Employees: Our Most Valuable Resource
Get to Know Adrienne Burkholder, Director of Human Resources
Adrienne Burkholder is the Human Resources Director at Bates County Memorial Hospital. Now a year into her role overseeing 290 employees for the hospital and rural health clinics, she has enjoyed building relationships and finding new ways to support employee morale and help employees develop a deeper commitment to the company and its goals.
Adrienne is a mother of three daughters and two sons, with two young daughters still at home. When she assumed her position at BCMH in 2021, she moved her family from Kansas to Butler, Missouri. Having grown up in Marshall, Mo., she appreciated that she could raise her children in a similar, close-knit community.
With a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Human Resource Development and 18 years’ experience in human resources in a hospital setting, Adrienne also appreciated what BCMH offered to its employees. She was impressed that an independent hospital in a rural area would provide excellent benefits for their employees, because she knew that for people living in a small town, being able to offer someone a satisfying job at a living wage with good benefits, as well as the opportunity for education assistance and room to grow, could make a huge difference in someone’s life.
While the health care industry as a whole has experienced extreme challenges especially in the last two years, Adrienne feels it is a worthwhile career path.
“I am passionate about helping people and making a difference in their lives,” she said, adding, “It all comes down to being that person who helps make an impact for others, whether it’s a life-changing or a life-saving event. It makes being in healthcare worth all of the day-to-day struggles.”
Human resources, she says, goes far beyond processes like hiring and payroll; it is more about being strategic, forward-thinking and legally adept.
“HR to me is structure, and the ability to meet business needs through managing our company’s most valuable resources, the employees. We have to recognize that the group of humans who fall within our stewardship extends beyond the employees receiving a paycheck; it also encompasses patients who are receiving care. I love being a part of that,” she said.
“Every day, I am given a chance to create meaningful and lasting relationships, learn new things and solve complex problems that can impact the lives of many people,” Adrienne said. “Creating relationships in my journey is the reward; it’s what inspires me and brings me to work every single day with much enthusiasm.”
