Congratulations to our own Ken Allensworth, KAHCE Board Member, who received the 2011 American College of Healthcare Executives Federal Excellence in Healthcare Management award.  This award is given annually to one ACHE affiliate outside the Uniformed Services (e.g., civilian employees of the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, etc), who:

• Has been engaged in leading ACHE activities at the local or national level 
• Demonstrates a track record of ongoing professional development   
• Is gaining prominence in the area of healthcare management by leading innovative practices in the field of healthcare administration and management (e.g., effectiveness, skill, and savvy in developing patient-centered care initiatives, advancing operational efficiencies, etc.)
• Exhibits exceptional abilities to develop integrated and creative solutions to interdisciplinary problems across healthcare delivery settings
• Exemplifies the ethical standards of the College in establishing sound, ethical leadership practices
• Participates in civic/community activities and projects that reflect positively on the profession
• Stimulates interest in healthcare management and leadership among colleagues

Ken was recognized this month during the Joint Federal Sector Breakfast at the 2011 ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago.  

Ken is the Executive Assistant to the Director, Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.  In this healthcare manager role, Ken has provided solid critical and creative thinking skills to addressing a number of key VA initiatives and has served as project officer for many of those plans.  He has developed new clinical annexes and community based outpatient clinics.  He has been instrumental in the development of rural health care initiatives for Veterans throughout Kansas.

He is the lead VA project officer for a proposal to build a Federal Inpatient Health Care Center near McConnell Air Force Base, which would increase access and services while efficiently conserving federal healthcare resources.

Recognizing the need to contain cardiology costs and improve continuity of care, Ken reached out to the newly assigned Chief of Cardiology and developed a complete Cardiology Service, to include staffing mix, space and resource requirements, referral protocols and contracts for Non-VA cardiac catheterization and cardiothoracic surgery care. Ken subsequently prepared the facility application for a Joint Incentive Fund (JIF) project to create an inhouse cardiac catheterization laboratory, in partnership with McConnell Air Force Base. This proposal was approved for the largest single site award in the first year of the JIF program.  The facility now provides high quality diagnostic and interventional cardiology services to Veterans and Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiaries.

Ken has been the impetus for a heightened level of departmental coordination between the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, the 22d Medical Group at McConnell Air Force Base, and the Hunter Health Clinic, which includes an Indian Health Service component.  Under his stewardship, several innovative training agreements have been marshaled from concept to reality.  These agreements will continue to have a lasting impact on the full continuum of healthcare for today’s active duty military member and tomorrow’s veteran.  Furthermore, Ken’s efforts have created countless opportunities for the 22d Medical Group to train jointly with the VA healthcare team, ultimately improving the clinical skills used to provide support to our wounded warriors both at home and abroad.

Ken represents the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center on the Sedgwick County for Veterans Coalition.  He worked with county leadership to develop an annual educational event for local law enforcement, public defenders, and community mental health providers on the specific issues facing these veterans.  His work on this task force has made several improvements to outreach and education activities and established the VA Medical Center within the community as a caring and committed partner.

Ken serves on the Boards of Directors for Kansas Health Ethics and the Kansas Association of Health Care Executives. He also serves on the Master of Health Care Leadership Advisory Board for Friends University. An Air Force veteran, Ken is board certified in healthcare management and is a Fellow in the College of Health Care Executives.