An op-ed piece by KHA President & CEO Nancy Galvagni was featured in the Lexington Herald-Leader today.
You know “The Little Engine That Could.’ In KY, we are the economic engine that does
Everyone knows the story of “The Little Engine That Could” but in Kentucky we have a big engine that does. Most people never think of this engine, one that drives economies across the Commonwealth. Kentuckians in nearly every county see it daily, are thankful it’s there when they need it, but really don’t consider its true impact. This engine provides a critical service to the life of nearly every citizen of the commonwealth, from beginning to end.
This engine is your local hospital, and while it’s known primarily as a place for healing or where new life comes into the world, it plays a critical role in the economy of communities across the state.
While horses and bourbon are certainly Kentucky’s signature industries, Kentucky’s hospitals employ more than 84,000 people, more than the equine and spirits industries combined. A person may never bet on a horse race or drink a glass of bourbon, but everyone uses the services of the local hospital, making the hospital a key economic driver and a crucial element for economic development.