As flu season begins, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) encourages everyone aged six months and older to receive their yearly flu vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones.
“It’s important to get your flu vaccine annually, because each year’s version includes the viruses expected to be most common,” said Dr. Linda Bean, CHC/SEK Chief Medical Officer. “If you get your vaccination now, you’ll be able to build up immunity before flu season peaks in the winter.”
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas offers flu vaccinations on a walk-in basis at all clinics in Kansas and Oklahoma. No appointment is necessary, and financial assistance is available.
In addition to receiving the annual vaccine, everyday habits such as washing your hands frequently, not touching your face, and avoiding close contact with people who are ill can help reduce your risk of getting the flu.
CHC/SEK Names Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer
PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is pleased to announce Ashley Hopkins has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer.
Hopkins joined the CHC/SEK team in January 2023 as the Vice President of Human Resources. She has more than 10 years of experience in human resources and has served more than 19 years in the healthcare industry. Hopkins also currently serves as a STARS board member. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Fort Hays State University and a Master of Business Administration in Human Resources from Pittsburg State University.
“During her tenure at CHC/SEK, Ashley has been instrumental in the complete reorganization of our human resources division,” said Krista Postai, CHC/SEK Chief Executive Officer. “She has spearheaded a variety of initiatives including improving recruitment and benefits, maximizing our payroll system, simplifying and tracking staff education, and increasing employee engagement.”
In her new role, Hopkins will continue to oversee the human resources division. Her new responsibilities will include serving on the CHC/SEK leadership team, participating in the Board of Directors meetings, and serving as coordinator of the Board’s personnel committee.
“Our staff is our greatest asset,” said Postai. “It is imperative we have HR in the room during all key organizational decisions.”
“I’m excited to expand my role within CHC/SEK. Growing with an organization that empowers HR to be more than just completing tasks and checking boxes is truly inspiring,” said Hopkins. “Our team remains focused on supporting employees at every stage of their careers as well as strengthening the culture that makes CHC/SEK such a special place to work. When we take better care of our employees, they can focus more on the quality, compassionate care they are known for.”
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About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) serves as a healthcare hub for communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. CHC/SEK delivers quality, integrated care to nearly 90,000 patients each year with a goal of improving health, sustaining rural communities, and providing purpose-driven work to 950 staff members. Beyond healthcare, CHC/SEK finds innovative ways to improve lives by focusing on education, housing, and transportation. Regardless of income or insurance status, CHC/SEK ensures everyone receives the care they need. For more information, visit chcsek.org.
CHC/SEK Names Vice President of Nursing and Quality
PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is pleased to announce Brenda Stokes, RN, BSN, has been named Vice President of Nursing and Quality.
Stokes joined the CHC/SEK team in 2020 as the Vice President of Quality Improvement, overseeing quality initiatives and regulatory compliance. She has more than 18 years of experience in quality improvement and has served for more than 30 years in the healthcare industry working at local hospitals and nursing homes. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pittsburg State University and is also a certified professional coder.
Under her leadership, CHC/SEK received several recognition badges from the Health Resources and Services Administration, acknowledging high performance in a variety of clinical areas. Stokes has also ensured CHC/SEK maintains its status as a National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home, a care model that centers around each patient and their individual needs.
“Brenda has continually demonstrated the ability to translate concept into reality and, as a result, CHC/SEK has earned national recognition in its management of chronic disease and in preventative health promotion,” said Krista Postai, CHC/SEK Chief Executive Officer. “She’s done an incredible job of integrating quality into our nursing operations, and we are extremely lucky to have her.”
In her new role, Stokes will lead the nursing team in addition to the quality department, ensuring quality care for the patients and communities CHC/SEK serves.
“I’m very excited to continue working with the Quality team and to take on this larger role within our clinical operations,” said Stokes. “We have a great nursing staff, and I look forward to supporting them in the incredible work they do every day.”
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About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) serves as a healthcare hub for communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. CHC/SEK delivers quality, integrated care to nearly 90,000 patients each year with a goal of improving health, sustaining rural communities, and providing purpose-driven work to 950 staff members. Beyond healthcare, CHC/SEK finds innovative ways to improve lives by focusing on education, housing, and transportation. Regardless of income or insurance status, CHC/SEK ensures everyone receives the care they need. For more information, visit chcsek.org.
Give your student a summer to remember with CHC/SEK’s Inspire Health Summer Camps! Kids will explore exciting healthcare careers through hands-on activities led by local health professionals–including nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and medical and
dental residents.
Inspire Health Kids Camp is for students entering Kindergarten through 6th grade, while Inspire Health Academy is designed for junior high and high schoolers.
Students can choose from three summer camps, each designed to fit their grade level.
All camps will be held at the John Parolo Education Center, 3015 N. Michigan in Pittsburg.
• Inspire Health Kids Camp (Entering Kindergarten – 2nd Grade)
Dates: July 1st – 3rd
Time: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Cost: $120
• Inspire Health Kids Camp (Entering 3rd – 6th Grade)
Dates: July 22nd – 25th
Time: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $160
• Inspire Health Academy (Entering 7th – 12th Grade)
Dates: July 29th – August 1st
Time: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $160
At Inspire Health Summer Camps, students of all ages explore the world of healthcare through fun, hands-on activities, interactive workshops, and engaging lessons led by CHC/SEK health professionals. Younger campers get a playful introduction to wellness and how the body works, while middle and high school students dive deeper with clinical simulations, creative projects, and career-focused sessions. It’s a unique opportunity to spark curiosity, build skills, and connect with mentors in the healthcare
field.
Space is limited for each camp and scholarships are available to request on the registration form. If you would like to gift a camp scholarship, visit
https://chcsek.org/donate/ and select the Inspire Health Foundation.
To register for any camp visit: https://chcsek.org/inspirehealth/camp-registration/
Inspire Health Foundation is a subsidiary of the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. Learn more about Inspire Health.
About Inspire Health Foundation
Inspire Health Foundation, Inc. (IHF) is fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals by
connecting students with experts in the healthcare field. IHF sparks students’ interest in healthcare through camps, events, hands-on learning activities, and scholarships. By partnering with local
healthcare professionals and organizations, IHF provides students with the resources and pathways they need to succeed in their local healthcare systems and positively impact their communities. Founded in 2021, IHF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a subsidiary of the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. To learn more, visit https://chcsek.org/inspirehealth.
Mercy Hosptial Building is now owned by Kansas Renewal Institute.
Kansas Renewal Institute now owns the former Mercy Hospital.
Shanda Stewart, spokesperson for KRI, said that as of December 19, 2024, KRI purchased the building from Legacy Health and is its new owner.
“We look forward to Freeman Health System coming to Bourbon County and working closely with them,” she said. “We are currently serving 54 children all from the state of Kansas and have 110 employees.”
About KRI
Kansas Renewal Institute is dedicated to helping young people renew their lives and regain power over their mental health issues, according to their website. We understand that struggling does not equate to weakness or moral failing, and we are determined to provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to heal and grow. Our behavioral health treatment center in Fort Scott, Kansas, offers comprehensive and personalized services for mental health treatment. To learn more about Kansas Renewal Institute, call us at 888.306.4718 today. We believe everyone deserves care and respect, and we are here to guide our clients on their path toward healing.
Dr. Mary Jo Flint started on August 26 as a pediatrician at the Community Health Center Of Southeast Kansas in Fort Scott.
Flint earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks and taught kindergarten and Head Start classes.
“I was a teacher and enjoyed kids,” she said. “I enjoy watching them grow and working with families….helping them.”
Her decision to go on to medical school at the University of North Dakota was an extension of her wanting to help kids, she said. She graduated from med school in 1991 and completed her residency at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. She is board-certified in pediatrics through the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
For the last three years, she has worked in Tennessee in rural medicine.
With a daughter in Kansas City and a new grandchild, she wanted to be closer to them.
What attracted her to Fort Scott was the mission of the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, she said.
According to the CHC website, they transform healthcare by addressing and removing barriers faced in finding quality healthcare, and are driven to provide compassionate care for everyone who comes, regardless of circumstances.
The medical services Flint provides are well checks-preventative appointments with children from birth to 18 years old and their parents- sick visits, developmental screenings, vaccines, x-rays, ultrasound, and mental health screenings.
“I use Evidence–based medicine (EBM),” she said, which is the scientific method to organize and apply current data to improve healthcare decisions. “I am constantly learning. If I find that something isn’t working, I don’t keep on doing it, I try something else.”
CHC has a walk-in clinic on site, 2322 S. Main, that is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the doctor’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Contact Dr. Flint at 620.223.8040 for an appointment for your child.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas at Fort Scott, June 2023
About CHC
Providing Compassionate Care
In 1903 Mother Mary Bernard Sheridan, a Sister of Saint Joseph, brought healthcare to the poorest in our region, building a hospital on donated land and providing care for all. She told her staff to “Do all the good that you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways that you can, for just as long as you can,” according to the CHC website.
Humble Beginnings
CHC/SEK opened its doors in 1997 on the second floor of a 90-year-old elementary school building as a community outreach of Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, the hospital Mother Sheridan founded in 1903. Their purpose was to ensure that all children were “ready to learn” by providing physicals and immunizations, no matter their parents’ ability to pay. It was a mission of love in an area of critical need – a community that continues to have some of the highest rates of childhood poverty in Kansas.
They quickly realized these children’s parents and grandparents needed care too and expanded services and facilities to provide quality, affordable healthcare to patients of all ages. By 2003, they had become an independent organization with 11 employees that cared for 3,300 patients.
Healthier Communities
Today, more than 1000 employees care for more than 70,000 patients every year, providing medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and support services across eastern Kansas and northeast Oklahoma – still regardless of the ability to pay.
FORT SCOTT –– When little Rowdy was four months old, his mother connected with a Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas family resource specialist to help her navigate through the early days of parenthood.
That specialist is Rene Hibdon, and she was recently selected as the Universal Home Visitor of the Year award by the Kansas Maternal and Child Health. Hibdon makes home visits and has helped over 200 parents and babies get a good start.
The CHC/SEK utilizes the Universal Home Visiting program which is a product of the Kansas Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program, through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The primary goals of the program are to support healthy pregnancies, improve birth outcomes, and promote healthy infant development.
MCH Home Visiting is available to all without eligibility requirements. According to MCH the program follows a strengths-based approach which concentrates on the inherent strengths of individuals, families, and groups to aid recovery and empowerment. Services are intended to positively impact behaviors by increasing the number of people accessing early and comprehensive health care and services before, during, and after pregnancy.
In addition to providing education on health, safety, parenting, and infant development, MCH Home Visitors screen for risk factors, link families to other community resources, and help them navigate systems of care. A critical responsibility of the home visitor is to have a broad knowledge of available local services.
“Rene makes an impact in the lives of parents and their children,” CHC/SEK Patient Education and Support Manager Julie Laverack said. “We are proud to have her on our team of family resource specialists.”
Rowdy’s mother, Brooke, started working with Hibdon when she was in addiction recovery. With a compassionate approach, she supported the new mother with advice, connecting her to resources, and helped her set goals.
One goal they worked on was working independently on scheduling appointments and follow through with connections for resources. Hibdon showed her how and also went to appointments with her.
“Now she has the confidence to attend appointments without support,” she says, adding she has now set a new goal focusing on saving and using money to provide transportation and housing for her family. “Mom has shown great growth in all aspects of her life. She has stayed in her recovery program, she has great self-confidence, and she is thriving to be a better person and mother each day. She is not only accomplishing these goals for her family, but she is also accomplishing these goals for herself.”
Hibdon and the home visiting program has made an undeniable impact on families.
“When I need you, you’re there for me and my family,” the Brooke shared with Hibdon. “It doesn’t matter what the situation is, you are always willing to assist me. If I need help getting resources, you always look into it and point me in the right direction. If I need to get some things off my chest, you’re a great listener and if I need advice, you give it.”
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas at Fort Scott, 2322 S. Main, Fort Scott.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer and to remove barriers many women have in receiving timely breast cancer screenings, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has made walk-in mammogram screenings available at its Fort Scott and Pittsburg South locations starting on September 3.
Women aged 40 and older without a recent mammogram screening can walk in from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday at CHC/SEK’s Fort Scott clinic located 2322 S. Main St, Fort Scott and Pittsburg South clinic located at 1011 S. Mount Carmel Place, Pittsburg. No referral or order required.
CHC/SEK participates in the Early Detection Works which is a breast and cervical cancer screening program for Kansas women. The clinic offers other financial assistance programs ensuring every woman who needs a mammogram screening will receive one regardless of income or insurance status. Patients can ask to speak to a Benefits Enrollment Specialist for more information on Early Detection Works. CHC/SEK offers discounted fees for services based on family size and income. No one is denied services based on their insurance status or ability to pay.
CHC/SEK provides Hologic 3D Genius imaging for all patients which detects 20–65 percent more invasive breast cancers than 2D alone.
About the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is a mission-focused, patient-owned, federally qualified health center (FQHC), Kansas not-for-profit corporation, and a recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. The CHC/SEK provides quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare for everyone, regardless of income or insurance status. The CHC/SEK has 39 registered sites in Kansas and Oklahoma, providing approximately 60 services, including walk-in care, primary care, women’s health, mammography and prenatal care, pediatrics, school-based health services, vaccinations, dental care, behavioral health and addiction treatment, and chronic disease management. To learn more, visit www.chcsek.org.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas staff share information on women’s health services and health education materials at the Women’s Health Fair in Fort Scott in April.
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is hosting a Women’s Health Fair on Sept. 7 at its Fort Scott clinic. The event is an opportunity to raise awareness about cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) disease, and the importance of getting screened.
The fair will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the CHC/SEK clinic located at 2322 S. Main St. Fort Scott. Participants aged 21 through 65 can get a cervical cancer screening during the health fair. To be screened during the event, an appointment can be made by calling 620-231-9873. Walk-in screening appointments will also be welcomed on the day of the event.
CHC/SEK staff at booths will provide health information on mammography, colorectal health, vaccines Early Detection Works and more. Mammography screening will be available at the event.
According to the CDC, each year in the United States, about 11,500 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed, and about 4,000 women die of this cancer.
For women aged 21-29, it is recommended to have a pap smear every three years if the results are normal. For women aged 30-65, providers recommend a pap smear with HPV testing every five years if results are normal. For women over age 65, the decision to stop screening depends on history and should be discussed with their provider.
Early detection is key, CHC/SEK Physician Holly Gault, MD, said, adding that she can’t stress enough how much better it is to find out early.
“We’ve seen several cervical cancer cases in young people that could’ve been prevented or caught earlier in the disease progression with proper screening,” Gault said.
CHC/SEK also participates in the Early Detection Works Program, which is a breast and cervical cancer screening program for Kansas women, and the clinic offers other financial assistance programs. Patients can learn more about Early Detection Works during the fair.
Another way CHC/SEK is helping prevent cervical cancer is by talking to parents about getting their children immunized for HPV. High-risk HPV infection is associated with nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
“There is a rise in cervical, head, and neck cancer, caused by HPV,” Gault said, adding these cancers could be prevented with immunizations for HPV.
The CDC and the American Cancer Society recommend HPV vaccination (Gardasil) for females and males as early as 11 years of age. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Gardasil three-dose series for individuals up to 45 years of age.
For more information about the upcoming event people can call the clinic at 620-231-9873.
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About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is a mission-focused, patient-owned, federally qualified health center (FQHC), Kansas not-for-profit corporation, and a recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. CHC/SEK provides quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare for everyone, regardless of income or insurance status. CHC/SEK has 39 registered sites in Kansas and Oklahoma, providing approximately 60 services, including walk-in care, primary care, women’s health, mammography and prenatal care, pediatrics, school-based health services, vaccinations, dental care, behavioral health and addiction treatment, and chronic disease management. To learn more, visit www.chcsek.org.
FORT SCOTT –– Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is pleased to announce pediatrician Mary Jo Flint, MD, has joined the medical staff at CHC/SEK’s Fort Scott Clinic, 2322 S. Main St.
Pediatricians see to the needs of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. For many young people, a pediatrician is their primary care provider from birth, through the age of 18. Pediatricians have many responsibilities, from regular well-child checkups to diagnosing and treating illnesses, injuries, and other health conditions.
Dr. Flint is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and most recently practiced in Henderson, Tennessee. She has connections to our region, having previously practiced pediatric medicine in the Kansas City area.
Dr. Flint graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and worked in private practice in Kansas City and Children’s Mercy Hospital. She is affiliated with Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Menorah Hospital, Shawnee Mission Medical Center, and St Luke’s East.
Outside of her work, she enjoys reading about history and historical biographies, following sports including KC Chiefs, KSU football, and University of North Dakota hockey, attending music and drama events and church.
Dr. Flint will join CHC/SEK in September and appointments are now being accepted by calling 620-223-8040.
For more information about CHC/SEK Fort Scott Clinic, visit https://chcsek.org
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.
