Four Missouri Hospital Auxiliaries Recognized As Auxiliary Of The Year

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Four Missouri hospital auxiliaries have been honored by the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries for their volunteer service. The awards were presented Thursday, Nov. 7, during MHA’s 97th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Osage Beach, Mo.

Recipients of the 2019 Auxiliary of the Year Award include Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary/Partners in St. Genevieve, Mo.; Western Missouri Medical Center Auxiliary in Warrensburg, Mo.; Mercy Hospital Washington Auxiliary; and CoxHealth Auxiliary in Springfield, Mo. The auxiliaries were recognized for outstanding service between June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2019.

Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary/Partners was honored for exceptional efforts as an auxiliary representing a hospital with between one and 30 licensed beds. The auxiliary members support hospital staff and work with patients throughout the hospital, operate and staff the hospital gift shop, hold fundraising events to support the purchase of hospital equipment, and fund scholarships for local students pursuing health professions. The 191 auxiliary members provided 13,479 hours of service in and outside of the hospital, and contributed $27,079 to the hospital and through the scholarship program.

Western Missouri Medical Center Auxiliary was recognized for its service as an auxiliary at a hospital with between 31 and 100 licensed beds. This past year, Western Missouri Medical Center Auxiliary celebrated 50 years of dedicated service to their hospital with a “Celebrate the Gold” event, where a commitment to remodel the Women’s Health Center waiting room was announced. The auxiliary is active in numerous health education programs in support of the MAHA state projects, including in the areas of stroke awareness, breast cancer awareness and sleep apnea. This year, the auxiliary’s 227 members provided 11,793 hours of service, and raised $22,192 through fundraising activities. The auxiliary contributed $114,522 for hospital priorities and through five scholarships for health professions.

Mercy Hospital Washington Auxiliary received recognition as an auxiliary at a hospital with between 101 and 300 licensed beds. The auxiliary members work throughout the hospital in support of clinical and administrative staff. The auxiliary’s Concierge Program — which includes providing assistance and comfort to patients and families, helping with wayfinding, providing newspapers and reading material, waiting with patients, answering questions, and more — has been instrumental in increasing patient satisfaction scores. The auxiliary’s 155 members provided 8,833 hours of service in the hospital and throughout the community. In addition, auxiliary programs contributed $82,575 to hospital priorities and for health-focused student scholarships.

CoxHealth Auxiliary in Springfield, Mo., was honored for service as an auxiliary serving a hospital with more than 300 licensed beds. The CoxHealth Auxiliary’s flagship program supports the future workforce. From June 2018 to June 2019, the auxiliary donated nearly $100,000 to nursing students seeking an associates or bachelor’s degree in nursing.The scholarships cover full tuition. The auxiliary also supports a Medical Explorers program that engages nearly 400 students in health career observations. The 1,380 members of the auxiliary provided 168,010 hours of service, and supported a total of $241,123 in donations to the hospital and through scholarships.