Month: October 2014

KU Hospital wins Consumer Choice Award

In the only award where members of the community choose the individual hospital they feel provides the highest quality service, The University of Kansas Hospital has won the 2014-2015 National Research Corporation Consumer Choice Award for Kansas City.

It is the third year in a row The University of Kansas Hospital has won the award for Kansas City outright. This is the 19th anniversary of the Consumer Choice Award and the award is based on local results from a national survey of 290,000 households. The award recognizes hospitals which possess:
• Best Overall Quality
• Best Overall Image/Reputation
• Best Doctors
• Best Nurses

The University of Kansas Hospital not only led other area hospitals when these four categories were combined, but also the hospital led all other area hospitals in all four individual categories as well.

The award comes as the hospital earlier this year was one of only 14 hospitals nationally to be named in all 12 data-based national “Best Hospital” lists from U.S. News & World Report.
Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Hospital, said consumers have also shown their support for the hospital by choosing it in record numbers for their healthcare needs.

Page also noted that being the choice of consumers means the growth of the hospital is often at full capacity and needs an additional hospital building. Plans for the 92-bed Cambridge North building at 39th and State Line Road have been announced. The hospital is working to raise $100 million dollars from the philanthropic community for the project.

– Story from KU Hospital

World Series may have spillover effect on tourism in Kansas City, Kan.

by Mary Rupert
Kansas City, Kan., can expect some good business effects from the Kansas City Royals being in the World Series starting Tuesday night in Kansas City, Mo.

Although all of the official events are taking place in Kansas City, Mo., Bridgette Jobe, executive director of the Kansas City, Kan., Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she anticipated some increased hotel room nights in Kansas City, Kan.

She added the Kansas City, Mo., Convention and Visitors Association has taken the lead on all tourism efforts involving the World Series.

There are expected to be a large number of out-of-town visitors to the metropolitan area for the World Series, including a large media contingent.

Some visitors who were already planning to be in the metropolitan area for reasons other than the Royals probably will be compressed out of their normal stay on the Missouri side because of the game, Jobe said, and Kansas City, Kan., may pick up some room stays in the process.

Currently, she said she is working with the Missouri side convention officials to get banners out, and get a list compiled and sent to the Kansas City, Mo., convention association so that anyone looking for activities may find them.

While all official events are happening in Missouri, Jobe anticipates plenty of other types of events may be held on the Kansas side by restaurants or other businesses that are not official Major League Baseball events.

She noted that even if visitors are not staying in Kansas, they may be driving through the area and shopping here while they are in town.

The Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Kansas City, Kan., is planning to put a “Take the Crown” slogan on its marquee and electronic signage, she said. Also, she’s encouraging others with the capability of changing electronic signs to post the same message next week.

Jobe noted that another big plus for tourism in the area is that Sporting Kansas City, which plays its soccer games in Kansas City, Kan., has recently secured a spot in the Major League Soccer playoffs. The playoff spot was clinched at last Friday’s 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire at Sporting Park.

“It’s a good time to be in KC,” she said.

KCKCC slips to ninth in national volleyball poll; plays Missouri State on Monday

by Alan Hoskins

Kansas City Kansas Community College took its slip from seventh to ninth in the national NJCAA volleyball rankings out on Labette Wednesday, routing the Cardinals in three straight sets.

Never threatened, the Lady Blue Devils won 25-16, 25-17 and 25-18. The 3-0 win kept KCKCC tied for second in the Jayhawk Conference at 6-1 and improved the Blue Devils’ overall record to 24-8 heading into a revenge home contest with Missouri State Monday at 6:30 p.m. Ranked No. 16 in Division I, Missouri State earlier defeated KCKCC 3-1 at West Plains.

Cowley, which nipped KCKCC 3-2 at Cowley Oct. 1, leads the Jayhawk at 7-0 and is ranked No. 7 in Division II while Johnson County (6-1) is eighth and KCKCC (6-1) ninth. KCKCC has played three nationally ranked Division I teams and four in Division II including the No. 1 in each poll, Iowa Western in Division I and Parkland in Division II.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.