The Kansas Healthcare Collaborative (KHC) announces Karen Shumate, RN, MS, CPHQ, and Chief Operating Officer at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, as its new Chair of the Board of Directors. Shumate was appointed to the one-year position on January 15 during the quarterly board meeting. She previously served as vice-chairman.
In addition, Jennifer Scott Koontz MD, MPH, FAAFP, primary care sports medicine physician at Newton Medical Center, Newton, will serve as the new vice-chairman of the board. John Broberg, Senior Administrator, at Mercy Regional Health Center, Manhattan, will serve as the secretary/treasurer.
“It’s a privilege to have Karen Shumate serve as KHC’s board chair in 2015. Throughout her career in health care, Karen has served in a number of leadership roles and has extensive experience in quality improvement and patient safety,” said Kendra Tinsley, KHC Executive Director. “With her visionary leadership and knowledge, she is ideally positioned to lead the organization during this time of rapid transformation in health care.”
Shumate earned a nursing degree at Newman School of Nursing, Emporia. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in health administration from Ottawa University, Ottawa, and a master’s degree in management from Baker University, Baldwin. Shumate is a past president of the Kansas Association of Risk and Quality Management.
Koontz received an undergraduate degree from Bethel College, Newton, and a doctorate in medicine from the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. She completed her residency in family medicine and a Fellowship in Sports Medicine at Via Christi in Wichita. Dr. Koontz is an active member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and the Kansas Medical Society.
Broberg has a bachelor’s degree from Kansas University. He attended Kansas University Medical Center for his respiratory therapy training. He received his master’s degree in health service management from Webster University. Broberg has been involved with the Kansas Hospital Association and American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board.
Shumate and Broberg are founding board members of the organization which was established in 2008 by the Kansas Medical Society and the Kansas Hospital Association.
KHC is a provider-led 501(c)3 organization with a mission to transform health care through patient-centered initiatives that improve quality, safety and value. The board of directors is comprised of health care leaders from across the State of Kansas. Founded in 2008 by the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Medical Society,KHC embodies the commitment of two of the state’s leading health care provider groups to act as a resource and continuously enhance the quality of care provided to Kansans.For more information about the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative and its initiatives, visit www.khconline.org.