PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION

September 2, 2025

Story by Ann E. Butenas

MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital’s extraordinary culture supports staff longevity and patient outcomes that redefine healthcare excellence.

In the heart of Kansas City, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital stands as a testament to what happens when experienced healthcare professionals dedicate their careers to transforming lives. Under the leadership of new CEO Britni Green, PharmD MBA, this remarkable facility continues to set the standard for rehabilitation care while nurturing an unprecedented culture of staff longevity and patient-centered excellence.

My favorite part of leadership is being able to help my team have the tools and the resources that they need to take care of the patients”

– CEO Britni Green, PharmD MBA

Green brings a unique perspective to her role, combining three years with Encompass Health and twelve years of pharmacy leadership across various healthcare industries. But what sets her apart isn’t just her extensive background; it’s also her unwavering commitment to empowering others.
“My favorite part of leadership is being able to help my team have the tools and the resources that they need to take care of the patients,” Green expressed. “I’m very people first, I want to create an atmosphere that supports the team’s ongoing excellence.”
This philosophy couldn’t be more perfectly aligned with MidAmerica’s existing culture. The hospital boasts something virtually unheard of in today’s healthcare landscape: staff members who have dedicated decades of their careers to a single institution.

“We’ve got staff members that have been here for 35 years,” noted Green. “That’s unheard of in most places.”

The Magic Behind the Longevity

What creates such extraordinary longevity in an industry known for high turnover? According to Green, it’s the tangible impact that comes from rehabilitation medicine.
“I think a lot of it is seeing the outcomes our patients achieve during their inpatient stay and beyond,” she reflected. “MidAmerica offers strong disease specific community support groups, and our patients come back year after year to visit with their therapists and nurses. You get to watch that progression even after people go home.”

This ongoing connection between staff and former patients creates something rare in healthcare: the ability to witness the long-term fruits of one’s labor.
“That just adds a lot of value as a healthcare professional, knowing the things you did made that much change in someone’s life possible, and you can really impact years of quality of life for your patients and their families,” Green added.
The stories emerging from MidAmerica illustrate this impact in powerful ways. Cathi Beauford, the hospital’s Nurse Unit Coordinator and most recent employee of the quarter, exemplifies the institution’s profound effect on those it serves. She was once a patient herself who was so impressed by the care and culture that she waited for a position that matched her skill set and applied to work there.

Cathi Beuford with care team

“ I became a patient at MidAmerica after my head-on car accident in 2019 left me with multiple fractures, I was only able to put weight through my right elbow, ,” Beauford explained. “I was so impressed with the care, compassion, and encouragement I received from every team I worked with. I grew to love the staff and their genuine compassion for each patient and their families. I knew I wanted to be a part of their mission of providing quality care to patients and families.”
This isn’t an isolated incident. Rebecca Huskey, MidAmerica’s Receptionist, came to work at the hospital after her brother received care at the facility, drawn by the difference she witnessed firsthand.
“I chose to join the MidAmerica staff following a positive patient experience my brother had with extraordinary care,” Huskey expressed. “At MidAmerica, their goal is to provide the highest quality of care, and my brother definitely received it. The staff is genuinely concerned with the patient’s progression; they take pride in their work, and their dedication is exemplary. I’m very fortunate to be part of this incredible team at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital.”
Perhaps most telling is that current staff members consistently choose MidAmerica when their own loved ones need rehabilitation services.
“If you have a loved one and you want them to use the hospital you work in, that means a lot. That means you have a lot of trust in your coworkers, and you have a lot of trust in what we do,” Green observed.

Bridging Experience and Innovation

One of Green’s greatest sources of pride is watching the hospital’s veteran staff invest in the next generation.
“Those experienced professionals are now reinvesting in the next generation of professionals. We have new grads, and staff that have been out of school for one to five years, and they get to learn from all that experience,” she emphasized. “As a new grad you come out of school, and while you know a lot, you don’t know everything because you haven’t seen everything. Our new clinicians get to benefit from the exposure that people who have been here for 20 or 30 years in rehab, which can really help grow their knowledge faster.”
This mentorship model creates a sustainable cycle of excellence that benefits both patients and staff. New clinicians gain invaluable real-world experience under the guidance of seasoned professionals, while veterans find renewed purpose in sharing their knowledge and learning from the next generation.

From Pharmacy to Leadership

Green’s journey from pharmacist to CEO reflects her broader philosophy about adapting one’s strengths to serve others.
“I always say I’m never not a pharmacist, pharmacy was my opportunity to join the healthcare world. I’ll always be a pharmacist at heart,” she explained. “But what I found was there are a lot of opportunities that my strengths can help with to make other people have the ability to take care of patients better.”
Her transition into leadership was driven by a desire to remove barriers that prevent clinicians from focusing on what they do best.
“I really like finding efficiencies, helping people identify what the tools are or how we can adapt systems to help them spend their time focused on patients instead of having to work harder,” Green said. “Everyone goes into healthcare to take good care of patients, I see it as my job to make sure there’s nothing in the way of that.”

Celebrating Excellence and Looking Forward

Under Green’s leadership, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital is preparing for National Rehabilitation Week, September 14-20, with a full slate of activities designed to celebrate both staff achievements and community awareness. Plans include a golf tournament, family events for staff, community celebrations at the hospital, and integrated therapy themes throughout the week.
“We’re looking at a lot of different opportunities to incorporate our ‘reaching for the stars’ theme here in the hospital, whether it’s in the therapy gym or out on the nurses’ stations,” Green stated.
This will be Green’s first Rehabilitation Week as CEO, and her enthusiasm is undeniable. The planning, which began weeks in advance, reflects her commitment to recognizing the dedication of her team while raising awareness about the vital role rehabilitation medicine plays in the community.
Looking to the future, Green envisions MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital becoming even more deeply rooted in the Kansas City community.
“We’ll continue to become even more of a part of the community. We’re already rooted in this community, so we plan to reach out and help more people understand the services we offer,” she indicated. Her personal motto—progress over perfection—guides this vision. “We can be better today than we were yesterday, so it’s always just continuing to get just a little bit better every single day. We do it as individuals, and we do it as an organization.”

“Everyone goes into healthcare to take good care of patients, I see it as my job to make sure there’s nothing in the way of that.”

The Heart of Healthcare

At its core, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital represents something increasingly rare in modern healthcare: a place where clinical excellence, staff satisfaction, and patient outcomes converge seamlessly. Under Green’s leadership, this already exceptional institution is poised to reach even greater heights while maintaining the people-first philosophy that has made it a beacon of hope for patients and families throughout the Kansas City area.
As Green noted, “There are just some amazing things that you can get accomplished as a team that you can’t necessarily accomplish as a single person. I love being part of this team.”
At MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital, team spirit isn’t just a management philosophy. It’s also the foundation upon which lives are rebuilt, careers are nurtured, and communities are strengthened, one patient at a time.