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Yearly Archives: 2024
Via Christi Cybersecurity Event Update
Via Christi Cybersecurity Event Update
National Update
Ascension previously reported that it experienced a ransomware attack that has caused disruptions to patient care in its network. Our priority remains on providing safe patient care. Ascension, with the support of leading cybersecurity experts, worked around the clock over the weekend to respond to the ransomware incident affecting our systems. We are focused on restoring systems safely. We are making progress, however, it will take time to return to normal operations. As systems and services come back online, we will share those updates so that our patients and communities can plan accordingly. We have established a dedicated website to share any updates we have across our system. We will be expanding the site this week to provide updates related to healthcare services as they relate to specific regions.
We encourage anyone seeking information surrounding the incident or with questions about the operational status of Ascension facilities to visit this page for the latest updates – https://about.ascension.org/
Via Christi Update
All Ascension Via Christi hospitals, physician offices, and care sites across Kansas remain open and operational. Despite the challenges posed by the recent ransomware incident, patient safety continues to be our utmost priority. Our dedicated doctors, nurses, and care teams are demonstrating incredible thoughtfulness and resilience as we use manual and paper based systems during the ongoing disruption to normal systems.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this unexpected situation. Rest assured, our commitment to the health and safety of our community remains our highest priority.
Can I go to my doctor’s appointment?
Ascension Via Christi Medical Partners doctor’s offices and care sites are operating with normal business hours, and all scheduled appointments are proceeding as planned.
Due to the transition to manual systems for patient documentation, patients may encounter longer than usual wait times and some delays. To help expedite processes, patients should bring notes on symptoms and a list of current medications, including prescription numbers or bottles. In the event that appointments need to be rescheduled, an Ascension associate will contact patients directly.
Can I get my prescription filled?
Ascension Rx retail pharmacies in Kansas cannot fill your prescription at this time. If a prescription was filled prior to May 8, 2024, and is awaiting pickup, that is available for the patient. If a patient needs a refill, they need to contact their prescriber and get a new prescription sent to a pharmacy outside of Ascension Rx.
Is Via Christi Immediate Care on Murdock open?
At this time, the Via Christi Immediate Care on Murdock is fully operating. Due to the transition to manual systems for patient documentation and care at certain centers, patients may encounter longer than usual wait times and some delays.
Are Ascension’s emergency rooms open?
All Via Christi emergency rooms remain open. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911, and local emergency services will transport you to the most appropriate hospital emergency room.
Can I still have my surgery?
Patients with upcoming scheduled elective surgeries should plan to arrive as planned unless otherwise notified. Should any rescheduling be necessary, a member of our care team will contact you directly.
Due to the transition to manual systems for patient documentation, patients may encounter longer than usual wait times and some delays. To help expedite processes, patients should bring notes on symptoms and a list of current medications, including prescription numbers or bottles.
Will I be able to get my diagnostic imaging, other tests, and treatments?
Imaging, testing, and treatment are being offered at this time. Patients may experience delays, we are grateful for your patience. Should any rescheduling be necessary, a member of our care team will contact you directly.
Commitment to Quality Care:
Our care teams are well versed on dynamic situations and are appropriately trained to maintain high quality care during downtime. Our leadership, physicians, care teams, and associates are working tirelessly to ensure patient care continues with minimal to no interruption. We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding.
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About Via Christi
In Kansas, Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 134 other sites of care and employs more than 6,400 associates. In FY2023, Via Christi provided more than $65 million in community benefit programs. In FY2023, Via Christi provided $2.3 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs. Via Christi includes more than 150,000 associates and 40,000 aligned providers. Via Christ is sponsored by Ascension, a national health system that operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 139 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Via Christi is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Visit www.ascension.org.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 14
Today Is The Day For Healthcare Sales Tax Question To Be Decided
People who have been wanting to make their voices heard on a sales tax to establish and operate emergency healthcare in our community will soon have their chance.
The Bourbon County Commission election is today, May 14 for voters to decide.
“It was suggested months ago to put the matter of a healthcare sales tax on the ballot when the subject of subsidizing an emergency room, due to Ascension Via Christi closing the emergency room, was first announced,” said Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins.
To view the press release of the closure:
December 20: Ascension Via Christi Closes Emergency Department in Fort Scott
At the March 11, 2024 meeting of the Bourbon County Commission, Commissioner Clifton Beth made a motion to approve a community vote on the idea.
“The original question asked for a one-half cent sales tax, but Clifton made a motion to approve the question changing it to a one-quarter cent sales tax and it was approved by all three Commissioners,” Hawkins said. “The purpose of the sales tax is to be used as needed for the establishment and operation of an Emergency Department in Bourbon County.”
Here is the wording of the question that will be asked of Bourbon County residents:
Shall the following be adopted?
Bourbon County shall adopt a one-quarter cent retail sales tax effective October 1, 2024, and continuing for 5 years. Said tax shall be used as needed for establishment and operation of an Emergency Department in Bourbon County. Upon termination, remaining tax funds shall be used for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and/or property tax reduction as determined by the Bourbon County Commissioners.
Yes
No
Stolen Vehicle Pulled From Fort Scott Lake on May 11
The Fort Scott Police Department was dispatched to Fort Scott Lake on Indian Road on Saturday morning.
“On Saturday, May 11, we had an individual using a fish finder call and say he believed he saw a vehicle underwater with sonar,” Lt. Caleb Bell, with the FSPD said.
The vehicle was located approximately 50 feet south of the dam and 20 feet deep in the water, he said.
“We called the Overland Park Dive Team with the Overland Park Police Department and they came down and dove and advised there was a vehicle,” he said. “There were no people in the vehicle. It was stolen in 2013.”
The vehicle is a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder, a Sport Utility Vehicle.
“We’ve made contact with the owners,” Bell said. “They don’t live here anymore. The case of the stolen vehicle was from 2013 and it is an ongoing investigation.”
“We got dispatched at 10:45 a.m. and the investigation was finished by 5:59 p.m.,” he said.
Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the event.
Obituary of Gene Davis
Gene Valgene Davis, age 92, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born March 28, 1932, in Arcadia, KS, the son of Charley and Chloe Totman Davis. He married Patricia Ann Edgar on November 10, 1952, in Huntsville, AR. She preceded him in death on December 15, 2012. Gene worked for the Frisco Railroad, KG&E, Safeway, and finally KDOT, retiring in 1994. He loved spending time with his family and treasured his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Survivors include 3 daughters, Connie Peterson (Dallas), Lindsborg, KS, Linda DeMott (Gary), Fort Scott, KS, and Carol Graham (John), Parker, CO; a sister, Betty Christian, Wichita, KS; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.
His son Gary Davis passed away the day following on May 10, 2024
Rev. Dallas Peterson and Rev. Gary DeMott will conduct graveside services at 2:00 PM Friday, May 17th, at the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM Friday until leaving for the cemetery at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Headstone/Monument Cleaning Added to Services Provided by Influx Services
Jake Provice started Influx Services a little over two and a half years ago.
“We serve Fort Scott, Joplin, and the surrounding areas,” he said.
“We provide professional exterior cleaning services, and specialize in house washing, window cleaning, and gutter cleaning. We use the ‘softwash’ process…which uses low-pressure and algicides to safely clean your home, without the risk of damage that comes with traditional pressure washing.”
“We provide professional exterior cleaning services, and specialize in house washing, window cleaning, and gutter cleaning. We use the ‘softwash’ process…which uses low-pressure and algicides to safely clean your home, without the risk of damage that comes with traditional pressure washing.”
“At Influx Services we are excited to publicly announce our professional headstone and monument cleaning services, available in Fort Scott, Joplin, and the surrounding areas,” he said. ” We use a specially designed, national cemetery-approved product and gentle cleaning methods to clean headstones and other stone monuments safely and effectively, without the risk of damage or deterioration that can come with other cleaning techniques.”
“The headstone cleaning is a new service,” he said. “I’ve been doing work at Evergreen Cemetery, but this would be the first time publicly announcing it. We use a specialized cleaning product and method that is historically used to clean national cemeteries and the white house.”
“Those interested in our headstone and monument cleaning services and/or our other exterior cleaning services such as house washing, window cleaning, and gutter cleaning, please give us a call or text at (620) 407-3008, or email us at influxservicescontact@gmail.
He takes calls from 9 am to 9 pm seven days a week.
Par Tee Girls At Woodland Hills May 15
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 13
Bourbon County Democrats Kick-Off Get Out The Vote
What: Bourbon County Democrats’ GOTV (Get out the Vote) kickoff begins with an orientation by Kansas Democrats State Leadership team.
Where: Zimmerman Hall (in basement) of the First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford St., Fort Scott.
When: Sunday, May 19 th , 2024, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Please call or text 620 215 1505 for more information or to rsvp.
This is for training for our county volunteers, anyone concerned about the upcoming election and willing to help get out the vote.
Some of our county’s field plans will be discussed and the reasoning behind it.
Discussion of issues and how to talk about them with others.
This training isn’t just for people going door to door. It’s for people who will volunteer in any way they can or wish.
Please call or text 620 215 1505 for more information.
Lydia Mae by Carolyn Tucker
Keys to the Kingdom
Lydia Mae
I have three grandchildren and all of them are sisters. Lydia Mae is the eldest, born on May 2, 2014. Her first name is biblical and her middle name is after her maternal great grandmother, Bertha Mae. Mom was always called Bertha Mae by her family and friends, so whenever I accompanied her to the doctor in her later years, the nurse would call for “Bertha,“ which always sounded odd and wrong. In loving memory of Mom, I’ve always called my granddaughter “Lydia Mae” because it seemed right and kept a part of Mom alive through speaking her middle name. Mom passed away May 30, 2015. Interestingly, one life began and one life ended in the month of May, one year apart.
One morning, after spending the night, I entered Lydia Mae’s bedroom to visit with her before I headed for home. I sat beside her on the edge of the bed and she let me look through her journal. I began turning pages and found a four-page writing that grabbed my attention and heart. She had divided her thoughts into three profound headings. I was so deeply touched by her insight, I asked if I could borrow her journal and share it in one of my columns. She gave her permission; so here’s what she penned:
- Family Matters Most: My family and friends are what matter most. No matter who they are or what they believe in, they matter more than anything in the world. I’m not saying that you don’t need air, water, money, sleep, and food. They all mean a lot to survival, but what is living if you have no one to live with? If you had no family or friends you would be all alone with no one else around. Life would be harder because there would be no teamwork. One person would have to do everything by themselves. It takes years to build things when you alone are doing things. So now we know we all need each other!
- Treat each other the way you want to be treated: Treat each other the way you want to be treated is the Golden Rule. It means if you show meanness you will get meanness back. If you show kindness then you will get kindness back. So if you want to be treated kindly then you should treat others kindly.
- Show Love to Everyone: Show love to everyone just means that you should treat everyone the same, no matter what they look like, sound like, or believe in because everyone is human and deserves to be treated like one. Everyone is special because God created everyone different. Even twins are different, but that shouldn’t affect how people are treated. Now you know.
“Happy Mother’s Day” to all who have loved, nurtured, and inspired their children. I am currently reading through a Bible that my late husband gave to his mother for Easter 2018. (This gift was returned to me when she downsized and moved.) Her son wrote this on the inside cover: “To Mom, Happy Springtime!! He is risen as He said! Thank you for your kindness and patience. You have made the world a lovelier place. I love you, Jimmy.” No matter our age, we never outgrow our need for a mother. It’s nice that a mother’s influence lasts a lifetime.
The Key: Mothers teach and love their children tenderly so life won’t be so hard.
Mount Carmel Hospice awarded accreditation, now accepting patients
FORT SCOTT –– A new hospice service dedicated to caring for terminally ill residents in Bourbon and Crawford County has achieved a significant milestone. Mount Carmel Hospice, a non-profit service operating within the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK), has officially obtained accreditation from CHAP, the Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc., for meeting Hospice Standards.
The CHAP Accreditation demonstrates that Mount Carmel Hospice meets the industry’s highest nationally recognized standards. As patients near the end of life, hospice care focuses on the quality of life when quantity of life is limited. Hospice care helps patients live their final months with the greatest comfort and dignity and care is provided for the whole family, not just the person with the illness.
Mount Carmel Hospice was incorporated in 2023 by CHC/SEK after Bourbon County’s locally operating hospice service closed. Mount Carmel Hospice is currently accepting patient enrollments from Bourbon and Crawford counties. Expansion into additional areas is planned for the near future.
Mount Carmel Hospice takes its name to honor the legacy of Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, who were early pioneers in healthcare and founders of Mount Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg in 1902.
To be hospice-eligible, a patient must receive a diagnosis of a terminal illness from a physician, with a life expectancy of 6 months or less if the illness follows its normal course. Hospice services are fully covered by Medicare and most other insurance plans. If the terminal condition improves, the patient can be discharged from hospice and returned to curative treatment. If need be, patients can return later to hospice care.
The care team at Mount Carmel Hospice includes compassionate experts to help manage symptoms, so patients can feel comfortable and spend their final days in ways that are important to them. Nurses are available around the clock, seven days a week. Social workers, chaplains, home health aides, volunteers, and bereavement counselors each contribute to wrapping an extra layer of compassion and support to the patients and their loved ones.
Volunteers are also an important part of the hospice team, bringing their special skills and talents with them that they can share. Volunteers offer the gift of time to devote to patients and families. Additional services include grief support groups, which are available to anyone in the community free of charge.
To contact Mount Carmel Hospice, please call 620-264-6550 or email Becky Davied, at [email protected]. For those interested in volunteering with Mount Carmel Hospice, please contact a hospice representative at 620-264-6550 or apply for a volunteer position on our website at chcsek.org/careers.
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About the Community Health Center of the Southeast Kansas
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center based in Pittsburg, KS dedicated to providing quality health care to everyone regardless of income or insurance status. CHC/SEK serves more than 60,000 children and adults annually at clinic sites in Bourbon, Crawford, Cherokee, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, and Allen counties, and in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.chcsek.org.