ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
For Southwest Medical Center, 2024 was a year of expansion and milestones, and recently, hospital officials released the 2024 Community Benefit Report (CBR) highlighting some of those happenings and more.
SWMC Marketing and Development Director Janeth Vazquez said the report details how the hospital supports the health and well-being of the community through programs, services, financial contribution and outreach effort.
“It goes more into the clinical care,” she said. “It shows the ways the hospital invests in health education screenings, outreach and assistance for vulnerable and underserved populations.”
Vazquez said the report is important, and she feels it matters because it demonstrates SWMC’s commitment and impact on public health in Seward County and the surrounding regions.
“It shows accountability and stewardship, especially as a non-profit health care provider,” she said.
For Vazquez, the biggest highlight of the report is its focus on vulnerable and underserved populations.
“This report emphasizes assisting people with limited access to care, including the financial assistance and charity care, the free and low-cost health services we offer, especially during the Health Fair, and programs designed to meet specific community health,” she said. “All of this shows our commitment to health equity and also the economic and volunteer impact.”
Vazquez said likewise, the CBR talks about how SWMC invests financially in community service projects.
“It talks about how our employees contribute many volunteer hours throughout the year through a variety of festivals and programs,” she said. “This demonstrates our community investment beyond the patient visits here at the hospital. It shows stewardship and independence.”
Vazquez said another highlight in the report is how SWMC operates without any county tax dollars.
“Instead, we rely on our own resources,” she said. “This distinguishes Southwest Medical Center and shows fiscal responsibility. We’re one of the few not-for-profit hospitals that are still open and financially still growing in the state of Kansas. It also shows examples of community programs and projects. For example, our annual Community Health Fair, where we offer free screenings, and we have a lot of partnerships with a lot of local organizations, which connects people to services they might not otherwise access.”
Vazquez said as a community hospital, SWMC always takes on more projects, and as time passes, the hospital’s programs and commitment continue to grow.
“For example, this report talks about how in 2024, we had the largest health fair in our region, and we broke records because we actually offered a total of 3,025 free health exams,” she said. “That year fortunately, we were able to offer the free lab screenings. I think to this day, it’s going to be the biggest health fair in the history of Southwest Medical Center, and we just keep getting bigger and better in all the areas and services we provide.”
Vazquez said the hospital also took on more charity projects in 2024, and she recalled a specific example when leaders with the Liberal Area Coalition for Families called her about struggles to find organizations to help with its holiday food basket project.
“When we found out the food basket program was struggling to find support, we didn’t hesitate to step in,” she said. “We joined forces with the Liberal Area Coalition for Families, and we provided food baskets to over 45 families from the school district.”
Vazquez said the hospital’s employees are truly the heart of these efforts, showing up, giving back and making a difference with every act of kindness.
“That was just one charity,” she said. “That was the first year we also partnered with TFI. It’s an organization dedicated to supporting foster children, and together, we hosted a holiday Angel Tree. We purchased many gifts for children in foster care – over 35 children. Anytime there’s a need in the community, we always find a way to help.”
As for how much these efforts will grow in the coming years, Vazquez said this depends on what the needs are in a given year.
“Southwest Medical Center always goes above and beyond to step in and help,” she said.
Vazquez said the goal of the CBR is transparency, and this shows neighbors how resources are used to support health outcomes, serve vulnerable populations and work collaborately with community partners.
“What’s important for the community to understand is in these efforts, it represents our values, our compassion, inclusive and proactive wellness, and every department, caregiver and partner plays a part in making that impact,” she said.
Vazquez said the report likewise reflects on SWMC’s ongoing commitment to improving health and the quality of life in Seward County and beyond.
“It’s not just about the clinical care,” she said. “It’s about meeting people where they are and addressing their health needs in real measurable ways. This report shows how we invest in both the physical and economic health of our community through our financial contributions, through our volunteerism, education and partnership that make health care more accessible and equitable.”
Vazquez said the hospital’s biggest asset is its employees.
“If it wasn’t for our employees, none of these projects or events would be possible,” she said. “It shows our employees are truly the heart of these efforts, showing up and giving back and making a difference with every act of kindness. Anytime you heard about a struggle or an issue in our community, I always bring it back and ask ‘Would you guys be on board with help in making this happen?’ Not once have they ever said no. The employees always say yes. We’ll find a way to make it happen.”
Vazquez said the 2024 report is just coming out due to the time it takes to get data and numbers for the report.
“The report will always be a year behind,” she said.
Many teachers came to the U.S. recently from the Philippines, and Vazquez said SWMC officials heard of the many needs these people had and helped out with those needs.
“A lot of them came with just a bag or a suitcase of clothes,” she said. “There was obviously a lot of needs because they didn’t have clothes. They didn’t have furniture, so we also took it upon ourselves to do a drive and try to donate some everyday items these families needed. Some of these families were sleeping on the floor.”
Vazquez said this is just one example of the hospital helping out with needs.
“Anytime we hear there’s a need, we’re always willing to go above and beyond to help our community,” she said.
In recent years, Southwest Medical Center has added clinics in Liberal and the Oklahoma Panhandle to its service locations. Those clinics include:
• The 15th Street Family Care Center, Southwest Care Center, General Surgery Care Center, Southwest Primary Care Center, Knudsen Clinic for Women’s Health, Women’s Specialty Care Center of Liberal, Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Care Center and Wound Care Center, all in Liberal;
• The McMurry Family Care Center and Women’s Specialty Care Center, both of Guymon, Okla.; and
• The Beaver Family Care Center in Beaver, Okla.
Vazquez said having these clinics has a big impact on the care the hospital can provide.
“We go beyond Seward County,” she said. “We try to bring as many medical services to our surrounding communities as well. We know we’re in a rural region. There’s not a lot of medical services out here, so anytime we see a need in a nearby community, we will go out of our way to try to provide that service for them.”
Vazquez said this is how these area clinics were able to open their doors to SWMC’s patients.
“Beaver needed more family medicine providers, so we have a clinic there,” she said. “Guymon shut down their OB services, so we saw a need there. That’s when we opened our OB clinic there as well. We’re always willing to help our nearby communities as well. In reality, yes, we’re Seward County, but we actually serve a much larger region. We are the medical facility for many in a wide radius. We want to be there for everybody as much as we can.”
Another milestone reached in 2024 is from the hospital’s OB department, as Dr. Dennis Knudsen passed the 22,000 mark in babies delivered. Knudsen has been a familiar and trusted name in the community for decades.
His journey with Liberal began in 1982 when he come to town to help cover a practice, and he never left. He made the decision to put down roots in a place that quickly felt like home, and for the last 41 years, he has been delivering babies from the same location on 15th Street, the original office of Dr. Norvan Harris.
“We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated doctor in the community,” SWMC CEO Amber Williams said. “This milestone is more than just a number. It’s a reflection of the trust families place in Dr. Knudsen and the love he pours into his work.”
As for the hospital’s future growth, Vazquez said SWMC is always looking to grow and open more services.
“We have to do it strategically, but we’re always looking to grow,” she said. “We’re always proactive and innovative. We will always look to grow, but there has to be a plan, a strategic plan.”
Vazquez said the hospital does have a new pediatric clinic opening soon in Liberal, and another orthopedic surgeon will be starting soon as well.
“Our recruitment efforts are always there,” she said. “We are always trying to bring in as many services and more providers because there’s definitely a need in rural Kansas, especially Southwest Kansas.”
Vazquez said SWMC’s administrative team and its Board of Trustees both hosted strategic meetings recently to discuss the hospital’s goals for 2026.
“Once we have those more set in place, we can share them with you,” she said.
As for events taking place this year, Vazquez said the hospital’s signature Community Health Fair, which takes place in October, continues to be one of her biggest projects.
“It’s the only place and time where you can actually go and speak to a doctor for free,” she said. “It’s the only time you’re going to be able to go and get and get any screenings for free or at a reduced rate.”
Vazquez said her goal with future health fairs is to bring in more services and testing for those who come to the event.
“I’ll be honest,” she said. “I don’t think I can do the free lab screenings again this year. The economy’s really rough right now, and I can’t find that kind of funding like I did back in 2024.”
With prices for items at the Health Fair getting higher every year, in order to meet inflation, Vazquez said prices for tests would need to be increased as well.
“By us keeping it the same at $35, it’s a big win,” she said. “There’s going to be an increased price, so I have to find the funding from somewhere to keep it at the $35.”
