Kären Bally, RN, BSN, CIC serves as the Director of Infection Control for Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita. Kären has worked tirelessly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that our Kansas Ministry Market has the necessary processes and procedures in place for us to provide for our associates, providers, and patients. She has been on call continuously and has sacrificed time with her family to ensure that her work family was protected and provided for. In addition, she works closely with our Senior Leadership Team to make sure that we communicate effectively and provide the most current information from our National Ascension Team, the CDC, and our Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Early in the pandemic, Kären collaborated with our Resource Group, local Universities, and community business partners to procure masks and create innovative shields to provide additional protection to our front-line associates and providers at a time when supplies were scarce. As the pandemic has drawn on, Kären has continued her commitment to the safety of our ministry through ongoing collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, including Facilities Management, Environmental Services, Respiratory Care, Nursing, Medical Staff, and many others.

She is the subject matter expert to ensure patients receive the proper care, in the right place, at the right time. Kären’s relationships with our internal and external customers provided an environment where new ideas could be imagined and brought to life. In doing so she provides a safe environment for our associates and providers to work in and for our patients to be healed in. She is truly our Health Care Hero.