to the ER,” Dr. Racette said. “LMH Health was the hospital in the area and that is where I chose to go. I knew I had some heart issues from my previous medical attention but wanted to be checked out. When I arrived, they did an EKG and checked my vitals and decided to run some tests. After they watched me for a while to make sure I was okay, they set me up with a heart specialist and a primary care provider since I didn’t have one in the area.” Dr. Racette said he was impressed by the thorough care and evaluation he got when coming to LMH Health. He said the staff were compassionate and truly wanted to help him. “The whole team of doctors, nurses, radiology technicians, laboratory staff and more took such great care of me,” he said. “They were all so tuned in and wanted to help me. The immediate care I received here was impressive.”
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2021: A YEAR IN REVIEW Pandemic response • Deployed staff to support Unified Command’s efforts to vaccinate the county’s healthcare workers. • Deployed staff to support the Unified Command Equity Impact Advisors plan designed to address vaccine accessibility for people experiencing barriers to transportation, limited access to internet and social supports, or no connection to a health system. • Partnered with Lawrence Douglas County Health Department to distribute vaccinations at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. • Supported vaccinations for 5- to 11-year-olds and partnered with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health to streamline communication and scheduling information.
• Achieved milestones in orthopedics: —Earned Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification. —Granted candidacy for Sports Physical Therapy Residency. —Announced a sports medicine partnership with Bishop Seabury for the 2021-22 school year. • Achieved milestones in Mother/Baby care: —Received designation as a Blue Distinction Center + Maternity Care. —Earned the prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation. —Received High 5 for Mom & Baby Premier recognition. • Acquired Free State Family Medicine, ensuring expanded primary care support in our community.
Patient First • Invited The University of Kansas Health System (UKHS) to discuss a potential clinical relationship. • Celebrated the one-year anniversary of LMH West Campus, a 25-year strategic investment in our charitable care mission and our community’s health. • Created a new screening tool for social determinants of health given to OB/GYN patients during their appointments. The tool asks questions in 12 categories which range from housing to childcare and finances.
Provider and advanced practitioner engagement • Welcomed new physicians and advanced practice providers in family practice, interventional cardiology, hospital medicine, Palliative Medicine, LOGS and other areas. • To ensure high equity of care levels for all patients, the ID&E Health Equity Advancement Team, Credentials Committee, and the Medical Executive Committee recommended that effective January 1, 2022, clinicians with LMH Health will be required to complete continuing medical education (CME) pertaining to the social and racial influences of healthcare.
LMH Health provides $30 million in charitable care each year.
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Clinical integration and excellence • Achieved a Grade A from Leapfrog. • Relocated the physical therapy team to the 6th and Maine site, doubling the amount of space and allowing for enhanced treatment of patients.
Financial stewardship • Successfully negotiated an agreement between LMH Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS). • Launched a major fundraising initiative to support Cancer Center expansion.
Cultural beliefs • Welcomed back Dr. Pasha for six additional workshop sessions on Social Determinants of Health and Implicit Bias that were offered to all employees. • Developed and delivered 12 Conversation Classes on race, diversity and inclusion for associates on 12 unique topics. Several classes welcomed different speakers and the opportunity for meaningful conversations among staff. • Welcomed local high school juniors and seniors to take a peek behind the scenes, participate in executive meetings and shadow healthcare physicians and advanced practice providers for the third summer in a row through the LMH Health Summer Leadership Academy.
Community leadership • Provided ongoing leadership and program development for the Douglas County Crisis Center, working with community partners to evaluate local behavioral health crisis response system needs and develop the service lines and facility design to suit. • Recognized LMH Health President & CEO Russ Johnson, who was named one of Ingram’s 250 most-influential business executives and leaders throughout the Greater Kansas City region. • Coordinated and executed a year-long centennial celebration for LMH Health. • Partnered with the Community Children’s Center (CCC) through a matching grant from the LMH Health Foundation to support development for an early childhood community center in USD 497’s Kennedy building in Lawrence. Improving access to high quality education, especially for low income communities, is an investment in upstream solutions to address social determinants of health. • Continued to address food insecurity through the Van Go mini pantry outside the Emergency Department and partnering with Just Food to provide mobile food pantry visits at both the West and Maine campuses. • Expanded Community Outreach and Engagement classes to Spanishspeaking individuals.
Workforce support and excellence • Announced health equity strategy. • Recognized LMH Health clinician Jennifer Schrimsher, MD, who was named one of Ingram’s 50 Kansans You Should Know. • Recognized LMH Health clinician Richard Wendt, MD, who was named one of the 2021 Ingram’s Top Doctors. Technology, learning and innovation • Named 2021 Most Wired. • Completed the first outpatient partial joint replacement using MAKO robotic arm. • Continued delivery of TeleHealth, making it available for all physicians and advanced practice providers and increasing average monthly use.
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LMH Health Income statement comparison December 2021
December 2020
1,235,266,362
1,061,466,385
869,012,380 34,344,840 15,636,407
730,758,287 30,930,926 18,866,704
918,993,627
780,555,917
316,272,734
280,910,468
9,350,418 5,283,744
7,306,118 15,052,814
Total other income 14,634,162
22,358,931
Gross patient revenue Contractual allowances Financial assistance Uncompensated care Total deductions from revenue Net patient revenue Total miscellaneous operating income COVID-19 funding
Net operating revenue Salaries and benefits Professional fees Licenses and taxes Supplies Purchased services Depreciation expense Other operating expenses
330,906,896
303,269,399
171,763,709 11,037,555 977,489 74,575,970 20,371,227 14,079,312 33,721,049
152,896,229 21,695,534 1,000,593 66,931,011 14,375,249 11,257,165 30,595,775
326,526,312
298,751,556
4,380,584
4,517,843
5,589,139
(449,253)
Net income 9,969,724
4,068,591
Total operating expenses Net operating income Total non-operating income
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Hope is right here.
epoH thgir si .ereh
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WE ARE HERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. WE ARE HERE FOR GOOD.
325 Maine Lawrence, KS 66044 785.505.5000 lmh.org
1921–2021
