Healthcare provider KC CARE Health Center achieves 92 percent retention and 60 percent greater efficiency through UKG technology and Great Place To Work insights

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – KC CARE Health Center, a leading nonprofit healthcare provider in Kansas City, Missouri, is setting a new benchmark in employee engagement, efficiency, and retention, thanks to a strategic combination of UKG Ready® technology and insights from Great Place To Work. The organization, which serves more than 23,000 patients annually across three locations, has achieved remarkable workforce outcomes, including a 92% retention rate and a 60% improvement in operational efficiency—transformations that reflect a growing trend of healthcare organizations investing in both technology and culture to support employees on the frontlines of care.

Founded with a mission to provide primary care, behavioral health, dental services, and HIV care to underserved populations, KC CARE has experienced rapid growth over the past five years. Its patient population has nearly tripled, and revenue has increased by 40%. While this expansion signifies success, it also presented significant challenges. Frontline staff—including clinicians, medical assistants, dental assistants, and case managers—were expected to manage increasingly complex workloads, often with minimal increases in staffing. In an industry where turnover for frontline roles regularly exceeds 20%, the risk of burnout and stress was high.

“Our people come first — always,” said Wil Franklin, President and Chief Executive Officer at KC CARE Health Center. “UKG gives us the clarity to scale without guesswork, support our clinicians, and protect our culture. It frees our teams to do what they do best: care for patients.”

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To address workforce pressures and streamline operations, KC CARE implemented the UKG Ready suite, a comprehensive AI-powered platform that unifies human resources, payroll, and workforce management. This technology has become the organization’s central source of truth, integrating operational data with employee feedback to empower leaders to make faster, more informed decisions. Within just 18 months, KC CARE saw tangible results: recruiting time dropped by 95%, payroll processing time decreased by 85%, HR saved over 100 hours annually through self-service capabilities, and overall operational efficiency rose by 60%. Gains were particularly notable in onboarding, compliance reporting, and compensation survey analysis.

“With UKG, we’re able to make smarter, faster decisions that directly impact our people and our patients,” said Dr. Leslie Hardin, Chief Operations Officer at KC CARE Health Center. “Having real-time data at our fingertips means we can quickly identify trends and workforce insights to address challenges and celebrate wins across the organization. It’s transformed the way we lead and support our teams every day.”

The technology alone, however, would not have been enough to drive such dramatic improvements. KC CARE leaders paired UKG Ready with actionable insights from the Great Place To Work Trust Index™ survey, which assesses employee experience and provides benchmarking data. By analyzing employee feedback, leadership identified critical areas for improvement and implemented tangible changes, including expanding benefits, introducing paid parental leave, and offering language-learning services to support a diverse workforce. The results were immediate: employee trust scores surged, high-volume roles experienced reduced turnover, and the organization earned Great Place To Work® Certification within a year.

“We used UKG to assess our performance and compensation strategies, a critical step for nonprofits that want to allocate resources strategically amid funding challenges,” said Hardin. “The data really helped us to focus on pay for performance, making sure that, even in difficult economic times, our employees were being paid equitably — and UKG helped with that.”

KC CARE also leveraged the technology to enhance the day-to-day employee experience. Self-service features in the UKG Ready mobile app allow staff to manage routine tasks independently, while UKG Wallet provides instant access to earned wages—a benefit particularly valuable to employees working in the field. These innovations have reduced administrative burdens, increased employee satisfaction, and created a culture in which staff feel supported and empowered.

“Our Trust Index scores increased by more than 20% in several key areas, including employees feeling they receive a fair share of profits and overall employee trust and satisfaction. Turnover in high-volume roles dropped significantly as well,” Hardin noted. “These improvements were driven by actionable data reporting and dashboards that allowed us to ask the right questions and implement meaningful changes to pay, benefits, and the overall employee experience.”

The integration of technology and cultural insights has positioned KC CARE as a model for healthcare organizations seeking sustainable growth while maintaining high levels of staff engagement. By combining real-time data, AI-powered tools, and employee feedback, the organization has created a system in which operational efficiency and workforce satisfaction reinforce each other. Employees are better equipped to manage increased patient loads, leaders can make strategic decisions with confidence, and the overall patient experience continues to improve.

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Looking ahead, KC CARE plans to continue leveraging UKG Ready and Great Place To Work insights to refine its HR practices, optimize operations, and strengthen employee engagement. The success story demonstrates that even in high-pressure, fast-growing healthcare environments, investing in technology and people together can yield transformative results.

“UKG Wallet is one of the most sought-after benefits that we offer,” said Hardin, reflecting on the real-world impact of integrating technology into daily workflows. “It’s more than convenience — it’s about showing our employees that we value their time and well-being, and that we are committed to supporting them in tangible ways.”

KC CARE’s experience underscores a powerful lesson for other healthcare providers: the combination of advanced technology, thoughtful workforce strategies, and a commitment to culture can drive measurable results in both employee satisfaction and operational performance. With 92% retention, 60% increased efficiency, and a certified Great Place To Work culture, KC CARE is leading the way in demonstrating that prioritizing people and processes simultaneously is not just possible—it’s transformative.

This approach is not just about metrics; it’s about creating an environment where employees feel trusted, empowered, and supported to do their best work every day. As healthcare demands continue to grow, KC CARE’s innovative model shows how thoughtful investment in people and technology can ensure both staff and patients thrive.