Board Spotlight: Kelly Groh

Meet Kelly Groh, RAC Member 2024

Question: Tell us a little more about yourself

A: “Hi, my name is Kelly Groh and am so proud to be part of this amazing organization as a RAC. I was fortunate enough to join the Liberty Hospital organization 26 years ago when I began my nursing journey as an ER Registrar while in nursing school at William Jewell College. I then went on to become a nurse tech then RN on the surgical oncology unit. After injuring my back during patient care, I explored my options and joined some wonderful former coworkers in the Care Management department where I remain today. Being a nurse care manager has allowed me to still have direct contact with patients and families while assisting in coordination of care, discharge planning and assessing for and providing needed beneficial resources. Our department is on the front line of utilizing the donations provided by the Liberty Hospital Foundation which led me to wanting to be involved in this organization.”

Liberty Hospital has been my 2nd home for so long and I am completely invested. I have made so many friends and acquaintances through my time there and love that it has managed to keep a small hospital feeling through all its growth over the years.

Kelly and family at martial arts

“My family consists of my wonderful husband Matt who is currently a PharmD at Children’s Mercy Hospital, my 21 year old daughter Alexis who will hopefully soon be joining the Liberty Hospital family as an EKG tech and our 9 year old son Heath who keeps us busy helping coach his numerous sports teams. The three of us decided to join Heath a couple of years ago to pursue our black belts in taekwondo at Fastkick Martial Arts in Liberty. We were supposed to test on November 1/2 but got derailed due to my unfortunate injuries-first partially tearing my right quadriceps due to strain then I experienced a life threatening car accident related to the injury. Somehow I ended up surviving a terrifying accident with just soreness and without injuring anyone else in the process and will be forever grateful. My precious family made the choice to wait and test for our black belts together in May and I am forever grateful to them. I cannot wait to heal and continue training with them as well as walk into the hospital again and be able to continue helping others.”

Q: What is your job role at Liberty Hospital?

A: “My job at Liberty Hospital is very complex. As a nurse care manager float I get to see it all except the labor and delivery unit. I work in the ED which is challenging in its own right for never knowing with what you may need to assist. Homelessness, abuse, no insurance, out of network with our facility, mental health transfers, need for transportation and appointment follow ups are within the realm of our job description. Our main job in the ED is to make sure the physicians are choosing the correct admission status for insurance reimbursement which at times becomes a guessing game.

We arrange many rides through UberHealth for patients that have no other means of getting to their destination which is paid for by the Liberty Hospital Foundation. We are also able to utilize the clothes and personal care items donated from the Foundation for those in need. It has been a blessing for the patients and staff.

When I work the floor units my job is very different. I assess every patient for discharge needs within a day of admission except weekends. Along with the social worker I review the care plans, usually speak with the physicians about the current plan and expected discharge date, confer with the unit nurses, lead a discharge meeting and meet with patients and family to provide the most positive outcome for each patient. That may include helping arrange outpatient services, home health, hospice, a skilled nursing facility, inpatient rehabilitation, LTAC or long-term care. It can get very complicated and knowing insurance plans and their requirements unfortunately become key. Care Management has been extremely rewarding and I have met wonderful coworkers and friends in the process.”

Q: Why is philanthropy and giving back so important to you?

A: “I am honestly not certain when philanthropy became important to me. I assume it was a mix of my new career position which made me appreciate the need as well as moving to community of Lathrop from Liberty and having the opportunity to join the Lathrop Park Board and see helping the community in action. However, it happened, when I saw the opportunity to apply, I felt a calling and knew I could provide an inside view into how the funds are being utilized as well as use my connections and friendships with staff to hopefully improve the way the Liberty Hospital Foundation works to help our patients and community.”

Q: How has the Foundation helped you, your community, and patients?

A: “Oh, my. The Foundation helps in so many ways. From the direct patient assistance with transportation and medication assistance to assisting our own employees with hardship assistance, the way the Foundation helps is just amazing. The Treehouse is an absolute blessing to families and patients in need of somewhere close to the hospital to stay and the recent renovations are beautiful. You will soon be able to see me in the new Treehouse video we did a few months ago! I‘ve had the pleasure and opportunity to utilize it for our patients or family more than once. It will be exciting to watch the Mathes Center get utilized by our breast cancer patients. I have also been a recipient of a newborn sack courtesy of the Foundation for our son which was comforting.”

Q: What is your favorite Foundation program and why?

Kelly at Twilight, bid spotting during the auction

A: “My favorite Foundation program is a very difficult choice. Having run the 5K multiple years, I of course love the Run and the large number of participants it

brings. I absolutely loved assisting with Twilight at the Treehouse as a bid assistant this past year and can’t wait to be even more involved next year. I was sitting on the 18th hole at the Golf Classic this year and everyone I encountered was amazing, so, I’m all-in on that one as well. I’m just so happy to be part of the Foundation and can’t wait to help in any capacity I can. It’s such an incredible group of people who volunteer to help our community and I couldn’t feel prouder to be a part of it.”

Published on November 4, 2024

The Liberty Hospital Foundation supports patients, individuals, families, and employees in the Liberty Hospital community by creating, funding, and promoting programs that improve health, education, wellness, and care. Make a Gift to support our mission, today!