Leadership class examines health care in Perkins County

Members of the Grant Community Leadership Class met for the second time earlier this month at Perkins County Community Hospital to discuss and learn about the strengths and vision of the health care offered at the hospital.

Perkins County Health Services CEO Neil Hilton spoke about the progress health care has experienced in the county and region.

Jennifer Baumgartner, vice president of information technology, addressed the evolving role technology plays in health care.

Taylor Maucher, vice president of finance, discussed how different local, state and national forces affect PCHS and finances of the overall operation.

The group toured facilities and learned first hand PCHS leadership work with the architects and construction company to create a state-of-the-art facility to meet the medical needs of the county and area. 

As part of their meeting, leadership participant reviewed the results of the Clifton StrengthsFinder exercise which identifies strengths and weaknesses and how that affect group dynamics.

Ben Dutton, University of Nebraska community vitality extension agent, explored the major trends in each of the last six decades. 

He challenged the group to project what will happen in the next two to three decades and discuss how Perkins County will need to adjust to be ready for the changes coming in technology and society.

The class is looking at needs in Grant and narrowed their choices between an improved recreational area in town and working to improve housing needs.

The Grant Community Leadership Class is a group of 19 local individuals who are meeting from September 2019 through April 2020. 

The goals of the program include increasing the leadership capacity of those involved, creating closer ties, exploring the community and completing a community improvement project. 

Rotary led efforts to bring the program to Grant with the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund serving as the major financial sponsor.

The program is administered through the non-profit Cultivate Rural Leaders. For questions or additional information, contact Andy Long at andrew@cultivateruralleaders.com or 308-737-5777.