Category Archives: Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19

CHC/SEK staff receive White House Commemorative Easter Eggs  

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Submitted photos. The White House Easter Eggs.

President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden sent Easter greetings to the staff of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas this week in the form of Easter eggs. 

“Your organization’s efforts are a testament to the hard work that needs to occur in order for our country to reopen safely,” read the letter from the White House.  “The health and wellbeing of Americans remain an utmost priority to the President and First Lady, and your efforts and dedication are truly appreciated. On behalf of the President and First Lady, we wish you and your family a safe and Happy Easter!”

The commemorative wooden eggs were originally produced for the traditional White House Egg Roll held on the White House lawn each year. However, with the ongoing pandemic the event was canceled this year. Instead, the White House decided to send the eggs in recognition of community health workers.

“We are honored to be recognized by the President and First Lady for our efforts to make our communities safer and healthier,” CHC/SEK President and CEO Krista Postai said.  

In March, the Biden Administration created the Community Health Center Vaccine Program and chose CHC/SEK among 250 Community Health Centers serving vulnerable populations in the country’s most underserved communities to receive COVID-19 vaccine directly from the government. 

 “With the Biden administration’s support, CHC/SEK has been able to distribute more than 22,022 vaccines to help us get closer to ending this pandemic,” Postai said.  

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

 

New buildings/expansions are on the horizon for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

 

CHC is working on the purchase plan for moving from its’ Fort Scott present site to the former Price Chopper building on Main Street at  23rd Street.

 

The present site is the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills.

 

“We are… closing on our purchase of the 40,000 sq. ft. Price Chopper Building in Fort Scott on April 9,” Postai said.  “The plan is to combine our walk-in care and main clinic together. The renovation will start as soon as possible, with a goal of completion prior to the expiration of our current lease with Mercy in December 2022.”

Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

 

There is also a new CHC building in Pittsburg.

 

“We have scheduled our groundbreaking for our new Medical Education Building in Pittsburg which will be home to all the students we are/will be training,” Postai said.

 

The groundbreaking will be May 3 at 12:30 p.m. at the John Parolo Education Building, south of the CHC/SEK System Office.

 

“About $5.6 million in donations have been raised to cover the full cost of the building and its furnishings scheduled for completion in the summer of 2022,” she said. “In the meantime, work continues on the establishment of a family practice residency program in Pittsburg in collaboration with Kansas University Medical Center and Via Christi/Ascension; the application for accreditation has been submitted with a ‘virtual’ survey planned this fall.”

 

CHC is planning a clinic in Chanute in the near future.

 

“We also bought 10 acres of land in Chanute on which to build a clinic in Neosho County,” she said. “Given all our other projects, it will probably take us 3-5 years to get this done.”

Continue reading CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9 →

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

CHC Fort Scott Offers COVID-19 Vaccine This Saturday By Appointment

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas/Fort Scott will be vaccinating against COVID-19 using Moderna vaccine on Saturday, March 27 at the 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. clinic.  All vaccinations are by appointment.

 

Individuals age 18 and older qualifying under KS Phase 3-4 include  persons with conditions that increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including: Cancer; Down Syndrome; heart conditions; Type 1 & 2 diabetes; Pregnancy; Asthma; Cystic fibrosis; Liver disease; Neurological conditions like dementia; and other medical risks.  Non-health care workers in critical infrastructure who cannot work remotely, including: Agricultural and food workers not included in previous phases; workers performing in-person activities indoors; Utility workers; Social service and government workers not included in previous phases; Logistics workers, such as truck transportation workers and couriers; Water and wastewater workers; Shelter, housing, and finance workers; information technology and communication workers. Persons from previous phases are also eligible to be vaccinated.

 

Request an appointment by clicking the get-my-shot button at www.chcsek.org,  or by calling 866.888.8650.

 

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in reducing sickness and death from the virus. It is up to each of us to do our part to get life back to normal, schedule your COVID-19 vaccination today with CHC/SEK.

 

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

Area Residents Eager to Receive COVID-19 Vaccinations  

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CHC/SEK creates www.chcsek.org/getmyshot  for vaccination appointment requests 

PITTSBURG — Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is seeing a strong interest for the COVID-19 vaccine under phase 2 of the Kansas COVID-19 vaccination plan.

On Friday alone CHC/SEK had almost 9,000 phone calls to its 866-888-8650 number, not including additional vaccine inquiries from its general phone lines, and obviously many went unanswered. The number is still active for vaccination scheduling.

Vaccine calls are answered by a team of more than 20 people, 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone line itself only allows for 100 calls to come in at a time and last week after the vaccination number went live, it went down after callers overloaded the telephone capacity. 

To reduce some of its call center’s stress, CHC/SEK has created www.chcsek.org/getmyshot where people can send their contact information. There is a short questionnaire to type contact information and indicate which CHC/SEK location the recipient would prefer to receive their vaccination. There is also an option to select “first available” if they are willing to travel to the site of the first available appointment.    

CHC/SEK schedulers will contact people as soon as appointment slots become available at the preferred locations. Currently, CHC/SEK is booked out for more than two weeks in some clinics. 

CHC/SEK began receiving weekly vaccine allotments last week after President Joseph Biden announced the launch of the Federally Qualified Health Center program for community health centers to receive a direct supply of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated.  

To date, CHC/SEK has administered more than 6,300 first doses of the vaccine and 3,117 second doses across its service area. 

The health center has also begun to reach out to essential businesses under Kansas Phase 2 by taking vaccinators on site.

“The purpose of going onsite is two-fold,” according to Dawn McNay, who’s leading the vaccination outreach effort. “First, essential businesses need their employees at work, so going on-site is the most efficient way to get them vaccinated quickly and without business disruptions; and, by getting these employees vaccinated at work, it leaves more vaccination appointments available in our clinic locations.”

CHC/SEK is also exploring other avenues to speed the vaccination process.  

“Please be patient,” McNay says, “We are confident there will be plenty of vaccine available in the coming weeks, however with more than 170,000 people in our service area, it’s going to take some time before we can get to everyone who wants to get vaccinated.”  

The complete list of eligible individuals under Kansas Phase 2 can be seen at https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Fort Scott

Schedule An Appointment With CHC For COVID-19 Vaccine

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Vaccine has arrived! Please note the time, date and location of vaccine clinics. 

Reminder: people must schedule an appointment for the vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccinations clinics open Wednesday, Saturday

A shipment of 4,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has arrived at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas clinics as part of a national effort to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated.    

CHC/SEK continues to focus on vaccinating people age 65 and older however, the health center has expanded to the remaining categories within Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccination Prioritization Plan. Any individual from Phase 1 that still needs a vaccine may also call.

Phase 2 includes people aged 65 and up, high-contact critical workers and congregate settings. High-contact critical workers include: higher education staff; first responders; judicial/court system participants; childcare workers; food processing including meat processing; grocery stores; food service to include restaurants; transportation organizations/suppliers; city/county public works; Dept. Motor Vehicles; U.S. Postal Service, home care providers, and supplier of critical infrastructure service/supplies.

 

Vaccines are already going into arms. On Wednesday, vaccines will be distributed from 1 to 4 PM at 924 N. Broadway, Pittsburg.  

CHC/SEK-Fort Scott will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at 9 AM- 3 PM on Saturday, March 6 at the clinic located at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott. 
The vaccine appointment telephone number to call is 866-888-8650, which will be answered 7 AM -7 PM seven days a week. There is an additional line for Spanish speakers, available at 620-240-8940, answered from 7 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
Anyone listed under Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccine Prioritization Plan is eligible to participate. Those guidelines are available at https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=111.
There is no out-of-pocket cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine recipients will not be restricted by county residency, nor do they have to be a patient of CHC/SEK.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

CHC/SEK: COVID-19 Vaccines Will Increase

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Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas was one of 250 health centers, out of 1,400 health centers in America, that was selected to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine directly from the federal government, according to Krista Postai, President and CEO of CHC/SEK said.

 

“They have a million doses to distribute weekly, so we expect to receive – for the whole 10-county region we serve  – up to 4,000 doses per week,” she said “Which means – I am excited to say – that we should have enough vaccine – along with what the counties are receiving —  to take care of everyone in southeast Kansas over the next few months. We are required to still follow state guidelines on priority groups, but counties do have some flexibility.”

 

CHC staff spent last week building the infrastructure needed to set up a toll-free phone line and appointment schedule.

 

“We have already started calling our patients ( more than 7,500 people) who are 65 and older and getting them an appointment as early as Thursday,” Postai said.

 

“Companies who have been notified by the State of Kansas that their employees are now eligible to be vaccinated should email Dawn McNay at [email protected] with their contact information, employee count and a copy of the letter. She will be working with our outreach teams to take the vaccine to the companies,” Postai said.

 

 

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments At CHC

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is now offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments as part of Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccine Prioritization Plan.
 The list can be found on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website:
There is no out-of-pocket cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations will be available at all CHC/SEK clinic locations.
The vaccine appointment telephone number to call is 866-888-8650, which will be answered 7 a.m. -7 p.m. seven days a week. There is an additional line for Spanish speakers, available at 620-240-8940, answered from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
CHC/SEK is one of 250 health centers nationally selected to receive a direct supply of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated, according to a recent announcement from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and CDC.  A shipment of 4,000 doses of Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive the week of March 1.
CHC/SEK will follow the state priorities for what populations are eligible to receive the vaccine, however vaccine recipients will not be restricted by county residency, nor do they have to be a patient of CHC/SEK.
“This is a gift to the people of Southeast Kansas, the least healthy and most economically challenged region of the state,” said Krista Postai, President & CEO of CHC/SEK.  “With almost 20 percent of our population over 65, the ability to reach out to provide this potentially life-saving vaccine is probably one of the most important initiatives in our history.”
Vaccine appointments will be available at CHC/SEK locations.
In Pittsburg, CHC/SEK has established a vaccine center at 924 N. Broadway, with extended and weekend hours to make receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as convenient as possible. The health center has also formed special vaccination outreach teams to target special populations by taking the vaccine to them.
“Based on the calls we’ve been receiving, we know many people are eager to get vaccinated and so afraid they’ll be overlooked because they live in rural Kansas,” Postai said. “It is so wonderful to tell them they’ve actually been prioritized nationally.”
CHC/SEK and Grace Med Topeka/Wichita were the two Kansas health centers chosen for this program. Both serve a large population of individuals experiencing homelessness, public housing residents, migratory and seasonal agricultural workers, patients with limited English proficiency and serve a significant population of patients age 65 years and older.

“We know these vaccines are safe and highly effective against a very serious disease,” Postai said. “Now that they have become available to us, CHC/SEK is ready to get them delivered into the arms of our communities.”

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

CHC/SEK takes appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations  

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Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is now offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individuals aged 65 and older as part of Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccine Prioritization Plan. There is no out-of-pocket cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations will be available at all CHC/SEK clinic locations.

The vaccine appointment telephone number to call is 866-888-8650, which will be answered 7 a.m. -7 p.m. seven days a week. There is an additional line for Spanish speakers, available at 620-240-8940, answered from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
CHC/SEK is one of 250 health centers nationally selected to receive a direct supply of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated, according to a recent announcement from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and CDC.  A shipment of 4,000 doses of Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive the week of March 1.
CHC/SEK will follow the state priorities for what populations are eligible to receive the vaccine, however vaccine recipients will not be restricted by county residency, nor do they have to be a patient of CHC/SEK.
“This is a gift to the people of Southeast Kansas, the least healthy and most economically challenged region of the state,” said Krista Postai, President & CEO of CHC/SEK.  “With almost 20 percent of our population over 65, the ability to reach out to provide this potentially life-saving vaccine is probably one of the most important initiatives in our history.”
Vaccine appointments will be available at CHC/SEK locations.
In Pittsburg, CHC/SEK has established a vaccine center at 924 N. Broadway, with extended and weekend hours to make receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as convenient as possible. The health center has also formed special vaccination outreach teams to target special populations by taking the vaccine to them.
“Based on the calls we’ve been receiving, we know many people are eager to get vaccinated and so afraid they’ll be overlooked because they live in rural Kansas,” Postai said. “It is so wonderful to tell them they’ve actually been prioritized nationally.”
CHC/SEK and Grace Med Topeka/Wichita were the two Kansas health centers chosen for this program. Both serve a large population of individuals experiencing homelessness, public housing residents, migratory and seasonal agricultural workers, patients with limited English proficiency and serve a significant population of patients age 65 years and older.
“We know these vaccines are safe and highly effective against a very serious disease,” Postai said. “Now that they have become available to us, CHC/SEK is ready to get them delivered into the arms of our communities.”
About CHC/SEK
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing quality health care to everyone regardless of income or insurance status. CHC/SEK serves more than 50,000 children and adults annually and employs more than 400 professionals and support staff at 18 locations throughout Crawford, Cherokee, Labette, Linn, Montgomery and Allen counties, and Ottawa County in Oklahoma. CHC/SEK is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors, which includes patients from the communities it serves.
Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

COVID-19 Vaccinations Have Started On the General Public in Bourbon County

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There are limited supplies of COVID-19 Vaccines available now in Bourbon County with more on the horizon.

This, in less than a year since the COVID-19 virus began across the United States.

 

Here are some locally.

Walmart Fort Scott, 2500 S. Main.

Walmart

Walmart Pharmacy personnel, 2500 S. Main,  started giving vaccines to the public last week.

“We started giving them on Feb. 12,” Pharmacy Technician Tim Haggins said.

“We are only giving by appointment, six days in advance,” he said. “We are already booked six days out.”

“There is one appointment every 20 minutes,” he said.

Following the shot, people must wait for at least 15 minutes in a chair to be observed for any reactions.

Shots are administered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a two-hour break from 12:40 to 2:40 p.m.

They are giving about 200 shots per week, he said.

Inclement weather does affect the appointment schedule, due to hazardous road conditions, he said.

“If we need to move appointments, we will call people,” he said.

To schedule, one must go to https://www.walmart.com/cp/1228302

 

Walgreens, Fort Scott.

 

Walgreens

 

Walgreens, at the corner of Hwy. 69 and 23rd Street, has the vaccine but is awaiting directions from the corporate office, said Pharmacy Technician Keely Gooderidge.

One must go to http://Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine to schedule an appointment and to see if eligible for the vaccine.

 

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

 

Community Health Center in Bourbon County

 

“We have gotten a limited number of vaccines and have focused first on emergency and medical personnel….we’re also collaborating with area health departments to get school staff vaccinated including Bourbon County,” Krista Postai, CEO and president of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas said.  “We are also working with them to vaccinate child care providers.”

“The shots we have given have been in assistance with county health departments using their vaccine allotments,” said Rob Poole, CHC Communication and Marketing Director.

Last week, CHC was able to call in patients from a list run from their electronic health records, as well as a waiting list from those who have called in over the last few weeks, Postai said.

 

“According to information announced last week, health centers across the county should begin receiving vaccine directly in addition to any allocations through the state,” Postai said.  “We heard priority was going to those health centers with more than 2,000 patients over 65. We have well over 7,000 so we’re thinking we may be at the head of the line, which means, fingers crossed, we should start seeing more vaccine by early March,”

 

Poole said a recent Biden Administration press release stated that 250 health centers around the country would begin receiving vaccines directly from the federal government.

 

“There is not an exact timeline, but I can assure you we’ll spread the word as soon as it happens,” Poole said.

 

 

 

 

 

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Government, Health Care

Special enrollment period to open for health insurance marketplace 

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Job loss resulting from the pandemic has left many people without health insurance and for many has resulted in the need to find more affordable alternatives. For those seeking health insurance, a special enrollment period (SEP) will allow people to enroll in Marketplace health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. This SEP will begin Feb. 15, and will run through May 15.

At Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Certified Application Counselors (CAC’s) are available to assist people in enrolling in health insurance provided through the Affordable Care Act, said Benefits Enrollment Specialist Robert Murnan.  

“We help educate consumers about insurance and the program specifics,” said Murnan. “We can also provide access to the internet to apply and enroll.”  

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will have the newly updated SEP information on the Marketplace enrollment site HealthCare.gov  by Feb. 15. To get assistance in navigating the enrollment site call the CHC/SEK at 620-231-9873 to schedule an appointment with a CAC to review what information is needed to apply and enroll.

President Joe Biden ordered the HHS to create the special enrollment period due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in more than 20 million people losing their jobs, as well as their health insurance.

The expansion of the SEP for the Marketplace will provide another opportunity to enroll in health insurance for those who might have missed the Open Enrollment Period which ran from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. It also provides another opportunity to laterally change insurance companies within the Marketplace if the provider network has since changed.

 

Before President Biden’s announcement, people who lost job-based health insurance or experienced another life event, such as getting married, may have qualified for a 60-day SEP based on their specific situation. If a SEP was granted, they would then be able choose a Marketplace plan outside of the normal sign-up period. This new pandemic related SEP will allow anyone to check the Marketplace and see if they are eligible to enroll.

About Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas  
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing affordable, high quality medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to everyone, regardless of income or insurance status at 18 locations throughout Crawford, Cherokee, Labette, Linn, Montgomery and Allen counties, and Ottawa Co. in Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.chcsek.org.